Special initiatives
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A Screen Australia and Network 10 initiative aimed at delivering multiplatform documentaries spotlighting the diversity of LGBTIQ+ lives and communities in regional and/or rural Australia. 

The successful projects will represent authentic and multigenerational LGBTIQ+ characters and stories that are accessible and engaging. The intention of each project should be to promote cultural change and inclusion, ensuring more Australians from all parts of our community are represented on screen and behind the camera.The projects will be character driven, providing audiences with unique access and insight into the perspectives of LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities in regional and/or rural Australia that may have previously been overlooked.

Up to 3 short form documentaries at 22 minutes duration will be commissioned to premiere on Network 10’s digital platform 10 Play, with the potential for additional broadcast via 10’s free-to-air channels. The documentaries must be standalone, original content, and designed to appeal to an Australian audience, specifically targeting a primary demographic of 25 - 54.

Screen Australia will appoint an Investment Development Manager to support the projects and Network 10 will support each work with companion editorial.

What funding is available?

Applicants can apply for up to $80,000. 

Applicants will be encouraged to seek additional funding through discussions with their state agency and contributions from third parties such as international broadcasters, film festivals and philanthropic funding.

Who can apply?

An application must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Proposals must be for one-off documentaries of 22 minutes duration
• Proposals must be focused on either an LGBTIQ+ identified individual or community from within regional and/or rural Australia
• Teams must consist of at least a director or producer - one of whom identifies as part of the LGBTIQ+ community and one of whom has at least one screen credit in their respective role on a project no less than 15 minutes in duration that has been publicly released
• All key creatives must be Australian citizens or residents
• Applicant teams can submit multiple applications, as long as the proposals are different.

Please note: Screen Australia does not invest in programs such as reality television, current affairs or light entertainment. To find out more about what constitutes as a documentary, please see the ACMA guidelines.

Less experienced applicants may be paired up with a more experienced filmmaker to realise their project and are encouraged to contact an Investment Manager to discuss. 

Applicants must also meet the general eligibility requirements set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade. Regretfully we will not be able to receive applications from people who are enrolled full time at a tertiary education institution, or who are a current employee of a broadcaster.

What materials do you need to apply?

A completed application form via the Screen Australia Portal by COB 1 May 2019, which includes:

• A 3-5 page outline or treatment. This must include:

• Description on the overall tone, feel, shooting style and techniques intended for the documentary
• What is unique and original about the idea or treatment of the subject.
• Details of confirmed and/or intended characters
• Identify where the story tension will come from and the intended narrative arc over the duration
• What you hope audiences will take away upon watching the documentary.

• CVs of the team, including relevant prior credits, and any other confirmed key personnel (DOP, editor, etc.)
• A Director’s statement
• An example of the relevant director and producer’s previous work (a complete film, not a showreel) via an active website link
• If available, up to 1 minute of footage or sizzle reel from the proposed project to show evidence of character, access and storyline. Please supply as a private download enabled screening link with a password. Please note: This doesn’t have to be a polished pitch reel, it could simply be a short introduction with key characters filmed on a mobile phone or similar device
• A production schedule
• Confirmation of key subjects’ willingness to participate
• Where there is Indigenous community participation or content involved in the project, written confirmation of the willingness of both the subject(s) and the community to be involved in the project is essential. Specific requirements apply to projects where there is Indigenous community participation or content involved. Please refer to our Indigenous content or participation section of the website for further information.

Projects that are shortlisted will be required to submit:

• A complete finance plan using the Screen Australia template
• A detailed budget using the Screen Australia A-Z Budget template.

The deadline to submit the additional documents will be within 1 week of shortlisted applicants being notified. 

What is the assessment process?

All eligible applications will be read by a Screen Australia Investment Development Manager and/or Associate who will shortlist the projects.

Shortlisted applicants will be informed of the outcome by 31 May 2019.

Applicants who are shortlisted may be required to submit additional documentation outside of the materials noted in these guidelines.

From the shortlist, final projects for commissioning will be selected in mutual agreement between Screen Australia and Network 10. We will advise applicants in writing of the success or otherwise of their application by 21 June 2019.

We aim to make the application process as transparent as possible, but given the volume of applications we receive, we do not have the resources to provide feedback on each project.

Assessment criteria

When assessing applications, we will take the following criteria into account:

• Creative strength of the project, its relevance to the LGBTIQ+ community, and its ability to distinctively encapsulate life for LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities in regional and/or rural Australia
• Capacity of the team to manage the project creatively and their ability to deliver a complete project by 10 January 2020.

The above criteria are weighted evenly.

Other factors including diversity of slate and the cultural diversity of the team may also influence Screen Australia’s funding decision. 

Terms of funding

Network 10 will issue a License Agreement for the selected documentaries to be housed domestically on its digital platform 10 Play exclusively for 12 months with the right to broadcast via its free to air channels. Project creators will retain 100% copyright and be entitled to monetise their projects on other international platforms.

In addition to the finished program, filmmakers will also need to deliver a one minute cut down of the concept for use on social media, at least five high resolution stills to help promote the program, and provide behind the scenes footage and interviews for editorials following the journeys of the filmmakers and/or key participants to be promoted across 10’s digital platforms.

Please note: Materials will also be required for delivery to Screen Australia throughout the full production cycle and will be outlined in the executed PGA.