The fund provides finance towards the production of feature films, television series and documentaries, offered as a percentage of the production’s estimated Queensland Production Expenditure (QPE). Funding will be provided as a base percentage of QPE, with additional funding available up to a fixed cap. The base and cap percentages are determined by residency (Queensland or interstate) among other criteria, as outlined below.

Queensland Residents

Base funding: 12% QPE

With additional funding (dependent on extra benefits to Queensland) up to Cap funding of 15% QPE up to $850,000.

Interstate Residents

Base funding: 10% QPE

With additional funding (dependent on extra benefits to Queensland) up to Cap funding of 12% QPE up to $850,000.

Additional Funding

Additional funding (above the relevant base percentage and up to relevant cap) is subject to the applicant demonstrating additional benefits to Queensland, such as:

• the story significantly and appropriately represents First Nations content and diversity or unique cultural value to Queensland/Queenslanders
• the story showcases Queensland as Queensland on screen in a way that celebrates our unique culture and identity.
• the inclusion of a Queensland-resident writer
• the inclusion of a Queensland-resident director
• a significant credited, career-advancement opportunity for an early-career Queensland-resident producer.

All funding is assessed competitively and eligibility for any given funding amount is not a guarantee that any or all funding will be awarded. Screen Queensland reserves the right to make funding decisions at its sole discretion.

GRANTS AND EQUITY INVESTMENT

Screen Finance applications for under $250,000 can be submitted at any time and successful applications are financed as non-recoupable grants.  

Applications for more than $250,000 need to be submitted in line with Screen Queensland’s board cut-off dates.   

Successful applications for greater than $250,000 are provided as an equity investment that is 100% recoupable with Screen Queensland requiring a 1% share of copyright.  

Projects that meet eligibility requirements are not guaranteed funding and will undergo a rigorous assessment process against Screen Queensland’s strategic priorities and program guidelines. All requests for funding, regardless of eligibility, are subject to limited program budgets within a highly competitive funding environment. 

Applicants are eligible for Screen Finance funding if:

• they are the rights-holding producer (with a solicitor’s chain of title opinion required before first drawdown)
• they are an Australian resident
• the project has a Queensland-resident producer or line producer attached
• the project has not been previously unsuccessful in applications for Screen Finance funding twice
• they have read and complied with Screen Queensland’s Terms of Trade
• the team of key creatives authentically represent the story and characters in your application
  • If your story includes content or characters from an under-represented background, e.g. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; culturally and linguistically diverse people; people with a disability; female; LGBTQIA+ people, then appropriate representation of that diversity must be ensured throughout the production. 

HOW IS RESIDENCE DETERMINED?

“Queensland-resident” applicants are defined as applicants who live and work in Queensland and have been resident of the state for at least six months immediately preceding the application; proof of residency may be required. 

To determine eligible base and cap funding, the following criteria apply: 

Queensland Producers

• Must be Queensland-resident producer(s) owning minimum 50% of Intellectual Property (I.P.) in the project. Co-productions are allowed if this I.P. share is in place. 
• In the case of single production company with branches across multiple states, the application must be led by Queensland-resident producer with a significant stake in the production company. 

Interstate Producers

• Australian-resident producers whose primary place of residence is outside of Queensland. 
• Interstate producers must engage a minimum of one Queensland-resident above-the-line creative in the role of writer, director or producer and must engage a Queensland-resident line producer to be eligible for the 10% base QPE ask.

FIRST NATIONS ELEMENTS/STORIES

For First Nations stories or stories including First Nations elements, eligibility will be determined as per the below table and notes. 

* A “First Nations story” refers to a narrative that originates from the oral traditions of Indigenous peoples, often focusing on their history, culture, spirituality, and worldview. 

** A story that contains “First Nations elements” may incorporate aspects of First Nations cultures, such as characters, settings, themes, or storytelling techniques, but may not necessarily originate from or be deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions. 

# Co-productions in this context are defined as productions wherein both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous producers have a share in the copyright. 

Your proposal will be assessed against the following criteria:  

• Is the creative material developed to a professional, production-ready standard and is it likely to engage with its intended audience?  
• Does the team have a clear idea of who their audience is and how to reach them?  
• Has the project secured strong marketplace commitment? 
• Is the Finance Plan secure, and are cashflow arrangements in place as required? 
• Is the budget appropriate? 
• Does the team have a good reputation for delivering what it says it will and the skills to make this happen?  
• How will this funding benefit Queensland, particularly Queensland-based Production Companies and above-the-line practitioners, and the state screen sector more broadly?  

Submission of an application constitutes acceptance of these Guidelines and the application terms and conditions.  

Your information will be used in accordance with Screen Queensland’s Privacy Policy which you hereby agree to by submitting this application.  

Applicants must notify Screen Queensland in writing if they have an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest in applying for the Funding and, if so, the manner in which they propose to deal with the conflict.  

The applicant retains all intellectual property rights in its submission. The applicant grants an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty and fee free licence to the Screen Queensland to use, adapt and modify its intellectual property rights in its submission for the purposes of Screen Queensland analysing and evaluating the applicant’s submission.  

Screen Queensland’s liability in relation to the application process is limited to $1.  

Screen Queensland reserves the right to change any element of the Funding, these Guidelines or the application process at any time and in its absolute discretion.  

You must read our Terms of Trade, QPE definition and our corporate and strategic plans before preparing your application.  

Screen Queensland Terms of Trade  

Screen Queensland QPE Definition  

Screen Queensland Strategic Plan 2023–25  

Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network Charter 

Screen Australia Pathways and Protocols  

As a member of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN), Screen Queensland uses The Everyone Project to benchmark and track the diversity of the Australian screen industry. 

The Everyone Project is an easy-to-use survey and reporting tool that invites people working on current projects to self-identify on a set of characteristics to help us benchmark and track the impact of work to diversify the talent and crews working in the screen industry.

Productions supported through Screen Queensland must register with The Everyone Project and, with appropriate consent, provide their cast and crew’s names, roles and contact details so that they may be invited to participate in voluntary, de-identified demographic surveys. 

Learn more about The Everyone Project.