The Australian Film Commission (AFC) have released new travel grant funding guidelines including a new strand (Type F) for Exceptional Opportunity cases.
The AFC offers six types of Travel Grants for industry practitioners:
Festival Travel Grants (Type A)
Market Travel Grants (Type B and C)
Pitching Travel Grants (Type D)
Digital Media Travel Grants (Type E)
Exceptional Opportunity Grant (Type F)
The new strand Type F will offer a producer or director nominated for an Academy Award, BAFTA (film awards only) or International Emmy the opportunity to travel to one of these award ceremonies. Practitioners whose film or program has achieved a level of international recognition that would warrant travel to an event that is not included on the eligible events list can also apply for a travel grant through this strand. There will be a maximum of five Exceptional Opportunity grants offered in 07/08 and the event, practitioner or production must meet specific eligibility criteria.
Changes to the travel grant guidelines include dividing digital media travel grants (Type E) into two sections; E1 for practitioners selected into a digital media event and E2 for practitioners looking to attend digital market MILIA or selected into Content 360 Pitching @ MILIA.
The travel grant program is an essential part of the AFC Marketing Branch operations and supports Australian practitioners to attend screenings of their work at key international film festivals; to attend international markets seeking finance for film, television and digital media projects; and to attend key international pitching and financing forums.
In 2006/07 the AFC Marketing Branch provided 106 travel grants to Australian practitioners across digital, feature, shorts, and documentary.
The aim of the Travel Grants program is to offer practitioners the opportunity to:
• view their film with an international audience
• create and maintain a network of international contacts
• be exposed to content being produced by international contemporaries
• be exposed to production and financing trends in the international marketplace
• market and raise the profile of projects both internationally and in Australia
• pursue international financing opportunities including co–productions
• be representative of the Australian film industry
Clear eligibility criteria and selection criteria are detailed in the new guidelines. Travel Grant guidelines, assessment processes and procedures and application forms can be found at http://www.afc.gov.au/funding/travel/default.aspx
[release from the AFC]