Short to Feature Fast Track Initiative 2025

The Fund is open to short film and proof of concept proposals between 5 - 15 minutes duration and advanced stage, low budget feature film scripts from teams that meet the eligibility criteria around eligible credits. The applicant must be a NSW resident.

If shortlisted, successful applicants will be invited to apply to Stage 2.

On approval, the successful teams will receive up to $45,000 each in production funding for the short film/proof of concept and up to $30,000 each in development costs for the feature film script.

An Executive Producer will be appointed to each successful project by Screen NSW who will brief and liaise with the successful teams.

Please read the guidelines alongside the Screen NSW Terms of Trade.

• Guidelines
• Terms of Trade

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 Funding Guidelines for the Program and has fully informed itself of the relevant program requirements.

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.

Key Creative Eligibility
Screen NSW general eligibility requirements can be found in the Screen NSW Terms of Trade which should be read in conjunction with these guidelines.

The producer must have at least one of the following:

• An ‘eligible’ fiction credit (see below for ‘What is an eligible fiction credit) as a producer, OR
• A credit as a producer on a short fiction project which has received production funding through Screen Australia’s Online or First Nations Department fiction programs.

The director must have at least one of the following:

• An ‘eligible’ fiction credit (see below for ‘What is an eligible fiction credit’) as a director, OR
• A credit as a director on a short fiction project which has received production funding through Screen Australia’s Online or Indigenous Department fiction programs, OR
• A credit as a director on a narrative television series with a minimum duration of 30 minutes OR 
• A high level of critical acclaim as a director in a related field such as theatre, TV commercials or documentary (i.e. awards, critical reviews, broadcasts, box office, international sales).
• Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis where a director has previously directed a feature film, however the initiative is supporting creatives moving into features so materials must demonstrate a strong case to support, i.e. be a significant genre shift from previous work.

General Eligibility:

• The Applicant must be the producer and have a valid ABN and, if required by law, be registered for GST.
• The Applicant may be an individual or a production company and must be a NSW permanent resident or NSW based company.
• The Applicant must own or control the rights in the short/ proof of concept and feature film script and all other rights necessary to carry out the projects.
• The “key creative team” must comprise a NSW-Based writer, director and applicant-producer. Additional producers, who are not NSW Based and are not the applicants, will be considered.
• Applications must include at least one Key Creative from Screen NSW’s Strategic Priority Area groups (Regional NSW, Western Sydney, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people living with disability, and LGBTQIA+ people). 
• Applications must also include at least one female Key Creative in line with NSW gender equity targets.
• A team must comprise of at least two members, and all teams must include a producer. One person cannot be both the producer and director on the project. Nor can they hold all three key creative positions: writer, director and producer. However, writer/director or writer/producer are eligible.
• An individual can submit or be attached to multiple applications; however, advice is to put your most competitive projects forward.
  
  

Eligible Projects
Short film / proof of concept production

• To be at least 5 minutes to a maximum of 15 minutes in duration.
• To be produced and post-produced entirely in NSW.
• Can include live action and animation.
• For post-production applications, applications must be at the rough-cut or fine-cut stage with the latest footage having been shot within one year of the application closing date.
• Projects must be shot on and mastered on HD and able to be screened via theatrical release, television, online or mobile.
• While encouraging low budget approaches to storytelling, producers are permitted to raise additional finance to produce their films. Screen NSW encourages applicants to approach industry facilities and negotiate deals, as well as crowd funding, distribution, and other sources of funds to finance their project.
• Please seek approval before committing to crediting requirements. The funds must be in place at the time of submitting your application and evidence of this provided in your second stage application.
• Third-party investment is allowed under specific conditions and following consultation with Screen NSW. Third-party investors must sit behind any deferrals in the recoupment structure.
• Sponsorship and product placement are allowed in the form of a grant, not an investment (it cannot be recoupable) and must be approved by Screen NSW in advance.
• As per our Terms of Trade, Screen NSW funding is conditional on paying at least award minimum rates including key creatives, cast and crew.
• Funding cannot be retrospective.
• Documentary projects are not eligible.

Feature film development

• The feature film script does not have to be the same story or a long version of the short film/proof of concept but should be connected, for example, by creative voice, genre, tone or stylistic approach. The formats can include live action and animation. All genres are eligible.
• There is no restriction on subject matter or style, but Screen NSW is looking for scripts that are compelling, distinctive and have a strong sense of their audience.
• The feature film must be intended to be produced and post-produced entirely in NSW.

What is an ‘eligible fiction credit’?

An ‘eligible fiction credit’ under this program is a short fiction film that has been selected to screen at one of the following film festivals: 

• Annecy International Animation Festival, France
• Aspen Shortsfest, USA
• Berlin International Film Festival, Germany
• BFI London Film Festival, UK
• Bucheon International Fantasic Film Festival, South Korea
• Busan International Film Festival, South Korea
• Cannes Film Festival (excluding Shorts Corner), France
• Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, France
• Edinburgh International Film Festival, UK
• Fantastic Fest (Austin,TX)
• Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong
• Inside Out Film Festival, Canada
• International Film Festival Rotterdam
• Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
• Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland
• Melbourne International Film Festival
• Ottawa Animation Festival
• Palm Springs International ShortFest
• San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival / Frameline
• San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain
• Sitges International Film Festival, Spain
• South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, Austin, Sydney and London
• Sundance Film Festival, USA
• Stuttgart Festival of Animation
• Sydney Film Festival
• Telluride Film Festival, USA
• Toronto International Film Festival, Canada
• Tribeca Film Festival, USA
• Venice International Film Festival, Italy

OR, won or been nominated for one of the following awards:

• Academy Award® for Best Short Film (Live Action or Animated)
• AACTA/AFI Award for Best Short Fiction Film or Best Animation

OR, won one of the following awards:

• Flickerfest Best Short Film or Best Animation
• St Kilda Film Festival Best Short Film or Animation

Please confirm below the Key Creatives eligibility requirements