The Indigenous Digital Media Development program provides experienced and emerging practitioners or filmmakers crossing over to the digital media area the opportunity to create written and/or visual pitching materials to ensure that digital media projects are as strong as possible when competing for production finance.

Funding is provided for pitching materials demonstrably appropriate to the project. The program aims to assist in the development of cross-platform, mobile phone or broadband content, or for the formulation of online rather than console games.

Funding is for

Interactive digital media projects of any length, type or platform.

Eligibility

All applicants and projects must meet the general Indigenous Department eligibility criteria, in addition to the following specific eligibility requirements:

• Only teams may apply.
• At least one member of the team must have a key creative or production credit on at least one substantial and completed interactive digital media project.
• At least one member of the team must have a key creative or production credit on at least one produced and released theatrical/broadcast/festival) drama or documentary project.
• Development support of the making of an ‘electronic proof of concept’ (EPOC) is not eligible.

NB: Experimental or predominantly art-based projects are eligible to apply, but will need to demonstrate their potential for future support. Educational projects must also demonstrate that they are innovative and provide professional development opportunities for the applicant(s).

Funding recipients must deliver

Finalised pitching materials such as paper-based scripts, proposals or graphics in hard copy or via web-based presentations from an existing website.

A revised strategy detailing how the development materials will be used to secure further development or production finance, and what the next stage might be.

Assessment criteria

When assessing applications for this program, Screen Australia uses the following criteria:

• The strength and distinctiveness of the idea and the concept.
• The creative use of interactive elements and how the work intends to find an audience, engage the user and/or drive audiences across platforms.
• The skills and capacity of the team to undertake the project as evidenced in previous work.
• The likelihood of the project attracting further marketplace development or production finance after this stage of development.
• The viability of the proposed production budget amount and finance strategy in line with the concept, the creative team and the target audience.

Assessment process

Applications will be assessed by a combination of Screen Australia executives and industry specialists/peers as required. Screen Australia will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application, providing a written statement of reasons on request.

Application materials

Applications must be made on the relevant Screen Australia application form, and include all supporting material listed on that form.

Recoupment

Where Screen Australia subsequently invests in the production, its investment in the development phase will be added to the production financing amount and the total investment recouped in accordance with the terms of trade for production financing.

Note that Screen Australia funding of $200,000 or under will be provided as a grant, rather than recoupable investment, the Indigenous Programs overview for more details.