FILM VICTORIA SUMMARY OF PROGRAM GUIDELINE CHANGES

Each year in response to marketplace trends and feedback we’ve received from industry we review our programs to determine if any changes are required.

The following is a brief summary of the changes made to be effective from 1 July 2017.

General changes

• All guidelines have been updated to reflect the 2017/2020 Corporate Plan, which now includes a Gender and Diversity statement, encouraging stronger representation of women in the screen industry
• Updates to allow programs to be more inclusive of viewing technologies (Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality) that demonstrate an underlying narrative or documentary premise

Assigned Production Investment (API) – Film and Television

Key changes:

• A two stage application process has been introduced for feature films seeking API funding.  Note this applies from the 28 August (features) and 25 September (other projects). 
• Professional Attachment Scheme: Applicants requesting $150,000 or more through the API program will now need to allocate 3.0% of Film Victoria’s API in their budget (an increase of 0.5%)  More details will be provided in the coming weeks

Minor changes:

• Reinstatement of the ability of returning television series, previously supported by Film Victoria, to apply for funding out-of-rounds if production dates are time critical.
• Clarification that as Film Victoria does not fund retrospectively, projects where pre-production commences prior to the Board decision date are only eligible to apply for completion funding.  Where a potential documentary project has undertaken some preliminary shooting because of time critical issues relating to the subject matter they may still be considered for production funding on a case by case basis.
• As Screen Australia are no longer requiring applicants to Production Investment apply for a Provision Certificate for the Producer Offset, Film Victoria have dropped this requirement but will require the applicant to warrant they are eligible for the Offset and provide evidence of eligibility upon request.

See the guidelines on our Production page for more details

Assigned Production Investment – Games and Games Release

• Revised language around eligibility and exclusions

Games Professional Placements

• In 2017/18 this program will be available to games companies who can commit to filling the placement with a female practitioner, which aligns to our commitment to increase the number of women working in the games industry. 

See the Games section of our website for more details

Audience Engagement

• A new requirement that activities include a significant amount of Victorian and/or Australian produced screen content in order to be eligible.

See the Screen Culture section of our website for more details

Fiction Development

• Applicants with credits on projects commissioned or acquired by a major online content provider can now count these projects towards their eligibility regardless of project type
• Clarification that scripts requiring substantial script work in order to be production ready cannot seek late stage support through the Development on Demand Features program
•  Inclusion of  “High End Television Concept” funding into the Development on Demand – Television program.

See the Development section of our website for more details

PIAF and PIAF PDV

Addition of a third payment drawdown, to enable productions to deliver key items earlier in order to coincide with the release of the project.

See the Incentives section of our website for more details

 

FAQs

When do the changes take effect?

• For Feature Films applying for API  the two stage application process takes effect from 28 August 2017
•  Changes to all other program guidelines take effect from 1 July 2017
• Changes to Film Victoria’s Terms of Trade will take effect from 1 July 2017    
• Changes to Film Victoria’s application forms will take effect from 1 July 2017
• For application deadlines, please refer to the deadlines section on our website for dates as they differ from program to program.

Are any programs being discontinued?

• No.

How much funding per project is available?

• Refer to the guidelines for the relevant program you are interested in applying for.

If I have been funded in 2016-17 year will I be affected?

• No, existing funding agreements made in the 2016-17 financial year won’t be affected.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

• Please read the program guidelines and contact the relevant program manager or operations support staff listed in the program guidelines.