The Narrative Content Short Film Production Funding Program supports a team of content makers that must include Director, Writer, Producer and, where applicable, Animator, to make a Narrative Content Short Film intended for theatrical festivals.

The Narrative Content Short Film Production Funding Program supports a team of content makers that must include Director, Writer, Producer and, where applicable, Animator, to make a Narrative Content Short Film intended for theatrical festivals.

The aims of Narrative Content Short Film Production Program are to support:

• Australian live action or animated Narrative Short Films for a first and primary window of a theatrical festival outcome;

• talent who are connected to the stories they tell and reflect the breadth of Australia in service of cultural, creative and economic benefits; and
• talent and stories with viable pathways to festival audiences locally and/or globally.

The program will have two application rounds per financial year.

Available Funding

• Applicants may apply for any amount up to $100,000 for a live action short.
• Applicants may apply for any amount up to $125,000 for an animated short, or a short that blends live action and animation.
• It is expected that Screen Australia will be the major funder, but projects can also add to their budget via other sources where available, such as private investment, post-production investment, State or Territory agency funding, other funding avenues, provided that the production budget is no greater than $175,000.
• Screen Australia reserves the right to approve the project's Finance Plan at the time of application.
• The minimum funding amount request is $75,000.
• Screen Australia may decide to provide a different amount of funding than that applied for based on the assessment of all projects submitted to each funding round.

This program is open to companies and individuals (either alone or as part of a team of co-applicants including director, writer, producer and where applicable, animator). To be eligible:

• an applicant company must be an incorporated company carrying on business in Australia, with its central management and control in Australia.

• an individual applicant or the team of individual co-applicants must be Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents (holding a permanent visa).

Applicants must also:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN).

• control the rights necessary to carry out the project, meaning that they must have clear chain of title and must generally be party to any underlying rights agreements;

• be registered for the purposes of GST if required by law.

Screen Australia will accept applications from individuals (sole traders) applying on behalf of a team consisting of director, writer, producer, and where applicable, animator. However, if successful, the applicant/team will need to incorporate a company to make the project before contracting with Screen Australia. For the avoidance of doubt, all persons that apply as individuals in this capacity must comply with Screen Australia's eligibility requirements set out in the Information for Applicants.