First Nations Feature Development

The First Nations Department’s feature development program aims to provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers with demonstrated experience to extend their craft and their ideas in the longer feature format. We are looking for striking and engaging storytelling that will connect with audiences.

Screen Australia reserves the right to require the attachment of a story consultant where appropriate.

WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE?

Any amount up to $30,000, or up to $45,000 if a producer is attached (other than in exceptional circumstances).

Funding is available for the first or subsequent draft feature screenplay, including, where appropriate, fees for writer, producer, director, story consultant.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Applicants and their projects must meet the general eligibility requirements set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade in addition to the following:

• Can be a producer, writer or writer/director.
• The director (where attached) and writer must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian and must have at least three ‘eligible drama credits’ in their respective roles.
• In the case of co-writing teams, made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers, the original concept must come from the First Nations Australian writer. This must be shown in the application.
• An eligible writer or writer/director may receive a maximum of two tranches of funding as a solo applicant without a producer attached as above.
• The producer (where attached) must be either:
  – an ‘experienced producer’, or
  – a producer who has at least two ‘eligible drama credits’, or
  – an emerging producer applying in conjunction with an ‘experienced producer’.

(See Definitions below.)

Outstanding applicants or projects that emerge through the First Nations Department’s Special Initiatives may be invited to apply to this program. This provides the opportunity for Indigenous practitioners to access single-project development funds even where minimum credit requirements are not satisfied.

For more information, visit Screen Australia