marketing funds
International Festival Materials

When Australian films are selected to screen at key international festivals, the producer can apply for funds to contribute to the making of materials required for the screening and promotion of the film.

These might be print/dubs, audio enhancements, publicity materials, dubbing/subtitling, release scripts, and other costs associated with festival marketing including, where appropriate, publicist fees and international advertising.

Implementation of the Dedicated Marketing Budget (DMB) means that Screen Australia is now providing the projects it invests in with the funds to create marketing collateral like trailers and key art. We therefore anticipate that Screen Australia–funded projects would not generally need to access this program.

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

Eligibility

All applicants and projects must meet the general eligibility criteria for Screen Australia funding in the Terms of Trade.The following specific eligibility requirements also apply (we may make exceptions to these at our discretion):

• International Festival Materials support is available to the producer(s) of completed feature films, short features, short films, documentaries, animation and cross-platform transmedia projects that have been accepted into a key international festival (listed below). Written confirmation of festival acceptance must be provided.
  - Annecy International Animated Film Festival
  - Berlin International Film Festival
  - Cannes Film Festival
  - Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival
  - Hot Docs International Documentary Festival
  - International Animation Festival Hiroshima
  - IDFA – International Documentary Festival, Amsterdam
  - Sundance Film Festival
  - Toronto International Film Festival
  - Venice International Film Festival
  
  
• International Festival Materials support is only available for world/international premiere festival screenings. Preference will be given to projects selected to screen in key programming strands (with a preference for Competition strands) at the international festivals listed above.
  
  
• Applications for blow-ups to 35mm/formats for superior digital cinema standard will only be accepted if the film is accepted into competition in the festival and the screening venue does not screen digital media.
  
  
• An applicant must be the producer of the film. It is expected that the producer will work with the international sales agent of the film in producing the required materials.
  
  
• Cost of travel to the festival can be sought via the Festival & Marketplace Travel program.
  
  
• Screen Australia will not provide funds retrospectively.

Available funding

Applications can be for any amount up to $30,000.

• Funding is not automatic on acceptance into an international festival. Demand consistently outweighs the availability of our funds. We will carefully assess the amounts requested and may reduce them to cover what is, in our opinion, necessary.
  
  
• Reasonable administrative costs may be included in the budget.

Due to the high demand on limited funds, we will direct these funds to the costs associated with marketing and distribution materials and not to wages.

Assessment process

Applications will be assessed by either a staff member of Screen Australia and/or an industry specialist.

We will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application. Where an application is unsuccessful, a brief statement of reasons will be provided.

Assessment criteria

When assessing applications for this program, we will take the following into account:

• The necessity for the requested items either as festival requirements or the opportunities the materials might advance at the festival.
  

• How the cost of creating materials is being shared across the sales agent, distributor (if relevant) and producer.
  

• The long-term opportunities for the filmmakers that might arise as a result of the screening of the film at a particular festival.
  

• The event itself and its standing within the international arena. Where applicable, the status of the section/forum into which a project has been invited will be assessed.
  

Terms of funding

International Festival Materials funding is in the form of a grant and is not recouped by Screen Australia. However, the applicant will be required to provide a written report detailing the outcomes of the funding.

Where funds are used to create delivery materials in new formats (HD, 35mm, etc) applicants need to provide a mint condition copy of the highest gauge created and all relevant documentation to the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA).

[Page updated 26 July 2010]