Screen Australia

What Screen Australia does

Screen Australia is the Australian Government's federal screen development agency, constituted in 2008 as a statutory authority through the merger of the Australian Film Commission, Film Finance Corporation Australia, and Film Australia. It operates under the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, headquartered in Canberra (with a presence in Ultimo). Its mandate is to support the production, development, and international competitiveness of Australian screen content — narrative film and television, documentary, animation, short film, and games — through funding programs, co-production treaty administration, and market access initiatives. The agency does not produce commercial technology products; its core "products" are competitive funding rounds, structured programs such as the Narrative Content and Documentary funding streams, the new Market & Audience programs (Assets, Audience Testing, Channel Management), the Proper Loved Up First Nations initiative, the Digital Originals program, and the annual Drama Report industry research publication.

Screen Australia is funded through Australian Government appropriations rather than commercial revenue, and does not charge for its funding programs; grants are disbursed competitively to Australian filmmakers, production companies, and broadcasters. It administers or partners on production incentives including the Location Offset (raised to 30%) and Producer Offset, and convenes Official Co-production treaties with the UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Its go-to-market is hybrid: competitive grant rounds (sales-led), convening of international co-productions (event-driven via programs like Play Now Melbourne and Partner with Australia UK), and strategic partnerships with Ausfilm, BFI, Film London, Pact, Telefilm Canada, FDCP, ABC, SBS, NITV, and state screen agencies. Senior leadership includes CEO Deirdre Brennan, inaugural Director of First Nations Strategy Rachel Perkins (commencing 2 March 2026), Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley, and Investment Manager Michelle Melky.

Name

Screen Australia

Legal name

Screen Australia

Website

https://screenaustralia.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Screen Australia is the Australian Government's federal statutory authority that funds and develops the national screen industry through competitive grants, co-production treaties (UK, Canada, Ireland, NZ, Philippines), and market access programs for filmmakers, production companies, and broadcasters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Screen Funding Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Production Accounting & Business Affairs (Accounting, Legal Clearances) (MPADAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

International TV Program Distribution (Sales/Output Deals) (MPABAMAD), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Screen funding programs
• Government film grants
• Production incentives
• Co-production treaties
• Documentary funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Ultimo

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding Allocation: Screen Australia operates as a statutory authority funded by the Australian Government. The agency allocates funds to support Australian screen production, rather than generating commercial revenue. The Drama Report 2024/25 shows $2.7 billion was spent on drama production in Australia, with Screen Australia facilitating a portion through its investment programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Screen Australia is a federal government statutory authority that provides competitive production funding and development support to Australian filmmakers, production companies, and broadcasters. It invests in narrative projects, documentaries, animated series, and feature films through funding programs, while administering production incentives (Location Offset at 30%, Producer Offset) and facilitating international co-productions under treaty frameworks with Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, and the Philippines. The agency also supports market access through events like Play Now Melbourne for game developers and the Partner with Australia (UK) initiative.

