Screen Australia

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Guidelines
Eligibility: Feature films and distribution

  • A feature film is the only format which receives a 40 per cent Producer Offset.

A feature film must be made for screening as the main attraction in commercial cinemas. As such, it should be at least 60 minutes in length (or 45 minutes for large-format, such as IMAX). A feature film may be an animated feature film or a documentary.

As a guide, applicants should plan to earn a significant proportion of the film’s revenue from the theatrical box office, whether that is in Australia or elsewhere.

Factors that are relevant in determining whether a project is a feature film and is produced for exhibition to the public in cinemas are:

  • a draft or executed bona fide deal memo, letter of offer, or long form agreement for an Australian theatrical release with a credible theatrical distributor (acting on an arm’s length basis)
  • financial contribution to the project’s budget from the distributor, such as a distribution advance or guarantee, commensurate with the total budget
  • a financial commitment towards prints & advertising made by the distributor
  • a marketing plan that includes theatrical release and demonstrates a realistic pathway to a cinema audience
  • financial contribution from an arm’s length investor made on the basis of the project being a feature film
  • evidence that all cast are engaged under the relevant performers' contracts with appropriate buy-outs of residual rights consistent with a feature film
  • a finance plan and budget, including theatrical delivery items, consistent with that of a feature film
  • the track record of the distributor in the theatrical distribution of feature films in Australia, particularly the distribution of Australian feature films
  • the track record of the producer, director, writer and other principals in producing feature films that have received a successful theatrical release in Australia, and
  • the attachment of an international sales agent and any international theatrical pre-sales.

In all cases, the film must be a normal full-length feature film of a type commonly shown in commercial cinemas, and produced in a format suitable for theatrical screening in a commercial cinema. Cinema-on-demand or ‘four-walled’ arrangements may not be satisfactory.