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Dynamic Television

Success in the international marketplace is vital for the sustainability of the Australian television industry. Screen Australia and Los Angeles-based television company, Dynamic Television, will co-fund development of four scripted television projects, with the aim of positioning them for greater international success as the projects prepare to go into production.

Funding Program

Overview

Dynamic Television are a production, financing and distribution company with a global strategy to bring premium television programming to worldwide audiences. Their most recent Australian title was Savage River.

Dynamic Television are excited to work with collaborative and experienced television producers to develop serialised or procedural drama series. Dynamic Television look for high concept or unique ideas with memorable, iconic characters and strong story engines. They also like to develop from well-known IP to help engage a global audience. But what they like to develop more than anything, are stories that make you feel.

Available Funding

  • Up to one project may be selected from this round. Applicants can apply with a total development budget of up to $100,000 (to which Screen Australia will contribute 50% and Dynamic Television the remaining 50%). Dynamic Television will have first look to attach as international distributor, under terms to be negotiated.

  • Funding is for development costs. The development budget can include late-stage funding such as funding for writers’ rooms, further drafts and script/scene breakdowns.

  • Screen Australia will only fund Australian creatives and Australian costs of the development budget.

  • Dynamic will work closely with the successful applicants, providing feedback on materials to ensure the projects are ready for the international market.

Inclusive Storytelling

For Australian screen content to deliver cultural and economic benefits it must speak to, and be for, all Australians. A range of ideas and a diverse workforce will enhance the Australian screen industry, making it more relevant to Australian audiences and more competitive internationally.  

Screen Australia is committed to building equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility into its programs and into our engagement with the community.  

Screen Australia encourages applications from applicants from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. In particular, the agency welcomes applications from under-represented groups. 

Screen Australia strives to make its funding programs accessible by removing barriers for people who are d/Deaf, disabled and/or those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Eligibility 

  • Applicants and projects must meet Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, any general eligibility or other requirements listed on the agency’s website (see Information for Applicants and Information for Recipients), as well as the specific eligibility criteria set out in these guidelines.

  • Specific requirements apply to projects which involve First Nations participation or content.

  • Specific requirements may apply to projects which involve community participation or content with the following communities: d/Deaf, disabled, culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIA+, or those from other under-represented groups.

Applicant Eligibility

This program is open to companies only, no sole trader ABN’s. 

To be eligible, an applicant must:

  • be an incorporated company carrying on business in Australia, with its central management and control in Australia;

  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN);

  • be registered for the purposes of GST if required by law;

  • control the rights necessary to carry out the project, meaning that it must have clear chain of title and must generally be party to any underlying rights agreements;

  • demonstrate and/or have relevant experience through comparable work that shows the capability to produce work for which they are applying.

The following types of entities are not eligible to apply to this program:

  • Commonwealth, state, territory or local government agencies or bodies; and

  • any organisations that are otherwise excluded pursuant to the Information for Applicants.

Project Eligibility

To be eligible, the project must:

  • have been developed by Australian production companies/producers and creatives, not sub-contracted from a commissioning platform;

  • have Significant Australian Content (SAC) or be an Official Co-Production;

  • with the exception of Official Co-Productions, be written and directed by Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Project and Applicant Eligibility

  • The project and applicant: has a one broadcast hour per episode television drama project, that has a series outline (5-10 pages, including: pilot episode outline, series overview and brief character descriptions). Projects must be eligible under Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade* and be unencumbered** by market attachments or development deals, with a minimum of one producer and one writer attached.

* If the application is based on an underlying work an appropriate option and purchase agreement will be required. Shopping Agreements will not be accepted.

** Unencumbered should be taken to mean the applicant maintains full creative and financial control of their project, and hold the rights to the project via evidenced Chain of Title. No rights can have been assigned, no future development agreements, or production or broadcast agreements, can have been entered into. The project may have received previous development investment but the applicant must continue to hold all the rights as at the time of application to the Dynamic Television Scripted Initiative.

  • Has a producer attached that has at least one produced and released TV drama series credit. Writer/s do not need to have credit/s.

  • Crime, suspense, thriller, family, dramedies, and romance genres are all welcomed.

  • Please note that each production company can only apply with one project in this round.

Application Process

Before applying, applicants must read and understand these guidelines, Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, Information for Applicants, Information for Recipients, and preview the application form on SmartyGrants.

How to Apply

Applications close 5pm AEDT Thursday 5 February 2026 can be made via the Screen Australia application portal with the following materials:

Application Form

Through the application form, applicants must:

  • provide all the information requested and answer the application questions;

  • meet, where required, all eligibility criteria; and

  • include all required supporting materials.

