Documentary Development Program
Screen Australia
Development money for documentaries headed for cinemas, television or direct-to-audience platforms such as YouTube and VR.
up toA$30kRepayableany time
National fund Australia, Sydney
Documentary Production Program
Run by Screen Australia
Three lanes for documentary production: Producer First for films still closing finance, Platform First for commissioned programs, and Direct-to-Audience for work released on YouTube, TikTok or in XR. Post-production-only requests are accepted for advanced projects. Screen Australia is usually the last money in.
Investment, up to A$500,000Open to writers in AustraliaA production company
Next deadline Feb 4, 2027 (closes in 95 days)
That closing date has passed. We check the funder's page every day and add the next dates once they are published.
The money
- Amount
- Up to A$500,000A share of the budget on a sliding scale (20 percent under AUD 1 million, down to 10 percent above AUD 3 million), capped at AUD 500,000; direct-to-audience projects capped at AUD 300,000
- What it is
- InvestmentThe fund takes a share of the film and recoups from its earnings.
- To apply
- Free
Who can apply
- Applicant
- A production company
- Where you write
- In Australia
- Rules
- Companies, and individuals in some cases, with projects developed by Australian producers and creatives. Platform First needs a confirmed commissioning platform and all finance in place; Producer First may close its finance within four months of approval; Direct-to-Audience needs two key creatives, one with a comparable release credit.
- Stages
- Production and completion
- Formats
- Documentary
- Language of the application
- English
When to apply
The next closing date is Feb 4, 2027. The dates below are the current cycle's, as the funder states them. Decisions 10 to 12 weeks after each closing date
| Round | Closes |
|---|---|
| Round | Feb 4, 2027 |
| Round | Apr 8, 2027 |
Dates are as the funder states them. Check the time of day and the time zone on the official page.
Also open to writers in Australia
First Nations Documentary Development
Screen Australia, First Nations Department
Treatments, draft scripts, research and sizzle shooting for documentaries by First Nations key creatives, including emerging producers.
up toA$30kGrantcloses in 74 days
First Nations Feature Development
Screen Australia, First Nations Department
Draft money for feature screenplays by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers with a track record.
up toA$45kGrantcloses in 74 days
First Nations Feature Production Fund
Screen Australia, First Nations Department
Production and post-production investment for low-budget features written and directed by First Nations filmmakers.
VariesInvestmentany time
More production funding elsewhere
AFS Grant
Austin Film Society
Texas filmmakers have their own state fund: cash for features and shorts in production or post, with camera and finishing packages on top.
up to$20kGrantbetween rounds
Minnesota Film Production Grant
Jerome Foundation
The Minnesota twin of Jerome's New York City grant: up to USD 30,000 of production money for early career directors who take creative risks, applied for in two steps each fall.
up to$30kGrantcloses in 23 days
New York City Film Production Grant
Jerome Foundation
A production grant for New York City directors near the start of their careers, in any moving-image form from animation to documentary.
up to$30kGrantcloses in 23 days
BPM Open Call
Black Public Media
Public television's fund for Black nonfiction stories runs one call a year: five projects get USD 20,000 and a place at PitchBLACK, where one leaves with up to USD 150,000 of production…
range$150kInvestmentbetween rounds
Also useful
Fellowships and labsPrograms that pick a few writers and work with them for months, on the events pages.Where Creative Europe's development money goesEvery MEDIA development grant since 2014, by country, company and year.How to write a treatmentThe document a development application is built on, step by step.Screenwriting eventsContests, labs, festivals and conferences, with their deadlines.