Digital Originals is a joint initiative of Screen Australia, SBS and NITV, aimed at developing exciting and innovative online scripted series for SBS and NITV.

These series contain 6 x 10-minute episodes for broadcast on SBS and NITV platforms. Digital Originals is targeted at emerging creators working on exciting and risk-taking scripted projects. 

Up to ten teams will be selected to attend an exclusive workshop run by Screen Australia, SBS and NITV, featuring a range of industry guest presenters.

From these ten teams, up to five will be chosen to take their projects into further development, and from these, up to three will be chosen for production funding and commissioning with SBS, NITV and Screen Australia. Teams will have the support and resources of SBS, NITV and Screen Australia through the development process.

What support is available?

The successful teams will attend a workshop focusing on short form narrative writing skills, and developing the projects to align with the SBS Charter and SBS OnDemand platform, culminating in a pitch to Screen Australia, SBS and NITV.

The workshop will be held 28 - 30 October 2025, with a Pitch Day following on 18 November 2025. All applicants must be available for this workshop and pitch day in order to be eligible for the initiative.

Teams outside of Sydney will receive flights and accommodation within Australia for up to three team members to attend the workshop. 

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.
• An individual applicant must be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident (holding a permanent visa).
• An awareness of who the project is for and why that audience will keep returning to watch it
• Unique stories that add to the cultural landscape of Australian content, for a global audience.
• Projects that traverse new ground in the Digital Originals program - we encourage applicants to view the past Digital Originals commissioned, and to be bold and fresh in the stories they present to us.

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