The Production Finance program provides funding for projects produced or post-produced in NSW. Funding allocations are guided by ratios linking the Screen NSW contribution to the amount spent in the State.

The objectives of the Program are to fund exceptional quality, diverse and engaging fiction and non-fiction screen content that will:

• Generate employment and economic activity for NSW
• Make a contribution to Australian culture and storytelling, nationally and internationally
• Grow the number and size of NSW production companies and provide increased opportunities for NSW key creatives
• Meet the objectives of Screen NSW‘s diversity commitment.

Individual funding is determined on a case-by-case basis based on the Qualifying NSW Production Expenditure (QNSWPE).

Projects must have a production budget of less than $20,000,000.

Applicants should discuss their funding requests with a Screen NSW Investment Manager prior to submitting an application.

The applicant must fulfil one of the following:

• Be an Australian company based in NSW and actively operating in NSW for at least six months prior to the funding application, meeting at least a minimum level of NSW spend of 50% of total production costs; or
• Be an Australian company not based in NSW in a genuine co-production arrangement with a NSW production company and/or the project is created by a NSW creative or is substantially driven by NSW key creatives; or
• Be a non-NSW based Australian Company, meeting at least a minimum level of NSW spend of 80% of total production costs. Please note, if you are a non-NSW based company, strong consideration will be given to the level of spend in NSW (and must at least meet the minimum expenditure threshold of 80%) and number of NSW key creatives. Where rounds are competitive, preference will usually be given to NSW applicants. Please speak to an Investment Manager before applying.

The 50/80% requirement above will not apply, if any of the following circumstances are met:

• Where the eligible NSW Spend is at least $5 million
• Where the below-the-line eligible NSW post-production spend is at least $3 million
• Where a producer intends to conduct 100% of the project’s post-production in NSW with NSW-based post-production personnel. (Please see definition of 100% Post Production requirements and Allowable Post Exclusions in the Screen NSW Glossary to confirm your eligibility).

The applicant must also fulfil all of the following:

• Have a production budget of less than $20,000,000
• Have at least one NSW based Key Creative
• Be compliant with our Terms of Trade
• Maintain ownership or control of the rights necessary (or have shared ownership and/or joint control of copyright under a co-production arrangement) to carry out the project that is the subject of the application (including having ownership or control of any relevant copyright and appropriate clearances from all significant participants).

• Email: screeninvestment@create.nsw.gov.au