Screen Australia

Screen Australia aims to inspire, inform and engage screen audiences through compelling Australian storytelling.

International Finance Attraction

The International Finance Attraction fund provides support to Australian projects with a very high level of global appeal, to assist them to develop pitching materials and strategy, in order to best attract international partnerships and finance in the current market.

It is open to long form drama and documentary projects on any platform which are market ready, have undergone a successful development process and can demonstrate development funding from an arm’s length commercial partner.

Funding of $5,000 - $20,000 will be granted to successful applicants and can cover items that will elevate the pitch and/or pitching strategy.

Important note: The text on this webpage provides a snapshot of the relevant information for this program/initiative. Applicants must read all detailed documentation available for download at the bottom of this page, including the program guidelines, before applying.

Key Dates
Always open
Decision & Notification

Turnaround time for application decisions is approximately four weeks from receipt of eligible application.

Fund Amount
$5,000-$20,000
Category
International
Enquiries
Email: international@screenaustralia.gov.auFreecall: 1800 507 901
More Information

Applications should be submitted six weeks in advance of the opportunity. Applications cannot be made retrospectively

Apply now

Funding of $5,000 – $20,000 will be granted to successful applicants and can cover items that will elevate the pitch and/or pitching strategy. These might include:

 

  • creation of marketing and pitching materials.
  • reasonable travel costs for 1-3 people – being those in the best position on the creative team to creatively pitch and/or follow up and broker deals.
  • if required, workshopping of the pitch from appropriate and experienced industry mentors or consultants.
  • if required, assistance from appropriate and experienced industry mentors or consultants, to help with strategic planning. (e.g. suggested key meeting targets and the best way to approach them, or advice around financing and deals, and other current market trends).

 

The types of items you apply for will depend on the level of experience of the team and nature of the project.

 

The amount of funding you apply for should be relative to the size of the investment potential and the likelihood of attracting partners. For commercial projects of scale with a strong likelihood to attract significant finance and large marketplace partners, it would be at the higher end. For projects of a smaller scale it would be at a lower end.

Applicants and projects must meet Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, any general eligibility or other requirements listed on the agency’s website (see Information for Applicants and Information for Recipients), as well as the specific eligibility criteria set out in these guidelines.

 

This program is open to companies and individuals (either alone or as part of a team as co-applicants).

To be eligible, an applicant company must:

  • be an incorporated company carrying on business in Australia, with its central management and control in Australia;
  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN); and
  • be registered for the purposes of GST if required by law.

 

To be eligible, an individual applicant (or each individual co-applicant) must:

 

  • be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident (holding a permanent visa); and
  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN).

 

Note: Co-productions may also apply with an application from the Australian Company.

 

For full eligibility information, please refer to the attached guidelines.

 

Before applying, applicants must read and understand these guidelines, Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, Information for Applicants, Information for Recipients, and preview the application form on SmartyGrants.

 

Applications for the International Finance Attraction fund can be made at any time through Screen Australia’s Application Portal.

 

Through the application form, applicants must:

 

  • provide all the information requested and answer the application questions;
  • meet, where required, all eligibility criteria; and
  • include all required supporting materials.

 

For full details on the application process, including required materials, please refer to the attached guidelines.

Applications will be assessed by against the following equally weighted criteria:

 

  • Project Strength. Strength of the project – based on:
    • international commercial viability.
    • strength and distinctiveness of the story, and if the execution will resonate with its intended audience.
    • demonstrated pathway to audience appropriate to the project’s budget size and financing strategy.
  • Market readiness. Market readiness of project – based on:
    • stage of development in relation to the type of content type, intended platform of release, and the proposed strategy.
    • other key attachments and production partners, including agents and any EPs.
    • if applicable, any existing marketplace attachments and/or secured investment in proportion to the overall budget.
  • International strategy. Effectiveness of the proposed international strategy including planned preparation, appropriateness of meetings, activities and outcomes.
  • Potential to achieve strategy. Potential of the applicants (and also any industry mentors/ consultants), to achieve the proposed international strategy based on relevant and recent credits and industry experience pertinent to the strategy.

 

Other factors may be considered including the:

 

  • availability of funds;
  • range of projects in receipt of funding from Screen Australia, inclusive of a project’s scale, budget, intended audience, genre, themes;
  • range of applicants in receipt of funding from Screen Australia, inclusive of applicant, applicant company and geographic diversity; and
  • extent to which a project is likely to effectively and properly increase and amplify equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

 

For full details on the assessment criteria, please refer to the attached guidelines.

Downloads

International Finance Attraction Guidelines

Download Document