Production Finance Round 84

The Production Finance program provides finance to eligible Australian feature film, TV drama, narrative comedy, documentary, and interactive screen entertainment projects which are to be produced or post-produced in NSW.

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Key information

  • Status: Closed
  • Grant amount: Up to $850,000
  • Application opened: 13 March 2023
  • Application closed: 17 April 2023

Program objective

The purpose of funding is to maximise cultural and economic benefits to the state by supporting NSW screen practitioners to create new intellectual property that assists them to realise commercially sustainable businesses and grow the NSW screen sector.

The objectives of the Program are to fund exceptional quality, diverse and engaging fiction and non-fiction screen content that will:

  • Generate employment and economic activity for NSW
  • Make a contribution to Australian culture and storytelling, nationally and internationally
  • Grow the number and size of NSW production companies and provide increased opportunities for NSW key creatives
  • Meet the objectives of Screen NSW‘s diversity commitment.

This program is funded and administered by Screen NSW.

Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must fulfil one of the following:

  • Be an Australian company based in NSW and actively operating in NSW for at least six months prior to the funding application, meeting at least a minimum level of NSW spend of 50% of total production costs; or
  • Be an Australian company not based in NSW in a genuine co-production arrangement with a NSW production company and/or the project is created by a NSW creative or is substantially driven by NSW key creatives; or
  • Be a non-NSW based Australian Company, meeting at least a minimum level of NSW spend of 80% of total production costs. Please note, if you are a non-NSW based company, strong consideration will be given to the level of spend in NSW (and must at least meet the minimum expenditure threshold of 80%) and number of NSW key creatives. Where rounds are competitive, preference will usually be given to NSW applicants. Please speak to an Investment Manager before applying.

The 50/80% requirement above will not apply, if any of the following circumstances are met:

  • Where the eligible NSW Spend is at least $5 million
  • Where the below-the-line eligible NSW post-production spend is at least $3 million
  • Where a producer intends to conduct 100% of the project’s post-production in NSW with NSW-based post-production personnel. (Please see definition of 100% Post Production requirements and Allowable Post Exclusions in the Screen NSW Glossary to confirm your eligibility).

The applicant must also fulfil all of the following:

  • Have a production budget of less than $20,000,000
  • Have at least one NSW based Key Creative
  • Be compliant with our Terms of Trade
  • Maintain ownership or control of the rights necessary (or have shared ownership and/or joint control of copyright under a co-production arrangement) to carry out the project that is the subject of the application (including having ownership or control of any relevant copyright and appropriate clearances from all significant participants).

Eligible projects

This project must:

  • Have Significant Australian Content (SAC). SAC is evidenced by a Provisional Producer Offset Certificate or official co-production certification. For more details on the SAC test see here.
  • Be fully financed at the time of application (other than the contribution from Screen NSW, or contributions that are being considered concurrently by other similar State or Commonwealth agencies).
  • Be substantially ready to go into production and (with the exception of Creative Interactive Online Screen content) and have marketplace commitments (please see Market Attachments below) and accord with Screen Australia’s appropriate presales or licence fees.
  • Not have commenced official pre-production before the closing date of the round. Screen NSW does not fund retrospectively. Documentary projects with time critical filming issues may still be considered – applicants must contact the Screen Investment team before applying to confirm this exception.
  • With the exception of development expenditure, only expenditure incurred after the Application has been submitted will be recognised as eligible for funding.
  • Have completed principal photography and be able to demonstrate a post-production path to delivery and audience if the application is for post-production funding.
  • Reflect diversity in the creative team, relevant to the content genre, format, platform, storylines, characters, and target audience. More details on Screen NSW’s expectations on diversity and inclusion can be found in our Diversity Commitment section below.
  • Fulfil necessary requirements for Authenticity (See Creating authentic screen content in Screen NSW’s Guide to Understanding Diversity and Creating Authentic Screen Content).
  • Be compliant with one of the Eligible Project formats noted below:
    • Features – fiction
    • Documentary (documentary television, features or online and series with a total minimum duration of a commercial half hour) that meet the definition of a ‘documentary program’ under the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Documentary guidelines
    • Series – television drama and narrative comedy, including miniseries
    • Animation series
    • Creative Interactive online screen content Digital – Series, interactive or XR intended for public access on a screen-based device. 

