Screen Australia seeks feedback on Documentary funding

If Documentaries are your key area of interest then Screen Australia invites you to participate in a Discussion Paper on issues facing the industry.

This week CEO Graeme Mason launched Stories that Matter, in a keynote at the Adelaide International Documentary Conference, as the first stage of consultation in the revision of the program guidelines.

“This is a really key moment for documentary in this country, and perhaps globally. We are seeing significant changes in the way viewers interact with content – with new players, new platforms and technologies shifting habits – and we need to think carefully about how we can preserve and extend documentary’s unique and important qualities in this landscape,” he said.

Amongst the talking points are:

Are specific targeted programs such as the current suite of documentary programs efficient and effective?

How can Screen Australia best support low-budget documentary making?

How can high-end documentaries reach the broadest possible audience?

Should Screen Australia continue to offer separate theatrical funding for documentaries or should it create one funding program for ‘premium’ documentaries, regardless of platform?

Could a requirement for marketplace commitment be met in ways other than a broadcaster presale?

You can find out more info at Screen Australia.