The International Finance 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.

What funding is available?

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, work-shopping 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 best way to approach, or advice around financing and deals, and other current market trends).

The types of items you apply for will depend of the level of experience of the team and nature of 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 smaller scale it would be at a lower end. 

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.

In addition, applicants must:

• have a market-ready, long-form project on any platform that:
  • has undergone significant creative development and has the key creative team attached; and
  • is uniquely and culturally identifiable as Australian and is also bold, ambitious and has universal appeal.
• control the rights and have meaningful creative control of the project.
• be able to evidence a successful development process and funding from an arm's length commercial partner (i.e., a substantial and well-known international or Australian commercial entity with an effective track record on similar projects, for example, a commissioning platform, broadcaster, local or international distributor, studio or production company of substance) and/or Screen Australia where their development funding will have been fully acquitted as a pre-condition of eligibility.

• Phone: 1800 507 901
• Email: industry@screenaustralia.gov.au