In a new development for the local film, television and digital media industries, ScreenACT has announced it is establishing a $45,000 fund, offering individual grants of up to $10,000 to help boost the local production industry.
‘This is the first time we have been able to offer funding to local projects; and we’re looking to local filmmakers, production companies and games developers to tell us how a grant could benefit their project,’ said Brendan Walsh, ScreenACT Manager. ‘It might be used in areas as diverse as script development, marketing tools for projects, or the design of a mobile phone based game.
The ScreenACT Project Fund will be offered early in the new year, and is geared towards film, television and digital media projects that have a business focus and are intended to eventually return a profit.
‘We are starting small, but have high hopes for this program,’ said Walsh, ‘there is a lot of great work being done in arts funding in the ACT, however with this initiative we want to target the business end of the industry to lend support to projects that are looking to offer commercial returns down the track’.
ScreenACT, The ACT Office of Film, Television and Digital media, operates under the auspices of The Canberra Business Council, and is supported by the ACT Government. With a taskforce of local industry representatives, it focuses on the development and promotion of the local industry as well as offering location advice and assistance to visiting productions.
Applications for the ScreenACT Project Fund are now open, and the deadline is January 25th, 2008. ScreenACT will be holding an information session for interested applicants at Canberra Museum & Gallery ‘Public Meeting Room’ on Friday December 7th at 12 midday.
All projects submitted will be assessed in a transparent process through a special Committee set up by ScreenACT that will include local and non ACT industry professionals.
More information, application forms and eligibility criteria are available on the ScreenACT website http://www.screenact.com.au/
[release from ScreenACT]