The Producer program aims to provide producers with the flexibility to drive projects both creatively and commercially.

The aims of the documentary production funding programs are to support:

• Australian documentary content for production and release for Direct-to-Audience, Television and Feature Film platforms;
• distinctive storytelling for a range of budgets and audiences across local and global platforms; and
• content makers at different career stages who reflect the breadth of Australia in service of cultural, creative and economic benefits.

There are three (3) different documentary production funding programs that applicants can apply for. They will each have four (4) application rounds per financial year.

Direct-to-audience:

• Direct-to-Audience projects are those that have not been commissioned by any third party and for which the first and primary release window is Direct-to-Audience e.g. YouTube, Facebook, Virtual Reality (VR), Extended Reality (XR) or Augmented Reality (AR) platforms.
• The content creators are in control of self-distributing the work and taking it to audience.
• The Documentary Direct-to-Audience Program replaces the Online Production Program.

Platform first:

• The Platform First Program supports content makers to produce features , series or single documentaries that have a confirmed Commissioning Platform i.e. market attachment for Free-To-Air (FTA) television broadcast and streaming platforms across Broadcast Video on Demand (BVOD), Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) and Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD).
• The program supports projects that are at least a commercial half-hour in duration, with a minimum budget of $250,000 per hour.
• All finance must be confirmed at the time of application.
• Screen Australia is generally the last contributor to the Finance Plan.
• Minimum licence fees apply.
• The Platform First Program replaces the Documentary Commissioned Program.

Producer first

• The Producer First Program supports content makers to produce features, series and single documentaries for theatrical, free-to-air television broadcast (FTA), streaming platforms across Broadcast Video on Demand (BVOD), Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) and Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD).
• For projects in partnership with cultural institution's i.e.: museums, galleries and with a demonstrated pathway to audiences, applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• The Producer First Program provides content makers the flexibility to drive projects creatively and commercially. Screen Australia's funding acts as the foundation for securing deals and partnerships, in the context of today's evolving media and distribution landscape as well as the commercial realities of increasingly fragmented sources of finance.
• Minimum licence fees apply - Marketplace contributors need to be secured prior to contract execution but not at the time of applying for Screen Australia funding.
• The Producer First Program replaces the Documentary Producer Program.

Funding Available:  The amount of funding provided will depend on the scale of your project, the first and primary platform and the amount of additional finance required or secured from other sources.

Applicant Eligibility:

These funding programs are open to companies and in certain circumstances, individuals.

Note: that for projects applying for Direct-to-Audience Production funding, Screen Australia will accept applications from individuals (sole traders) that are an Australian citizen or permanent resident. However, if successful, the applicant will need to incorporate a company to make the project before contracting with Screen Australia. All other eligibility criteria listed above apply for these projects.

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 must be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident (holding a permanent visa) (Direct-to-Audience applications only - see above).

Applicants must also:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN);
• be registered for the purposes of GST if required by law;
• if applicable, be independent of the nominated local Commissioning Platform for the first release of a program in Australia; and
• demonstrate and/or have relevant experience through comparable work that shows capability to produce work for the platform for which they are applying.

The following types of entities are not eligible to apply to these production funding programs:

• Commonwealth, state, territory or local government agencies or bodies
• any organisations that are otherwise excluded pursuant to the Information for Applicants.

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