Product overview

Screen Australia is Australia's federal screen funding agency providing funding programs and strategic initiatives for the Australian screen industry. The agency offers multiple funding streams including Narrative Content funding ($20.4M for 91 projects), Documentary funding ($5.6M for 44 projects), Short Film Production funding with mentorship, and Market & Audience programs. The First Nations Department supports Indigenous storytelling through initiatives like Proper Loved Up, while the Digital Originals program nurtures diverse creators. The Drama Report provides industry research and analytics on production activity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Narrative Content Funding Program Competitive funding program providing investment to Australian narrative projects including animated series, shorts, feature films, and new productions in development. Includes support for short films paired with industry mentors.
• Documentary Funding Program Competitive funding program providing $5.6 million for 44 documentary projects across Australian broadcasters, streamers, and online platforms, supporting productions at development and production stages.
• Short Film Production Funding Program Funding program that pairs filmmakers with industry mentors, supporting emerging filmmakers through the first four short films under this program.
• Market & Audience Programs (Assets, Audience Testing, Channel Management) Three funding programs offering up to $45,000 for theatrical assets, $15,000 for audience testing, and $15,000 for channel management to support Australian film producers and distributors in reaching audiences.
• Proper Loved Up Initiative Romantic comedy program supporting mid-career First Nations producers with up to $152,500 per team, development workshops, and mentorship to shape First Nations love stories for screen.
• Digital Originals Program Program supporting ten Australian scripted projects targeting diverse creators with development workshops, aiming to develop projects for SBS On Demand and NITV.
• Location Offset Production Incentive Government production incentive offering 30% Location Offset for international productions filming in Australia, driving $1.3 billion in international production spending in 2024/25.
• Partner with Australia (UK) Initiative Three-day programme in London with roundtables, panel discussions, and networking creating pathways for co-development and co-production under the Australia-UK Official Co-productions treaty.
• Play Now Melbourne Australia's largest games market connecting Australian game developers with international publishers and investors through events.
• International Co-production Treaty Administration Administration of official co-production treaties with Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, and the Philippines, facilitating international co-productions.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.7 billion in drama production expenditure in 2024/25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDCP is the Philippine government's film agency and co-producer of 'First Light', marking the first co-production between the Philippines and Australia. The film explores corruption in religious and capitalist institutions in rural Philippines.
• VicScreencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictoria's screen development agency presenting Play Now Melbourne 2026 with assistance from Screen Australia. The event connects Australian game developers with international publishers and investors.
• National Indigenous Television (NITV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNITV co-funded First Nations short films with $152,000 grants as part of the Proper Loved Up collection. Partnership supports diverse storytelling and emerging First Nations talent.
• British Film Institute (BFI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFI partnered with Screen Australia and Ausfilm on the Partner with Australia (UK) initiative to create pathways for co-development and co-production under the Australia-UK treaty.
• Film LondonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm London is a partner in the Partner with Australia (UK) initiative, contributing to roundtables, panel discussions, and networking sessions for UK-Australia creative partnerships.
• Pact (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK producers' organization Pact partnered on the initiative to build commercial partnerships between Australian and UK screen industries.
• AusfilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAusfilm co-announced the Partner with Australia (UK) initiative with Screen Australia, bringing Australian creatives and member businesses to London for the three-day programme.
• Sandbox FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSandbox Films provided principal production funding for documentary Phenomena, executive produced by Radiolab's Jad Abumrad.
• Mashup PicturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMashup Pictures served as a production partner on documentary Phenomena alongside Screen Australia and VicScreen.
• Telefilm CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelefilm Canada co-invested in Australian/Canadian co-productions as part of Screen Australia's funding slate.
• ABCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation received $50 million funding boost and partners with Screen Australia on multiple productions including Proper Loved Up collection and various narrative projects.
• State Screen Agencies (NSW, Queensland, Territory, West)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScreen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Territory, and Screenwest provided additional support for Proper Loved Up initiative and various productions alongside Screen Australia.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British Film Institute (BFI): UK lead body for film and the moving image, distributing National Lottery and government funding to UK productions and co-producing with international partners. Directly comparable as a national screen funding agency and an existing Screen Australia co-production treaty partner.
• Telefilm Canada: Canadian federal film funding agency that finances Canadian screen content, supports co-productions, and partners with international agencies — directly comparable to Screen Australia's federal funding mandate and co-production treaty operations (and is itself an existing Screen Australia partner).
• Screen Ireland (Fís Éireann): Ireland's national screen agency providing funding for Irish film, television, and animation, with the Section 481 tax incentive. Comparable as a national funding agency with co-production treaty relationships and similar production offset tools.
• New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC): New Zealand's national film development agency funding local productions and supporting co-productions, including with Australia. Directly comparable as a small national screen funding body operating co-production treaties and government incentives.
• Ausfilm: Australian screen attraction agency facilitating international production in Australia and supporting the Location Offset program alongside Screen Australia. Closely related mandate of promoting Australian production and an existing Screen Australia partner.
• Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP): Philippine national film agency funding local productions and co-productions, and a recent treaty partner of Screen Australia (with First Light). Comparable mandate and structure as a national government film funding body.

Broad incumbents

• Creative UK: UK organization supporting the creative industries including film and TV through funding, tax credit advocacy, and industry development. Comparable as a national creative-industries funding body, though with broader scope than Screen Australia.
• German Films: National information and advisory body representing German cinema internationally and supporting co-productions. Comparable in its role promoting national screen content and facilitating international co-productions.
• Centre national du cinéma (CNC): French national cinema regulatory and funding body overseeing film policy, tax credits, and support schemes. Comparable as a major national screen funding/regulatory authority, though broader in scope and larger in scale than Screen Australia.

Regional players

• Korean Film Council (KOFIC): South Korean government agency supporting the Korean film industry through funding, policy, and promotion. Comparable in mandate as a national film funding and policy body, though operating primarily in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScreenAustralia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Screen Australia