First Nations Screen Fellowship 2026

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This is a preview of the First Nations Screen Fellowship 2026/27 - Application Form form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

About the grant

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Instructions for Applicants

Please read the Program Guidelines and Screen NSW Terms of Trade before completing the application form.

Incomplete applications and/or applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Program Details

The First Nations Screen Fellowship provides one mid-career First Nations screen practitioner with a dynamic range of funding and support across a 12-month period. 

The successful Fellow will receive $25,000 of funding and support, comprising $22,000 in grant funding and $3,000 of in-kind support, including:

  • $15,500 in early project development funding
  • $6,000 in international travel funding to attend an international festival or market
  • $500 in funding for membership fees to a relevant screen industry guild
  • Access to an industry mentor for 12 months (worth $3,000).

The First Nations Screen Fellowship is funded and administered by Screen NSW, a division within the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (the Department).

This field is read only. The program this submission is in.

Disclaimer

The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

  • submission of this application does not guarantee funding will be granted for any project, and the Department expressly reserves its right to accept or reject this application at its discretion;
  • it must bear the costs of preparing and submitting this application and the Department does not accept any liability for such costs, whether or not this application is ultimately accepted or rejected; and
  • it has read the Program Guidelines and has fully informed itself of the relevant program requirements.

Use of Information

By submitting this application form, the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

  • if this project application is successful, the relevant details of the project will be made public, including details such as the names of the organisation (Applicant) and any partnering organisation (state government agency or non-government organisation), project title, project description, location, anticipated time for completion and amount awarded;
  • the Department will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any information received in or in respect of this application which is clearly marked ‘Commercial-in-confidence’ or ‘Confidential’ is treated as confidential, however, such documents will remain subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act); and
  • in some circumstances the Department may release information contained in this application form and other relevant information in relation to this application in response to a request lodged under the GIPA Act or otherwise as required or permitted by law.

Privacy Notice

By submitting this application form, the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

  • the Department is required to comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (the Privacy Act) and that any personal information (as defined by the Privacy Act) collected by the Department in relation to the program will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act and its privacy policy (available at: https://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/privacy);
  • the information it provides to the Department in connection with this application will be collected and stored on a database and will only be used for the purposes for which it was collected (including, where necessary, being disclosed to other Government agencies in connection with the assessment of the merits of an application) or as otherwise permitted by the Privacy Act;
  • it has taken steps to ensure that any person whose personal information (as defined by the Privacy Act) is included in this application has consented to the fact that the Department and other Government agencies may be supplied with that personal information and has been made aware of the purposes for which it has been collected and may be used.

Eligibility Confirmation

Please declare this application meets the Program eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for the First Nations Screen Fellowship, applicants must: 

  • Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander* 
  • Be over 18 years of age 
  • Be an NSW resident (i.e., lived in NSW for at least 6 months immediately before the date of application)  
  • Be an Australian citizen 
  • Be a mid-career writer, director and/or producer with experience in producing or creating screen content
  • Have at least one (1) and no more than four (4) key creative credits (writer, director, producer) on professionally produced screen content
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) 
  • Adhere to general eligibility requirements under the Screen NSW Terms of Trade. 

*An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which they live.  

Who cannot apply 

Applicants will be ineligible to apply for the First Nations Screen Fellowship if they: 

  • Do not identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Are not a mid-career screen practitioner with eligible credit requirements
  • Are a full-time tertiary student
  • Are applying on behalf of an organisation
  • Intend to develop a project that is already substantially developed or is expected to be completed before the end of the Fellowship
  • Are in breach of any funding agreement it has with Screen NSW
  • Have previously been awarded the First Nations Screen Fellowship.
I confirm that the applicant and project is eligible according to the criteria outlined in the Program Guidelines * Required