Required materials

Applicants are required to provide information on or upload the following supporting materials with their application form:

  • Series outline including: series overview and brief character descriptions (5-10 pages);

  • Pilot episode outline (2-3 pages)

  • A development plan (2 pages maximum);

  • A creative vision statement (2 pages);

  • A ‘Market Feedback’ statement outlining any market partners the project has been pitched to, with responses noted;

  • Diversity, equity and inclusion plan – where there is participation or content from the following specific communities: including d/Deaf and disabled, neurodivergent, culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIA+ or other under-represented groups, the project applicant should provide:

  • a statement setting out how they are approaching the content or participation;

  • applicants must demonstrate that they have a consultation plan covering the full development process and are following it; and,

  • evidence of consultation taken to date

  • An itemised development budget with a total of no more than $100,000 for the current stage of development.

Note: Funding can only be provided towards future costs, not costs already incurred.

You can apply for development costs under $100,000 if the full amount offered is not required.

Screen Australia and Dynamic TV reserve the right to approve a lesser amount for the successful application at their discretion.

After two unsuccessful applications within the Dynamic Television Scripted Initiative, a project is no longer eligible to apply for the fund. However, the same applicant company may apply with a different project.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

First Nations participation or consent

Where there is First Nations participation or content involved in the project applicants should provide:

  • a statement setting out how they are approaching the First Nations content or participation with regard to appropriate protocols, even if the content is not specific to a particular community or individual. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a consultation plan covering the full production process and are following it. The statement should be based on the checklists available in Screen Australia’s guide Pathways & Protocols: a film maker’s guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts.

  • evidence of consultation to date

  • if the project will involve particular First Nations individuals or communities, signed letters of consent confirming their willingness to participate.

Assessment

  • Once submitted, Program Operations will review each application to determine eligibility and ensure that required materials have been submitted.

  • A member of the team may contact the applicant if there are questions regarding submission materials or eligibility.

  • Once confirmed, the applicant will receive an email advising that their application has moved to assessment and an estimated timeframe of the outcome.

  • Applications are assessed against the published criteria by Screen Australia delegates, Dynamic TV delegates, with industry specialists as required.

  • Applicants may be required to undertake a meeting with Dynamic TV delegates during the assessment process at mutually agreed times.

  • All projects involving First Nations content or participation will be assessed or co-assessed by First Nations Assessors.

  • Some projects involving representation of communities and culture may be assessed by Specialist or Cultural Assessors.

Criteria

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Story and Development Plan

  • Is the story strong, distinctive and entertaining and does it demonstrate storytelling craft?

  • Is the story suited to its platform and audience?

  • Is the story production ready?

  • Does the story contribute to a depth and diversity of Australian stories?

  • Talent and Team

  • Does the previous experience and/or track record of the talent and team position them to execute the vision and deliver the project at its budget level?

  • Does the talent and team have authentic connection to the content of the story, characters and world they are representing?

  • Audience and Marketplace

  • Does the project have the potential to resonate significantly with Australian and global audiences?

  • Is there potential for the project to unlock appropriate partners?

Decision & Notification 

  • Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within eight (8) weeks of receiving the ‘moved to assessment’ email.

  • Where an application is unsuccessful, Screen Australia will advise the Applicant of the decision in writing.

  • Decisions on applications are final.

Screen Australia and Dynamic Television acknowledge and appreciate the effort that goes into applications, but given the volume of applications, will not be able to provide individual feedback on each application.

Successful Applicants

Contracting

Successful applicants will enter into two development agreements, one with Screen Australia and one with Dynamic Television which will set out the terms of support and/or funding.

  • Dynamic Television will then have first right of refusal to distribute the TV series.

  • If Dynamic Television does not take up the option to distribute the program, their portion of development funding will be repayable on the first day of production. If they do take the rights, their portion will be treated as the first drawdown of their distribution advance – the terms of any distribution agreement will be negotiated in good faith directly with Dynamic Television.

  • The Screen Australia portion will be a recoupable grant, repayable on the first day of production, as per Screen Australia’s Narrative Content Development funding streams.

Other Resources

Further information about Screen Australia funding and resources to assist with submitting an application is available on Screen Australia’s website:

Contact

If applicants have any further questions contact Screen Australia’s Program Operations on 1800 507 901 or at [email protected] 

Please note that Screen Australia is unable to provide creative advice or review any materials that may form part of an application.

Privacy

Screen Australia collects personal information from individuals in different ways, including via funding applications, acquittal reports, or supporting material supplied with forms. Screen Australia will handle any personal information provided in connection with a funding application in accordance with its Privacy Notice relating to funding applications and its Privacy Policy.