Film Victoria is one of the most active state screen agencies in Australia, and for Victorian filmmakers, understanding its funding programs is essential. But the landscape can be confusing, with multiple programs, varying eligibility criteria, and different assessment timelines. Here’s my attempt at a practical guide to what’s available.

Development Funding

Film Victoria offers development funding at several stages. Early-stage development support is available for projects that have a treatment or early draft script but need further development to become production-ready.

The amounts vary, but typical early development grants are in the $20,000-$50,000 range. These funds are intended to cover script development costs, including writer’s fees, script assessment, development travel, and possibly a development producer’s fee.

Advanced development funding is available for projects closer to production readiness. These grants are larger and come with higher expectations about the project’s market viability and production feasibility.

The key thing to understand about Film Victoria’s development funding is that it’s competitive, and the assessment process considers both the creative quality of the project and the track record of the team. First-time filmmakers aren’t excluded, but you’ll need to demonstrate capability, even if your track record is in short films rather than features.

Production Investment

Film Victoria’s production investment program is the big one. The agency invests in Victorian productions at levels that can range from tens of thousands for micro-budget projects to hundreds of thousands for larger productions.

Unlike Screen Australia’s Producer Offset, which is a tax mechanism, Film Victoria’s investment is discretionary. The agency’s investment panel assesses each project on its merits and decides whether to invest. Factors include creative quality, the strength of the production team, the financial viability of the project, and the benefits to the Victorian screen industry.

Film Victoria generally requires that the production spend a significant portion of its budget in Victoria, creating employment for Victorian crew and using Victorian facilities. This is a reasonable condition given that the funding comes from the Victorian government.

The Assigned Production Investment Program

Film Victoria also has an assigned production investment program that supports Victorian projects that have already secured finance from other sources. This operates more like a gap financing mechanism and can help projects bridge the final funding gap to reach their production budget.

Short Film Funding

Victorian filmmakers making short films can access Film Victoria’s short film funding program. The amounts are modest, typically $10,000-$30,000, but for a short film that can be sufficient to cover production costs.

Short film funding is competitive and assessed on creative merit. Film Victoria looks for projects that demonstrate genuine creative ambition and that will contribute to the filmmaker’s development pathway toward features or series.

Professional Development

Film Victoria offers various professional development programs and travel grants for Victorian screen industry professionals. These can cover attendance at international festivals and markets, specialist training courses, and industry attachments.

The travel grants are particularly valuable for emerging filmmakers who need international exposure. Attending a market like Cannes, Berlin, or Toronto with Film Victoria support can open doors that wouldn’t be accessible otherwise.

How to Apply

Film Victoria’s application process is relatively straightforward but requires careful preparation. Applications are submitted online through the agency’s portal. You’ll need project documentation (script, budget, financing plan), team CVs, and supporting materials appropriate to the stage of the project.

Assessment timelines vary by program, but expect four to eight weeks from submission to decision. Film Victoria’s assessment teams are generally responsive and willing to have preliminary conversations about projects before formal applications are submitted.

My practical advice: talk to Film Victoria’s development and production teams before you apply. They can tell you whether your project is at the right stage for a particular program and flag any issues with your application that could be addressed before submission.

Integration with Federal Funding

Film Victoria’s funding typically operates alongside, not instead of, federal funding from Screen Australia. A common financing structure for a Victorian feature might include Film Victoria production investment, the Screen Australia Producer Offset, and private equity or presales.

Understanding how these funding streams interact is important. Your producer or entertainment accountant should be able to map out a financing plan that maximises the available support.

The Bottom Line

Film Victoria is a genuinely supportive agency for Victorian filmmakers, with professional staff who understand the industry. The funding is competitive, but the programs are well-designed and the assessment processes are fair. If you’re making films in Victoria, engage with Film Victoria early and often. They’re there to help.