Press Release from TM Publicity
The NSW Film and Television Office (FTO) has released new guidelines for its Development programs and its Industry and Audience Development program.
There are three new Development funding programs:
The Early Research & Development Fund will allocate most of the FTO’s project development funding (around 70%) to early concept development. Projects can be submitted at any stage prior to first draft.
The Advanced Development and Marketing Fund (around 30% of FTO’s project development funding) will provide selective funding for the later development stages of projects. This may be as draft funding for projects previously supported by the FTO, or to assist producers with projects in advanced development to cover non-draft expenses – such as funds for international travel to markets and financing meetings and pitching materials.
Applications for the Early Research & Development Fund and the Advanced Development and Marketing Fund open 20 April 20 2009.
The Slingshot Program is a suite of professional development opportunities with funding attached to enable NSW companies to offer training and support to NSW practitioners. Slingshot encompasses:
*The Production Attachment Scheme;
*The Above The Line Attachment Scheme for cross skilling in areas of digital media, creative development, directing, writing and producing;
*The Producer Extension Scheme for the training of development and production executives; The continuation of the highly successful FTO VFX Placement Scheme, and the Emerging Filmmakers Fund short film production scheme;
*The Festival Travel scheme which will offer support to NSW filmmakers whose work is highlighted in an overseas festival to attend and take advantage of the career opportunity.
Applications for the Slingshot Program open 1 July 2009.
Changes to the Industry and Audience Development (IAD) Program are designed to build the capacity of IAD partners, provide greater certainty for forward planning, streamline and simplify process, and, importantly, demonstrate the strategic value of the IAD program.
Organisations can apply for one-off project funding twice a year (April and October), providing greater flexibility. Project funding will be capped at $10,000 per project.
Applications for over $10,000 and multi-year funding applications for 2009-10 will be by invitation only.
From 2010-11 onwards, the FTO will call for Expressions of Interest for multi-year funding and will require shortlisted candidates to develop business plans and business cases, which must demonstrate how organisations can partner with the FTO to meet strategic objectives.
Applications for IAD projects for July 2009 to December 2009 will close on 1 May 2009.