The National Documentary Program (NDP) aims to provide a comprehensive and strategic slate of projects across time, involving a diversity of styles and formats, and encompassing a broad range of themes of national and cultural significance with heritage value. These documentaries will have a sense of cultural ambition and a budget scale that separates them from other Screen Australia documentary investments.

Screen Australia aims to invest in around 20-30 hours of broadcast television a year through the NDP.

Note that special terms of trade apply to NDP documentaries. For these projects, Screen Australia requires:

• meaningful consultation to ensure that the themes or core content remain in keeping with what was envisaged when Screen Australia committed to the project
• approval of contractual arrangements of investors, licensors and distributors
• a non-exclusive licence in the project for the right to use original documentary footage and out takes, production stills and other materials for use as Library material for educational purposes and future productions by Australian filmmakers.

Producers who wish to apply to the NDP should discuss the project’s suitability with a Screen Australia Investment Manager well in advance of submitting an application.

Funding allocation:
$7 million for 2011/12, to be distributed in five rounds.

Broadcaster allocations:
Access to funds in the domestic programs (NDP and GDP) will be split between broadcasters, with an indicative allocation of 50 per cent to the ABC, 40 per cent to SBS and 10 per cent to ‘other’ including commercial broadcasters and subscription television channels. This allocation will be reviewed in two years based on track record of the broadcaster including historical delivery against any charter obligation, connection with audiences and critical acclaim. The 2011/12 allocation will be re-assessed before the final funding round based on broadcaster demand.

Browse the guidelines below,
or download as a PDF at right

Eligible projects

Content areas

Applications to the NDP should explain the project’s relevance to one or more of the following four content areas:

• art and culture
  
• contemporary and social issues, including social history
  
• science and the environment
  
• national history and identity
  

Format and duration

Both one-off projects and series are eligible.

Screen Australia will not fund more than 26 broadcast hours of any one program, which may include multiple series.

Projects based on foreign formats are not eligible for funding through the NDP.

Market attachment requirements

A local presale for Australian free-to-air or subscription television rights is required, with a minimum licence fee (floor price) of $150,000 per broadcast hour for projects with production budgets up to and including $650,000. For budgets greater than $650,000, a higher fee will be negotiated case-by-case.

The floor price must not include:

• any equity component for the broadcaster;
  
• broadcast rights for New Zealand or another Rest of World territory;
  
• subscription television or exclusive satellite rights (if the presale is to a free-to-air broadcaster), or free-to-air rights (if the presale is to subscription television).
  

Screen Australia expects the project to be made available on at least one digital media platform other than broadcast television (free-to-air or subscription). At a minimum, this could be a catch-up television service, but producers are also encouraged to consider mobile or other online platforms as part of their release strategy.

No international marketplace attachments are required but producers are encouraged to develop a marketing strategy for international sales, and where applicable an educational distribution strategy for Australia.

Project funding available

There is no cap on the maximum amount that Screen Australia can invest in a one-off program or series under the NDP. However, producers should be mindful of the fact that Screen Australia’s funding is finite, and the aim is to invest in around 20-30 hours of broadcast television each year through this program.

Limits apply to the level of direct funding as a proportion of the project’s budget; these limits are set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade.

Budget requirements

Budgets should earmark a minimum of $10,000 for the first hour and $5,000 per subsequent hour for promotions and marketing purposes. Line items for specific promotional materials must include professional stills photography and press kit. For other budget requirements, see General information for applicants.

Investment decision-making

Applications are considered by Screen Australia executives, with industry specialists consulted as required. Investment decisions will be made against the following criteria, and in the context of Screen Australia's published investment and slate management principles:

• strength of the proposal, including its national and cultural significance, relevance to NDP core content areas and value to the Screen Australia Library;  
  
• the project’s potential to connect with its target audience;
  
• track record and capacity of the creative team;
  
• strength of the marketplace (ie level of co-finance excluding Screen Australia and the state agencies);
  
• diversity of slate, including balance of one-off documentaries and series.
  

Screen Australia will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application. Where an application is unsuccessful, the reasons will be conveyed to the applicant, with a written statement of reasons provided on request.

Terms of Trade

Details of Screen Australia and NFSA delivery items, recoupment, rights and other requirements, including special requirement for projects that involve Indigenous Australians, are available in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade.
Refer to Doing Business with Us for more information about the Terms of Trade and Screen Australia’s funding agreements for documentary production.

[These guidelines were issued on 3 May 2011.]