This program will give practical experience to mid-career First Nations producers, gaining knowledge in story, development, business, drama production and local & global markets.

The Proper Loved Up initiative is designed to upskill and develop screen practitioners, giving them vital screen credits. We are looking for creative, emotive, thought provoking First Nations stories in the Romantic Comedy genre, authored and crafted by First Nations people.

Stories should incorporate:

• a maximum of two main characters with minimal extra/support characters;
• and no more than two locations.

The selected projects will be bold, based on authentic First Nations characters and ideas, exhibit a high level of creative ambition and demonstrate the possibility of being financed for production. Stories that incorporate First Nations languages are also encouraged.

Proper Loved Up is a two-stage initiative with opportunities to access support across separate application and assessment processes. Applicants must apply for Stage One (Workshops and Development) to be eligible for all subsequent opportunities. Information about the application and assessment processes for Stage Two will be circulated to applicants in due course.

Stage One: Short Film Component

1. Workshops & Development. The producer will apply to participate in workshops and to receive $5000 from Screen Australia for development of a short film script. The writer and director or writer/director must be included in the application.

2. Production. Selected teams then need to apply for production funding. These teams will receive information about the application process for production funding at the end of the second workshop. Successful teams will have the opportunity to access up to $152,500 for each project (from SA, ABC, NITV, and their applicable screen agency) for production and delivery of a short film with a 12-month festival holdback before broadcast on the commissioning platforms

Who can apply:

• Mid-career First Nations producers must apply with an emerging to mid-career First Nations writer and director team and/or writer/director.
• Note: First Nations producers who are not mid-career but who have a demonstrated interest or experience in the industry, or writers who have 8 strong projects but do not yet have a producer attached, are still encouraged to apply however should be aware that their applications are more likely to be successful with a mid-career producer attached. These applicants should contact an Investment Manager via firstnations@screenaustralia.gov.au prior to applying.

• Email: indigenous@screenaustralia.gov.au