International Delegations

Global Producers Exchange GUIDELINES

Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) are partnering to provide Australia’s leading producers the skills, knowledge, access, and relationships necessary to succeed in the global market, and to attract foreign investment and marketplace partnerships for Australian scripted content.

Up to six production companies / producers will be selected to participate in the Global Producers Exchange development lab of roundtables and master-classes with key US based screen decision makers, and individualised 1:1 mentorships. Each delegate will receive grants of up to $60,000 to enable them to take part in the program which runs from October 2022 to June 2023.

The Global Producers Exchange aims to give Australian IP and cultural stories the opportunity to be developed with internationally based collaborators who possess a global outlook and a proven track record of success with international audiences, and to help position projects for success in the global market.

WHO CAN APPLY?

To be eligible for this program, applicants:

• must be Australian citizens or residents and meet our Terms of Trade
• have credits to evidence a strong track record as a lead producer on multiple completed long form scripted episodic series and/or features, at least one of which that has recently (last 4 years):

• screened on broadcast television or streamed on a subscription based platform, and having been 1 of the top 10 most-watched shows on that platform at time of transmission. [It is noted that data is not always readily available, especially historically, and assessors will give benefit of the doubt based on press links and other media reactions about the title from time of release], or
• streamed online on any reportable platform, with evidence of audiences/views in excess of 1 million or other evidence of trending on You Tube at time of release, or
• premiered in official selection at Cannes, Toronto, Venice, Sundance, Berlin, SXSW, Series Mania festivals, or 
• been distributed and theatrically released in multiple major international territories, or
• been a recipient of a significant international award such as awards from Cannes, Toronto, Venice, Sundance, Berlin, SXSW festivals or been nominated for Academy, BAFTA, or Emmy awards

• and have:

• slates with at least 3 long form scripted episodic series or features in any genre that would appeal to a global audience and that could potentially be co-developed with US partners
• projects on their slate that are uniquely and culturally identifiable as Australian stories and are bold, ambitious and have universal appeal.

You are not eligible for this program if you have: 

• a parent company with offices in Los Angeles, and/or,
• been selected for and completed other AIF/ Screen Australia programs such as Gateway LA, Global Producers Exchange, Mentor LA, Talent Gateway, or Talent USA: LA.

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• have international co-production experience and/or have executed long form scripted series and/or features of reasonable budget
• can demonstrate ability to leverage significant recent success through international critical acclaim and awards and/or international audience awareness for their completed work
• have eclectic upcoming slates with a diverse array of internationally known and exciting Australian key creatives attached.

WHAT support is available?

Up to six production companies/producers will be selected to take part in the Screen Australia / AiF Global Producers Exchange.  Production companies can elect to have a team of two producers participate, however the program will only cover the costs of one grant ($60,000) to cover the two participants per production company.

Each production company will receive a grant of $60,000, to:

• actively participate in the bespoke 9 month (part-time) development lab of roundtables and master-classes with key US based screen decision makers, as well as individualized 1:1 mentorship and,
• based on and after feedback throughout the lab from mentors and US executives - work with their attached key creatives to quickly refine and develop creative concepts and materials on the projects on their slate that receive traction, as well as create any suggested marketing materials and other strategies to successfully pitch projects and/ or the company to potential co-development and/ or marketplace partners.

The Exchange will culminate in a two day market where participants will remotely meet 1:1 and pitch projects to an individually curated group of high level US Industry executives, including; production companies, studios, financiers, distributors, broadcasters and streamers, in order to attract partners for their slate.

Please note: the program will be entirely virtual.

When and how can applications be made?

Applications close 5pm AEST Thursday 12 May 2022 and can be made through the Application Portal with the following materials:

• Fully completed application form including contact details and applicant eligibility
• CV including recent credits and details of any commercial, significant viewership and/or major festival or awards success

• A proposal (maximum 10 pages) that includes:

• detailed information on your current slate of projects - with 3 lead projects that you think would be best suited to workshopping and eventually pitching as part of Global Producers Exchange. For each title mentioned on the slate provide: logline, synopsis, the stage of development and what materials are currently available*; any secured development funding; the estimated budget; and information on the currently secured key creative, cast and marketplace attachments and/or interest 
• specific and intended professional/ business development goals for the program e.g. What are the current strengths and weaknesses of you/ your company in relation to the aims of this program? Where are the knowledge gaps or barriers for international partnerships currently? What would you be hoping to learn /gain and then put into action after participating in the program?

*If your application is shortlisted, you will be asked to supply any existing materials for the 3 lead projects (e.g. pitching materials, bible, treatments, scripts)

How are applications assessed? 

Complete and eligible applications will be reviewed by Screen Australia and AiF staff members and/or industry specialists.  

Assessment Criteria

Funding decisions will be made against the following criteria:

• the strength of the proposal and the perceived strength and diversity of the projects on the slate (and also the creative talent attached to them), as well as the stage of development and suitability of the nominated lead projects for the program
• the amount of perceived traction internationally from the applicants completed body of work, and,
• the perceived experience and knowledge of the applicant pertinent to the activity.

Applicants will be advised of either a decline or shortlisted outcome in writing by Friday 8 July 2022.  

Those who are shortlisted will be asked to submit further materials on each lead project and will be required to undergo an interview over video software with AIF and Screen Australia. 

Final outcomes for the shortlisted applicants will be advised in writing by Friday 12 August  2022. 

Applicants are required to make sure they can be and will use best endeavours to be available to participate in all sessions. Example of the program structure is below:

Example timeline of workshop sessions

PART 1

October - November 2022
Producing Lab – 5 days

Mentor(s) and a range of guests run sessions covering:

• State of the Marketplace Film & TV

• Creating Compelling Content

• The Art of Pitching

• International Financing & Strategic Partnerships

• Casting & Packaging

• Business of Producing: Building a Sustainable Production Company.

Time: 17.5 hours (3.5 hours/day for 5 days, tentatively 10am-1:30pm Sydney)

Part 2

January - June 2023 
Individual Mentorship 

• Each company is paired with a producing mentor with whom they will meet 3 times

Time: 3 hours (3 x 1-hour) meetings with each mentor pairing 

Bi-monthly (every other month) sharing and check-in sessions with AiF staff and fellow participants (3 sessions in total)

Time: 3 hours (3 x 1-hour sessions)

1-2 virtual mixers to connect Untapped, Talent Gateway and GPE participants with each other  

Time: 3 hours (Scheduling TBD) 

Part 3 

May 2023
Pitch Coaching

Time: 2-3 hours

June 2023  
2-day industry pitch market   

Time: 8 hours over 2 days (4 hours/day) 

If you are unsure about your eligibility or have questions about the application form, please email us at Industry or call Program Operations on 1800 507 901. Please note that we are not able to provide creative advice or suggestions to strengthen your application.

Screen Australia and Australians in Film recognise the significant work that goes in to the preparation and submission of applications. Due to the anticipated high volume of applicants, we are unable to provide individual feedback on individual applications.