Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: $5,000 -$50,000
- Application opened: 13 October 2025
- Application closes: 29 May 2026, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the Strategic Opportunities Program are to fund projects that:
- Build capacity within the NSW screen and digital games industries
- Support the growth and capability of NSW screen and digital games practitioners, organisations and businesses
- Are aligned with one or more strategic priorities in the NSW Screen & Digital Games Strategy (2025-2027):
- Priority 1 – Creating Stories
- Priority 2 – Building Sustainable Growth
- Priority 3 – Improving Capacity and Capability
- Priority 4 – Developing Audiences to Increase Demand
- Increase industry participation for audiences and/or screen and digital games practitioners from one or more NSW Government key priority areas:
- Regional NSW
- Western Sydney
- First Nations people
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- People living with disability
- LGBTQIA+ people.
The Strategic Opportunities Program is funded and administered by Screen NSW, an entity within the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (DCITHS).
This program is administered by Screen NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Please see the Screen NSW website for the full Program Guidelines.
To be eligible for funding under the Strategic Opportunities Program, applicants must:
- Discuss their proposed project with Screen NSW staff before submitting an application
- Be an Australian organisation, including:
- Companies and not-for-profit incorporated bodies
- Co-operatives, trusts or local government authorities
- A consortium or a group of organisations working collaboratively*
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Be legally constituted and able to provide proof of legal status
- Adhere to general eligibility requirements under the Screen NSW Terms of Trade.
*In the case of a consortium or group of organisations working collaboratively, one eligible organisation must be nominated as the lead organisation. If successful, the funding grant agreement will be between Screen NSW and the lead organisation.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Screen NSW accepts proposals for projects that:
- Build capacity within the NSW screen or digital games industry
- Are well planned and of high artistic quality and/or of strategic importance to the NSW screen or digital games sector
- Create innovative professional development opportunities for NSW screen or digital games practitioners
- Foster new and sustainable industry partnerships
- Increase industry participation for people from one or more NSW Government key priority area
- Demonstrate alignment with one or more strategic priorities in the NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy (2025-2027)
- Represent value for money and efficient use of Screen NSW funding
- Have adequate levels of financial and/or in-kind support from other funding sources
- Will be designed and delivered by an organisation (and any partner organisations) with demonstrated experience in the screen sector
- Intend to be completed within one year of being funded.
Please note that if your project involves First Nations content or people, it will be ineligible for consideration if it cannot demonstrate appropriate First Nations consultation and/or participation.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
With regard to the Assessment Criteria, applicants must prepare responses to all questions and submit all core materials listed on the application form, including:
- Description and rationale for the project, including any proposed delivery partners
- Demonstrated demand for the project, including how the project meets the objectives of the Strategic Opportunities Program
- Industry development and participation as related to the project, including how the project will meaningfully engage with any NSW Government key priority area
- Location/s for delivering the project
- Budget, including other sources of financial and/or in-kind support
- Organisational capacity to deliver the project, including key team members and governing body
- Marketing strategy and target participants
- Milestones, outcomes, and key performance indicators
- Relevant support material (see information below).
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
Screen NSW uses the SmartyGrants platform for submission of all applications. Applications made using any other format will not be accepted.
A preview of the application form can be viewed here.
Please note that applicants must discuss their proposal with Screen NSW prior to submitting an application to the Strategic Opportunities Program.
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: Deputy Secretary, 24-Hour, Screen & Sound (or their relevant financial delegate)
Eligibility
Applications will be initially assessed by Screen NSW staff to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, and that all application materials are acceptable. Applications deemed ineligible will not proceed to the formal assessment process.
Screen NSW will inform all ineligible applicants via email within 14 days of this outcome.
Assessment and Recommendations
Eligible applications will proceed to formal assessment by an assessment team, which includes a minimum of two Screen NSW staff and one external screen industry assessor.
Grant funding allocation under the Strategic Opportunities Program is non-competitive, which means that applications are assessed individually, without reference to the comparative merits of other applications.
During the assessment process, the assessment team evaluations applications against the:
- Assessment criteria
- Availability of Screen NSW funds.
Each member of the assessment team will assess and score an application before deciding whether to recommend the application for approval.
Support and contact
Screen NSW Industry & Audience Team - industry@screen.nsw.gov.au