Call for Entries: Screen Ventures Fund

Screen Queensland has restarted its $5 million Screen Ventures Fund designed to back innovative screen and screen-related projects from anywhere in Australia, to be made in Queensland.

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich, “At Screen Queensland we aim to be revolutionary, to support and invest in projects that challenge the status quo or experiment with new platforms, new approaches related to screen storytelling, production or post-production.

“We are also committed to reaching the widest possible audiences through festivals, events and partnerships with organisations aligned to our overarching goal of growing the screen industry in Queensland.

“As the only state screen agency in Australia to offer an investment fund of this kind, we are excited to see what brave, new screen projects or business ideas emerge from around the country,” Ms Munnich said.

Originally conceived in early 2020, the funding program was temporarily put on hold due to the pandemic.

The first project invested in was Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show, staged by Brisbane-based circus company Circa and Aardman Animations at QPAC in March.

Screen Queensland’s Chief Creative Officer Jo Dillon said, “This project was ideal for the Fund because it represented a new investment partnership and model, and an unmissable opportunity to work with two high-profile global brands – Circa and Aardman.

“Through the funding arrangement, Screen Queensland delivered fantastic industry outcomes for Queenslanders working in the animation space, including the chance to work on a hybrid show that fused stage and screen and learn from the best through collaborating with Circa and Aardman’s key creatives.

“As importantly, the investment, evaluated on commercial terms, was made with the prospect of securing returns on investment in order to grow the Fund over time,” Ms Dillon said.

Now open for applications, Screen Queensland is calling for commercially focused, ready-to-launch or production-ready screen projects from across Australia, to be produced in Queensland.

Projects should demonstrate exciting ways to further Screen Queensland’s goals to drive employment, deliver Queensland Production Expenditure (QPE) and provide opportunities to explore new partnerships and models of business relevant to screen.

Investments range from $10,000 to $750,000 in the context of size of audience, overall budget, benefits to Queensland and other financial commitment secured from partners and investors, with returns expected within five years.