Screen NSW has announced an array of changes to key funding programs, including the Regional Filming Fund, the Made in NSW – Local Fund and the Production Fund. The changes are intended to provide ‘greater clarity and transparency,’ the announcement said, while also encouraging production activity that will see regional communities sharing in ‘the economic, workforce and industry development benefits generated by the screen sector’.
The guidelines have been tightened to ensure that all funded projects contribute directly to the growth of Australia’s screen culture, as well as local NSW communities. Maximum funding caps have been raised, alongside the required filming days in regional areas.
The biggest update is to the established Regional Filming Fund, which will now be housed under the Production Fund and Made in NSW – Local Fund programs, with separate but related budget considerations.
Here’s everything to know.
Screen NSW revamps funding – quick links
Changes to the Regional Filming Fund
The Screen NSW Regional Filming Fund, which offsets costs related to filming in regional NSW, will no longer be a standalone program but will operate concurrently with the Made in NSW – Local Fund or the Production Fund program.
Anyone who applies for support from the Regional Filming Fund will also need to submit applications to either of these additional funds, with a separate allocated budget still in place for these regional productions.
The Made in NSW – Local Fund is designed to support production of high-end feature film and TV drama productions produced by Australian production companies and filmed within NSW.
The Production Fund invests in NSW-based production companies, screen projects and creatives to produce or post-produce within the state.
In addition to tying the Screen NSW Regional Filming Fund to other programs, Screen NSW has also introduced new criteria for those looking to apply for support.
The biggest change is that there is now a minimum Qualifying Regional NSW Production Expenditure threshold to meet for narrative projects, and the minimum number of required regional filming days has been doubled to 10 days total, to ‘strengthen regional economic outcomes’.
By increasing the number of days required for shooting, there is hope these regional productions will better support local economies through jobs creation and spending.
In addition, the maximum funding cap per project has been increased to $200,000, and the funding model will now provide a percentage-based rebate of up to 10% of expenditure.
Additional changes to Screen NSW’s funding programs
Further to the overhaul of the Regional Filming Fund, there are also a range of other changes being implemented elsewhere.
The Made in NSW – Local Fund now has clear, updated criteria setting out the minimum number, duration and payment conditions for NSW-based paid production attachments, based on funding level.
For projects requiring a First Nations assessment undertaken by a trained consultant, there is now a provision that the Screen NSW First Nations Development Lead can serve in this role, as a qualified assessment conductor.
The biggest change to the Production Fund, meanwhile, is that it now has an increased funding cap for direct-to-audience series of a budget less than $500,000, with this moving from 10% to 15%.
According to the screen agency, these changes are aimed at improving clarity, ensuring competition and the ‘long-term sustainability of program resources’, and underscoring that ‘NSW remains a premier destination for filmmaking’.
