Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $5,000 per application.
- Application opened: 6 May 2025
- Application closes: 2 April 2026, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the program are to:
- Improve sustainability of the NSW screen and digital games industries
- Improve sustainability of related NSW-based creative sectors, particularly literary fiction, non-fiction and short-form web-based and podcast content creation
- Promote collaboration between the NSW screen and digital games industries and NSW-based practitioners from other creative industries
- Provide opportunity for early and mid-career creatives from Screen NSW Priority Areas to enhance their careers by having their work reach a wider audience through screen adaptation
- Increase visibility within screen and digital games content of people from under-represented groups as set out in the Screen NSW Diversity Commitment
- Increase the level of participation of practitioners from under-represented groups as set out in the Screen NSW Diversity Commitment
- Support connections that will shape the future of the NSW creative community and strengthen its position in the global market.
The program is funded and administered by Screen NSW.
This program is administered by Screen NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Please see the Screen NSW website for the full Program Guidelines.
All applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
- Be a NSW based screen or digital games production company or, if the applicant is a sole trader, they must be an Australian resident or citizen that is:
- An individual that has been a resident of NSW for more than 6 months or;
- A company that has been operating in NSW for more than 6 months that;
- Meets the requirements of Screen NSW’s Terms of Trade
Film, TV and online content applicants must have a credit on a Qualifying Project, that is:
- Associated with the type of project that is being submitted for funding (e.g. narrative content; documentary/factual content); and
- In the same role as the application to hand (e.g. screen producer or digital games creative).
Digital games applicants must have a project team member with a credit on at least one Qualifying Credit.
Types of projects funded under this grant
The following projects are eligible formats:
- Narrative fiction including children’s, feature films and series for any release platform including cinema, video on demand, broadcast television and online
- Documentary and factual including children’s, feature films and series (as defined by ACMA) for any release platform including cinema, video on demand, broadcast television and online
- Extended Reality for narrative driven audience interaction and engagement across online, mobile applications, public screens and interactive displays
- Digital Games.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applicants are required to complete an application form and submit project documentation including:
- The executed Option Agreement
- The remittance advice to prove payment of initial Option Fee
- Proof the original work has been released to the public or there is an intention for it to be published to the public within six (6) from the date of submitting application
- Applicant and/or applicant company biography stating previous credits, including qualifying credits
- A declaration from the applicant stating the IP originates from a member of Screen NSW’s Priority Areas.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
To apply for funding, you will need to complete and submit an application form through our secure online grants system SmartyGrants. It is a one stage application process.
A preview of the application form can be viewed on the SmartyGrants portal.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Senior Manager Content Investment
Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an email confirmation from our secure online grants system, SmartyGrants.
The grant is non‐discretionary, subject to availability of funds. Assessment following the application is limited to establishing eligibility, and confirming the initial option fee stated in the option agreement is the amount being applied for (up to $5,000).
Assessments are made by the Screen NSW Investment team based on the application meeting program guidelines, with approval from the Senior Manager Content Investment. In the case that the Senior Manager Content Investment has a Conflict of Interest (COI), approvals will be made by an alternative Senior Manager or the Head of Screen NSW.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing.
Support and contact
Screen NSW Investment team (investment@screen.nsw.gov.au)