Screenwest – Documentary Production Fund

This program aims to provide funding support to Western Australian producers for feature length documentary films, factual one-offs, and series with significant marketplace attachments.

Grants of up to $300,000 or 25% of the total Qualifying Western Australian Expenditure (or 1:4 ratio), whichever is less, are available.

Additional funding (outside the 1:4 ratio) may be available via the following incentives to projects that support Screenwest's indigenous and diversity and inclusion objectives:

• $50,000: A WA indigenous production company (the company must have at least 50% indigenous ownership and profit share in the project).
• $25,000: A WA indigenous director or a director who identifies as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) or a director who identifies as living with disability, directing at least 50% of the series or the sole director on a single/feature.
• $25,000: A WA female series producer or series director on a series and credited for the entirety of a series.
• $25,000: A WA director, series director, series producer who is performing the role for the first time and will be credited for the entirety of a series.

Companies can only access one allocation under each of the incentives per project. Requests for pre-curt proofreading GUMs will not be allowed. An individual can't be used to access more than one incentive and the cumulative amount cannot be over $50,000.

The closing dates are:

• 19 February 2024
• 6 May 2024
• 9 September 2024
• 2 December 2024

Applicants must contact the program administrator prior to submitting an application.

Eligible projects must:

• Satisfy the documentary definition test outlined in the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) documentary Guidelines.
• Be a feature, single, series, large format (e.g. IMAX) or innovative project (VR, AR, mixed reality).
• Have not entered pre-production or production prior to Screenwest's funding decision.
• Have confirmed marketplace (via a letter of offer) from a recognised distributor or exhibition platform for one or more of the following:
  1. Australian theatrical release.
  2. Australian television broadcast in free to air or cable TV.
  3. International broadcaster with Australian audience footprint.
  4. Online platform with significant audience reach in Australia (e.g. Netflix, Amazon, Google, Vice, The Guardian).
• Have a minimum Qualifying Western Australian Expenditure (QWAE) of $300,000.
• Reach a minimum of ten points, from the WA Elements Point Allocation Table that can be found on the Guidelines.

Eligible applicants must be either of the following:

• Western Australian resident company.
• Western Australian resident company in a genuine co-production partnership with a non-WA resident company (as defined in the Screenwest Terms of Trade).
• Western Australian resident company in an official treaty co-production relationship with a non-WA resident company.

Please refer to the Terms of Trade for the complete eligibility requirements.

The main assessment criteria include:

• Track record of the applicant(s) and key creatives.
• Cultural and creative benefits of the project to Western Australia (as highlighted in the total points accumulated in the WA Elements Point Allocation Table in the Guidelines).
• Economic benefits including the amount of Qualifying Western Australian Expenditure (QWAE) and the employment of key Western Australian crew.
• Strength of the market attachments (as appropriate to the market).
• Quality and rigor of the supporting materials.
• Overall diversity of projects (e.g. documentary vs scripted) and companies funded by Screenwest.
• Availability of Screenwest funds.
• How the project aligns with the relevant strategic priorities as set out in the Screenwest Strategic Plan. 

Priority will be given to those projects that highlight Western Australia locations and talent. Projects that have a higher level of production in WA will be more competitive than those that shoot outside of WA.