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, Brisbane
Development Fund
Run by Screen Queensland
Since July 2024 Queensland's development money has been a straight grant with no copyright interest taken, unusual among the Australian state agencies. Three tiers climb from a treatment-stage AUD 15,000 to a producer's slate of four projects. Deliverables are due three months after funding, so plan a short sprint.
Grant up to A$50,000Open to writers in AustraliaA writer alone, a writer with a producer or a production company
Applications taken any time
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$50,000Tier 1 up to AUD 15,000; Tier 2 AUD 15,001 to 30,000; Tier 3 slate AUD 25,000 to 50,000 for at least four projects; AUD 100,000 a year per applicant and per project over its life
- What it is
- Grant
- To apply
- Free
Who can apply
- Applicant
- A writer alone, a writer with a producer or a production company
- Where you write
- In Australia
- Rules
- Queensland residents of at least six months who hold the rights; a sole practitioner in Tier 1 needs a letter confirming a producer will attach. Tier 2 wants a rights-holding Queensland producer keeping at least half the copyright; Tier 3 is for established Queensland producers. Interstate applicants need a team at least half Queensland writers or directors.
- Stages
- Writing and development
- Formats
- Feature, Series, Documentary
- Language of the application
- English
When to apply
Applications are taken at any time; decisions follow in the fund's own rhythm. Apply at any time; the SmartyGrants portal closes November 2, 2026 while Screen Queensland moves to a new one
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 writing grants elsewhere
Arts Innovator Award
Artist Trust
Two Washington artists a year receive USD 25,000 for pushing at the edges of their field, with no project report attached.
range$25kGrantbetween rounds
Creative Accelerator Fund
Illinois Arts Council
Illinois pays working artists USD 10,000 by lottery rather than by jury: show an active practice with two work samples and the state lottery draws the winners region by region.
range$10kGrantbetween rounds
Fellowship Awards
Artist Trust
Washington State's merit award for working artists: USD 10,000 with no strings, judged on the body of work rather than a project.
range$10kGrantcloses tomorrow
Grants for Artist Projects (GAP)
Artist Trust
Small, fast and plentiful: 65 Washington artists a year receive USD 2,500 toward a specific project, from research travel to a first draft.
range$2.5kGrantbetween 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.