Ineligible Projects

Please note that certain project formats and arrangements are not eligible and Screen NSW does not fund the following:

  • Projects that are part of assessable materials for a course of study or that will contribute to credits for a course of study
  • Infotainment, infomercials, lifestyle, light entertainment, travel, ‘how-to’; magazine, sports, education, game shows, serials/soaps, music videos, and other programs primarily intended for corporate, educational, training or promotional purposes, or magazine style projects or advertisements; reality television; non-narrative experimental, performance programs (see Screen Australia’s website)
  • Current affairs and news, community television
  • Shorts, short features (under 60 minutes duration) and interstitials
  • Digital games
  • Art installation projects
  • Projects that attract an X18+ or RC as described on the Australian Classification website.

Re–submitted projects that have previously been declined twice must demonstrate that substantial changes have been made since the previous submission.

Market Attachments

  • Projects must have a market attachment from a recognised distributor or exhibition platform (e.g., a broadcaster, exhibitor, or major online content provider) that includes key financial commitments and, where possible, dates of funds drawdown and licence term.
  • Market attachments must meet the minimum thresholds published by Screen Australia
  • Documentation demonstrating market attachments must show a clear commitment to distribute or exhibit the project rather than showing interest in supporting or funding the project.
  • Market attachments must include evidence of the intention to screen the project in territories outside Australia. Without that evidence, the applicant must demonstrate their strategy or pathway to achieving this.
  • Online narrative projects or completion funding applications unable to meet the above requirements may be eligible to apply if they can demonstrate a persuasive business case for an alternate distribution strategy or pathway to audience.

Most recent recipients

What your application needs to include

1

Address the assessment criteria

Applications will be competitively assessed against the following criteria. Screen NSW will apply weightings to each assessment criteria, which will apply to all applications considered in a round equally, at its discretion.  

  1. Quality and Feasibility of the Project (70%)
    • Quality of submitted materials relative to creative vision
    • Track record and ability of the creative team to practically deliver &/or to support professional development
    • Viability of finance plan, budget, production methodology (execution process i.e., logistics and strategy to conform with the team’s production readiness and track record)
    • The team’s understanding of the project’s intended audience; the strength of the stated pathway to such audience and the potential for the project to appeal to a significant audience in Australia and internationally or the potential for innovation in distribution/delivery
    • Level of marketplace commitment to the project including demonstration of sufficient commitment.
  2. The Ability of the Project to Meet Screen NSW Production Fund Objectives (20%)
    • Provide economic benefits to NSW by generating a high level of Qualifying NSW Expenditure
    • Create significant employment opportunities for NSW screen practitioners
    • Cultural value in terms of NSW storytelling (content and/or authorship)
    • Be NSW led in terms of generating IP for NSW companies and/or be driven substantially by NSW key creatives
    • Be a project that escalates growth for the production company in terms of scale and/or international competitiveness and/or contributes to industry development – growing other businesses, driving innovation and creating skills development opportunities for training/mentoring/career progression.
  3. Contribution of the Project Towards Diversity (10%)
    • How diversity (specifically Screen NSW’s Key Priority Areas) is addressed across meaningful on-screen representation, themes and narrative.

Other relevant factors and risks may also be considered, as determined by Screen NSW, in its sole discretion, including:

  • The availability of funding for the program
  • The geographical distribution of funding, the composition of the team and alignment to the Screen NSW priorities (see Diversity Commitment above)
  • Assessment of the applicant’s management, its directors and officers and entities or individuals that exercise control over an applicant against the eligibility criteria
  • Assessment of other factors that may cause applicants to be unsuitable for support, such as any personnel or business activities that could cause reputational or other risk to the NSW Government.

Please be aware that funding is competitive, and Screen NSW will consider both the availability of its funding and the perceived funding requirements of an applicant’s project.

2

How to apply

Familiarise yourself with the requirements set out in these guidelines and determine if you are eligible.

If you consider your production to be eligible, or require further clarification on eligibility, contact Screen NSW at investment@screen.nsw.gov.au to discuss your application in further detail. Please see here for dates of upcoming rounds.

Complete and submit your Application via the SmartyGrants portal.

