Screen Australia

Overview

Screen Australia is the Australian federal government agency responsible for funding, policy, and industry support for Australian screen content. Established in 2008 through the merger of the Australian Film Commission, the Film Finance Corporation Australia, and the funding functions of AFTRS, the agency administers direct production funding, development programs, and the Producer Offset on behalf of the federal government. Its annual budget allocation comes through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

Screen Australia funds theatrical features, television drama, documentary, children's content, online narrative content, and interactive media. The agency operates from a single Sydney office and has approximately 120 staff. Its current CEO is Graeme Mason, who has held the role since 2019. For any Australian filmmaker seeking public funding, Screen Australia is the primary institutional relationship that shapes project development and production financing.

The Producer Offset

The Producer Offset is a refundable tax offset administered by Screen Australia under Division 376 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. It provides:

• 40% of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) for feature films produced for commercial theatrical exhibition
• 30% of QAPE for television and subscription service projects that commenced principal photography on or after 1 July 2021
• 20% of QAPE for eligible television projects that commenced principal photography before 1 July 2021

The offset is mutually exclusive with the Location Offset and PDV Offset. A project cannot claim more than one federal offset. For drama series, a per-season minimum QAPE threshold of $35 million applies for productions commencing principal photography on or after 1 July 2024, replacing the previous per-hour and total minimums.

Screen Australia charges processing fees for provisional certificate applications (GST inclusive, as of 1 July 2025): $161 for budgets under $1M, $805 for $1M to under $5M, $1,616 for $5M to under $15M, $3,230 for $15M to under $30M, and $5,652 for budgets of $30M or more. Reassessment costs $220. The full Producer Offset guidelines are published on Screen Australia's website.

Location Offset and PDV Offset

The Location Offset and PDV Offset are administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, not Screen Australia. However, Screen Australia is the practical first point of contact for international producers navigating the Australian incentive framework.

Location Offset: 30% of QAPE for large-budget productions filming in Australia. Minimum QAPE threshold is $20 million, with TV series requiring an average of $1.5 million per hour. Productions must use Australian PDV providers and meet training expenditure requirements. Recent productions using the Location Offset include Fall Guy, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Ticket to Paradise, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

PDV Offset: 30% of QAPE for post-production, digital, and visual effects work completed in Australia, regardless of where the project was filmed. Minimum QAPE threshold is $500,000. No expenditure cap or sunset clause. Recent titles using Australian PDV include Avatar: Fire and Ash, Moana 2, Superman, Wicked: For Good, and How to Train Your Dragon.

Direct Production Funding

Screen Australia provides direct production funding separate from the Producer Offset. Funding is structured as a non-repayable grant at or below $500,000, or as a recoupable equity investment above $500,000. The minimum direct funding request is $150,000.

The agency caps the combined total of direct funding and Producer Offset support. For feature films under the Market First stream (theatrical release with secured ANZ distributor and ROW sales agent), the cap ranges from 10% to 15% of budget depending on budget tier, with a maximum combined cap of 55%. For television, the cap ranges from 5% to 15%, with a maximum combined cap of 45%. For online and direct-to-audience content, the maximum combined cap is 50% to 60%.

The Narrative Content Production guidelines were issued 1 July 2025 and updated 20 February 2026, covering the Creative First and Market First application streams.

Documentary Funding

Screen Australia runs three documentary production funding programs, each with four application rounds per financial year:

1. Platform First: For documentaries with a confirmed commissioning platform (FTA, BVOD, SVOD, AVOD). Screen Australia's maximum contribution is $500,000. Minimum licence fees apply. Minimum budget is $250,000 per hour.
2. Producer First: For documentaries where the producer drives the project creatively and commercially. Screen Australia can fund production or post-production only. Minimum licence fees apply for commissioned projects only.
3. Direct-to-Audience: For self-distributed documentary content. Screen Australia contributes up to 80% of budget (capped at $300,000) for budgets under $500,000, or up to 65% for budgets above $500,000.

Upcoming 2026 application deadlines include 24 September 2026. Full details are on the Documentary Production program page.

First Nations Programs

Screen Australia's First Nations Department provides dedicated funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen practitioners. Programs include the First Nations Production Fund, First Nations Online Content, and the Indigenous Writers' Initiative. These programs operate alongside the mainstream funding streams, not as a replacement for them.

For international co-productions involving Australian Indigenous stories, the First Nations Department provides guidance on culturally appropriate engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including story rights protocols and consultation requirements.

Official Co-Productions

Screen Australia is the Australian Competent Authority for the Official Co-Production Program, administering co-production arrangements with treaty partner countries. Most treaties require each partner to contribute at least 20% of the total finance plan and creative contribution. Official co-productions can access the Producer Offset and direct Screen Australia funding. Recent examples include The Surfer (Australia-Ireland), Went Up The Hill (Australia-New Zealand), and Stuff the British Stole (Australia-Canada).

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Australian filmmakers, Screen Australia is the primary public funding body. Understanding the difference between direct funding (grant or equity investment from Screen Australia) and the Producer Offset (a tax rebate claimed through the ATO) is essential. Most Australian productions combine both: direct Screen Australia funding for development and early production, plus the Producer Offset to reduce the effective budget by 30% or 40%.

For international producers, the Location Offset (30% for $20M+ productions) and PDV Offset (30% for $500K+ post-production) are the primary incentives. Screen Australia provides guidance but does not administer these offsets. International producers should contact the Office for the Arts for Location and PDV Offset applications.

See Also

For the Australian producers association that advocates alongside Screen Australia on policy and incentives, see Screen Producers Australia (SPA) in this directory. For the Australian directors guild, see Australian Directors Guild (ADG) in this directory. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to model how the Producer Offset or Location Offset affects your production budget.