Through the Screen Story Development Fund, Screen Australia supports screen content makers to take advantage of existing and emerging opportunities to develop compelling scripted stories.

Applicants may apply for development funding from one of two strands – The Generate Fund or the Premium Fund. The information on this page refers to the Generate Fund strand.

The Generate Fund is for lower budget long form episodic television and feature film projects with an emphasis on emerging screen content makers.

The Story Development Generate Fund provides development funding support for emerging screen content makers to develop bold and distinctive lower budget drama stories for episodic television and feature films.

The Generate Development fund has the following aims:

• Talent: to identify and support new and emerging talent and their career progression.
• Story & Audience: to encourage bold and distinctive lower budget drama stories for any platform that can demonstrate a clear pathway to audience.
• Culture & Diversity: to ensure the storytellers and stories being told reflect gender equity and/or the diversity of people and experiences from around Australia, all of which are important culturally, creatively and economically.

Funding 

Funding is for development costs. The Development budget can include whatever the project and team need including a treatment, scriptment, draft script, bible, research, writers’ rooms, and/or the production of a Proof of Concept (POC) or sizzle reel. For more detail on POC requirements, see Generate Fund FAQs. There is no cap on funding but the amount applied for must be reasonable relative to the scope of the project, experience of the creative team, the development activities proposed, and any additional sources of development financing raised or expected. Requested amounts should also align with our Contribution Guide.

Applications

Applications are open all year and can be made at any time through Screen Australia’s application portal.

Applications for Generate will be open to anyone who:

• meets all requirements and conditions in our Terms of Trade
• is an Australian individual or team. Co-productions may also apply with an application from the Australian Company.
• controls the rights whether they are the writer, director or producer.
• is able to develop, finance and produce the project for the intended platform and audience.
• meets the following budget thresholds

• one-off or series for a Commissioning Platform - under $1,500,000 per hour
• feature Films – under $3,000,000

There are no minimum credit requirements to apply.

Applications can be made by individuals or creative teams, however individual applicants must demonstrate the ability to attract other team members at later stages of development. 

With the exception of official Co-Productions, it is Screen Australia’s expectation that applications for direct funding will demonstrate that the project is written and directed by Australian citizens or permanent residents. Please email Development to discuss with a Story Development team member before applying if this is not the case.

Specific requirements apply where a project involves First Nations content, stories, characters or community participation. Please see the First Nations content, collaboration and participation section below and our Pathways and Protocols guide for more detail.

You will not be eligible for Generate if you have a project that:

• is a standalone short film
• a short form series
• does not meet all requirements and conditions in our Terms of Trade
• has been declined twice for Screen Australia development funding (except in exceptional circumstances)

Funding limits

• Screen Australia will only fund Australian creatives and costs of the development budget, but will also contribute to costs for international consultants, mentors and script editors. 
• Screen Australia development funding cannot be retrospective. 
• Whilst Screen Australia can support the development of TV series, when marketplace (broadcaster, streamer etc) commits to development of a project, that project cannot apply to Screen Australia for further or matched development funding. 

• Phone: 1800 507 901
• Email: development@screenaustralia.gov.au