As part of your application, you will need to provide the following documents:

  1. Completed SmartyGrants application.
  2. A copy of the project finance plan:
    • If the finance plan for a project includes Screen Australia finance, evidence that Screen Australia is concurrently considering the project for finance, or Screen Australia’s finance has already been confirmed.
    • Written evidence that reflects the proposed finance plan by way of signed Deal Memos/Letters of Offer/Short or Long Form Agreements that need to specify the commercial terms and the level of financial commitment to the project.
    • If the finance plan includes finance from overseas, then the producer must provide Screen NSW with written assurances about how they will deal with any currency fluctuations.
  3. For projects accessing the Producer Offset, a copy of the Provisional Certificate for the Producer Offset or a copy of the completed application form for the Producer Offset and distribution and broadcast agreements that meet the criteria for public exhibition in relation to the Producer Offset.
  4. If the application is based on an underlying work, evidence that an appropriate option is in place and current.
  5. Evidence that allowances for production attachments within the production budget.
  6. Other documents as outline in Annexure A.

Please note these guidelines should be read in conjunction with the application form which provides details of requested supporting documentation.

Acknowledgement of receipt of application will be via return email.

Note:If you intend to apply to the Production Finance, Regional Filming Fund and PDV Rebate for your project, please submit these applications concurrently.

Note also:Applicants should check the contracting timeframes of all funding agencies whose contributions appear in their finance plan and build these timeframes into their schedule for closing and cashflow.

Applications can be received any time during funding round cycle dates published on Screen NSW’s website and must clearly address all the assessment criteria.

Please note that Screen NSW Terms of Trade must be read in conjunction with the application form and guidelines and applications must be compliant with the Terms of Trade.

3

Support available to applicants

Screen NSW staff are available to provide technical advice and general information to potential applicants on the interpretation of these guidelines, including the types of activity eligible for funding and support with the online application process.

For further information or clarification, please contact Screen staff on: investment@screen.nsw.gov.au.

Screen NSW staff cannot help directly with your application. To maintain a fair and equitable process, staff cannot edit or correct any applications or provide advice on the content or choices required against the Assessment Criteria.

After the application is submitted

Eligibility Assessment

Your application will be checked by Screen NSW for eligibility against the published Eligibility Criteria. If eligible, your application will proceed to the next assessment stage in accordance with the Assessment Criteria. If ineligible, you will be advised via email within 10 business days from the closing date of the round you have applied for and your application will not proceed to assessment.

Screen NSW reserves the right to provide applicants with an opportunity to provide clarification or additional information regarding the Eligibility Criteria provided the principles of probity are not breached.

Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible unless otherwise determined by Screen NSW.

Application Assessment

Stage 1

Eligible applications will be assigned to a Screen Investment Manager to undertake an assessment against the Assessment Criteria and present the project to the Screen Investment Committee. The Screen Investment Committee is comprised of the Screen Investment Team, the Senior Screen Investment Manager, and the Head of Screen NSW. An independent probity advisor may also be engaged to attend meetings as appropriate.

Where considered appropriate, the Screen Investment Team may seek external industry specialists to undertake assessments or provide external reports to help inform decision-making. For example, where a project has elements that require the consideration of diversity, Screen NSW may seek advice from an independent expert.

Projects requiring a First Nations assessment will be assessed with reference to Screen Australia’s Pathways & Protocols: A filmmaker’s Guide To Working With Indigenous People, Culture and Concepts (https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/about-us/doing-business-with-us/indigenous-content/indigenous-protocols) by an external First Nations consultant.

The Screen Investment Committee will shortlist projects for progression to Stage 2 of the assessment process based on outcomes of this assessment.

Stage 2

Shortlisted applications will be considered by the Film and Television Advisory Committee (FTIAC) at the next available meeting. Details on the membership of the FTIAC are available here, and meetings dates are published here.

The FTIAC will consider all applications shortlisted by the Screen Investment Committee, including any external reports prepared, and the available budget.

They will consider the assessment criteria, distribution, range and scale of the applications. This may include prioritising applications and activities with outcomes that better meet the Program objectives or address and ensure equity and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.

The FTIAC may also recommend a funding amount that is less than that requested in the application.

Decision Making

Screen NSW will provide the FTIAC’s advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport or their financial delegate for final consideration and approval.

Notification of application outcome

You can expect a decision within 4 weeks of the FTIAC Date published on Screen NSW’s website. An Investment Manager will contact you to advise the outcome of your application.

Feedback on applications

Applicants can seek feedback on their application from Screen NSW by emailing investment@screen.nsw.gov.au or the Investment Manager assigned to the application which you will be notified of shortly after the closing date of the round.

Publication of grants information

The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the funding agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide).

This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the funding awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the funding agreement is executed.

All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998 (NSW).

Support and contact

Screen Investment team

investment@screen.nsw.gov.au

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