International co-production is one of the most powerful financing tools available to Australian filmmakers, and one of the least understood. Australia has co-production treaties with more than a dozen countries, and these agreements can significantly expand the resources available for a film project. But navigating the co-production process requires patience, strategic thinking, and a willingness to work across cultures and time zones.

What Co-Production Means

An official co-production under one of Australia’s bilateral treaties is a film or television project where producers from two (or more) treaty partner countries share the creative and financial responsibilities. The resulting production is treated as a national production in each participating country, which means it can access the funding incentives and distribution infrastructure of both markets.

For an Australian filmmaker, this means a co-production with, say, the UK can access both the Australian Producer Offset and the UK’s tax credits. The film qualifies as both an Australian and a British production, opening doors in both markets.

Australia has co-production treaties with the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, South Korea, China, Singapore, South Africa, Israel, and several other countries. Each treaty has its own specific rules about minimum financial contributions, creative involvement, and nationality requirements for cast and crew.

Why Co-Produce

The financial argument is straightforward: more funding sources means a bigger budget. A film that might be capped at $3 million from Australian sources alone could access $5-7 million through a co-production structure. That additional budget can be the difference between a film getting made and not getting made.

But the benefits extend beyond money. Co-production partnerships provide access to international cast, locations, post-production facilities, and distribution networks. A co-production with a French partner, for example, gives the film a French distributor, a French cast member, and potentially a premiere at a French festival.

For Australian films that deal with themes relevant to international audiences, co-production can significantly expand the film’s reach and impact.

The Practical Process

Finding a co-production partner usually starts at international markets and festivals. The Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), the European Film Market at Berlin, the Cannes Producers Network, and TIFF’s industry programs are all venues where Australian producers meet potential international partners.

Screen Australia facilitates co-production through its co-production program, which certifies projects as official co-productions under the relevant treaty. The certification process involves demonstrating that the project meets the treaty requirements for financial and creative contribution from each partner country.

The financial structure of a co-production can be complex. Each country’s producer is responsible for raising their share of the budget from their domestic sources, and the various funding streams need to be structured in a way that satisfies the requirements of each country’s incentive programs.

Challenges

Co-productions are not without difficulties. The creative process can be complicated by the need to satisfy treaty requirements around cast and crew nationality. If the treaty requires that a certain percentage of the creative team be nationals of each partner country, casting decisions may be constrained.

Time zone differences and cultural differences can create communication challenges. A project with partners in Australia and Europe requires careful scheduling and a willingness to work across a twelve-hour time difference.

The legal and financial structures are complex, and mistakes can be expensive. Entertainment lawyers with co-production experience are essential, and their fees add to the project’s overhead.

Some filmmakers find that the creative compromises required by co-production are too great. If a story is deeply Australian and doesn’t naturally accommodate international elements, forcing a co-production structure can damage the artistic integrity of the project.

When Co-Production Works Best

Co-production is most effective when the creative material naturally lends itself to an international collaboration. Stories with international themes, multicultural settings, or characters from different countries fit the co-production model well.

It also works well when the partner countries bring complementary strengths. An Australian-Korean co-production, for example, might combine Australian landscape and production expertise with Korean post-production and VFX capabilities.

Documentary co-productions can be particularly effective because non-fiction stories often have natural international dimensions that justify multi-country partnerships.

Getting Started

If you’re interested in co-production, the first step is to attend international markets and festivals with a project that has co-production potential. Screen Australia offers market attendance support for producers with eligible projects.

Connect with your state screen agency, as many offer specific co-production development support. Film Victoria, Screen NSW, and others have staff who specialise in international co-production and can provide guidance.

Read the relevant treaties. They’re publicly available on Screen Australia’s website and understanding the specific requirements of each treaty is essential before approaching potential partners.

Co-production isn’t for every project, but for the right project with the right partners, it can transform the scope and reach of an Australian film. As the co-production landscape becomes more data-driven, some producers are working with Team400 to analyse market trends and identify the most promising partner territories for their specific content.