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
Regional fund Australia, Canberra
Direct to Audience Production Program (Canberra Screen and Games Fund)
Run by Screen Canberra, for the ACT Government
Grants for Canberra creators who publish their own short-form narrative, comedy, factual or animation online, with two local key creatives and no commission attached. Assessment takes eight to twelve weeks and weighs story, audience plan and the territory's economic return. Round 2 opens January 11, 2027.
Grant up to A$40,000Open to writers in AustraliaA writer with a producer or a production company
Next deadline Mar 19, 2027 (closes in 138 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$40,000Non-recoupable grants of up to AUD 40,000, with four dollars of ACT spend expected per grant dollar
- What it is
- Grant
- To apply
- Free
Who can apply
- Applicant
- A writer with a producer or a production company
- Where you write
- In Australia
- Rules
- ACT-based individuals and companies with an ABN and the rights, releasing primarily on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook with no broadcaster or streamer commission. Individuals have to be 18 or over, citizens or permanent residents, and not studying full time. Two or more of the key creatives (writer, producer or director) have to be based in the ACT.
- Stages
- Production
- Formats
- Series, Short, Documentary, Animation
- Language of the application
- English
Its site names no past recipients or funded projects. It is listed because applying is free.
When to apply
The next closing date is Mar 19, 2027. The dates below are the current cycle's, as the funder states them. Round 2 opens January 11, 2027; Round 3 opens July 12, 2027
| Round | Closes |
|---|---|
| Round 2 | Mar 19, 2027 |
| Round 3 | Sep 17, 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
Documentary Production Program
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…
up toA$500kInvestmentcloses in 95 days
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
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.