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International Delegations

India Scripted Co-Production Matchmaking (NFDC Film Bazaar)

Screen Australia and Invest India are convening a matchmaking opportunity in Goa as part of the NFDC Film Bazaar, which runs alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The aim is to enable creative and business connections between screen producers from Australia and India and to foster meaningful partnerships for official scripted feature and episodic co-productions made under the Australia-India treaty. 

The funding provides Australian producers who have experience with official co-productions or completed content - and are seeking co-production partners in India for new, well-developed scripted long-form projects - with the opportunity to travel to India and meet with their Indian equivalents.

In addition to advancing their projects, the opportunity will provide applicants with a chance to further their development, production, funding and marketing objectives, and to solidify and forge new relationships.

Available Support

Up to six delegates will receive funding of up to $6,000 each towards market registration, travel, accommodation and expenses, to attend the NFDC Film Bazaar 20 – 24 November 2024. Attendees should be available for the entirety of the event. 

The co-production matchmaking event will happen from 2pm to 4.30pm on 22 November 2024.

There is a funding cap of $6,000 per application, whether the applicant is an individual (including on behalf of a team) or a company.

Inclusive Storytelling

For Australian screen content to effectively deliver cultural and economic benefits it must speak to, and be for, all Australians. Ultimately a diversity of ideas and a diverse workforce will grow the Australian screen industry, make it more relevant to Australian audiences and more competitive internationally.

Screen Australia is committed to building diversity, equity and inclusion into its programs and into our engagement with the community. Authentic storytelling, from and about under-represented groups is a priority for Screen Australia. 

Screen Australia therefore encourages applications from applicants from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. In particular, the agency welcomes applications from applicants who are First Nations, d/Deaf and disabled, culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQ+, regionally based, or those from other under-represented groups.

We expect that any experiences portrayed through the narrative and contributors which are aimed at illustrating diverse perspectives are reflected within the key creative team with appropriate representation and lived experience. It is vital the creative team has the cultural authorship to tell the story so that telling of the story is authentic.

Eligibility 

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for this program, applicants must:

  • can apply as an individual or company. We cannot accept separate applications from individual members of the same company or team; those applications must either be made via a lead applicant who will be responsible for managing the grant on behalf of the team, or as a company.
  • Individual applicants must be Australian citizens or residents
  • Applicant companies must be incorporated and carrying on business in Australia, and have their central management and control in Australia. 
  • must otherwise meet the requirements of Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade
  • must have recent (in the last four years) completed credit(s) as a lead producer on scripted series and/or features of reasonable budget with evidence of significant views, especially internationally and with regard to this opportunity, in India, e.g. on projects that have: 
  • been distributed and theatrically released; or
  • been nominated for and/or a recipient of a significant international award such as awards from Toronto, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Berlin, SXSW, Annecy festivals or the Academy, BAFTA, or Emmy awards; or
  • screened on broadcast television or streamed on a subscription-based platform, and having been one of the top 10 most-watched shows on that platform at time of transmission. [It is noted that data is not always readily available, especially historically, and assessors will give the benefit of the doubt based on press links and other media reactions about the title from time of release]; or 
  • streamed online on any reportable platform, with evidence of audiences/views in excess of 1 million or other evidence of trending on YouTube at time of release.

Ineligible Applicants

Applicants are not eligible for this program if they:

  • are in receipt of Enterprise funding for which their approved budget includes funding to travel to the NFDC Film Bazaar in November 2024.
  • are invited to screen their Australian film at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), for which attendance support may be available separately.
  • have an Australian project invited to the NFDC Co-Production Market (CPM), for which travel support may be available through Screen Australia’s International Pitching Events and Talent Labs initiative.

Eligible Activities

Applicants must demonstrate how they intend to use the travel support to maximise opportunities for Australian/Indian co-production(s) and also their slate of other projects, including through attendance at the co-production matchmaking event as well as other identified events, meetings or opportunities at the NFDC Film Bazaar and any additional meeting activity on route to and from Goa.

Application Process

How to Apply

Applications close 5pm AEST Thursday 31 October 2024 and can be made via the Screen Australia application portal with the following materials:

Application Form

Through the application form, you must:

  • provide all the information requested and answer the application questions
  • address all eligibility criteria and assessment criteria
  • include all required supporting materials

Required Materials

Applicants must upload the following materials with their application form:

  • CV including recent credits and details of commercial success, significant viewership in Australia and if applicable other territories and/or major international festival or awards success.
  • An international pitching proposal (maximum 6 pages) that includes:
  • information about your lead project(s) that you are interested in developing as an official scripted Australian/ Indian co production(s), as well as your further slate of projects that will be pitched at the event, including for each title:
  • the state of development or production;
  • the budget and the currently secured finance; and
  • the currently secured key creative and marketplace attachments or interest, including for those works that are intended as co-productions.
  • A detailed proposed meeting list with reasoning and desired outcomes of each meeting. This should include Indian-based production companies you are targeting for your project at or around the Australian / India co-production event, as well as further meetings and activity with other industry stakeholders such as funders, commissioners and sales agents at NFDC Film Bazaar. The list could also include meetings at stopovers on the way to Goa to maximise the opportunity.
  • evidence of any international co-production experience or existing international interest in the projects on your slate.
  • any intended professional development objectives or other goals for the trip.

Asessment 

Assessment Process

The Program Operations team will review each application to check eligibility and ensure the required application materials have been provided.  Once confirmed, the applicant will receive an email advising that their application has moved to assessment and an estimated timeframe of the outcome.

Complete and eligible applications will be reviewed and assessed by Screen Australia staff members and/or industry specialists.

Assessment Criteria

Funding decisions will be made against the following equally-weighted criteria:

  • Pitching strategy. The strength of the pitching strategy as evidenced by the international pitching proposal.
  • Co-production proposal and slate. The stage of development, suitability and strength of the nominated Australian/ Indian official co-production(s) being put forward for this particular event, as well as the projects on the further slate (including details of any attached creative talent and marketplace partners).
  • International interest. The amount of traction from the applicant’s completed body of work via indicators such as international sales, audience metrics and/or significant international festival or award recognition.
  • Experience. The level of experience and knowledge of the applicant pertinent to the activity, especially concerning experience with official co-productions or projects of a comparative scale.

Assessment Priorities 

Priority will be given to applicants who:

  • international official co-production experience with completed and reportable credits.
  • evidence on their slate of at least one scripted long form project with genuine potential coproduction intended for India.
  • a robust slate with scripted long-form projects that are suitable and ready to pitch to an international market.
  • upcoming projects with evidence of existing traction and interest from international commissioners and distributors that can be leveraged.
  • not been recipients of International Delegation or International Pitching Events and Talent Labs funding from Screen Australia after 1 October 2023.

Decision and Notification 

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in writing by Friday 1 November 2024.

Screen Australia recognises the significant work that goes into the preparation and submission of applications. Due to the anticipated high volume of applicants, we are unable to provide individual feedback on individual applications.

Successful Applicants

Contracting

Screen Australia will send an approval via email to successful applicants with information about contracting. 

Terms of Support

Successful applicants will enter into an Activity Grant Agreement with Screen Australia. This will set out the terms of Screen Australia’s support.

Contact

If you are unsure about your eligibility or have questions about the application form, please email us at [email protected] or call Program Operations on 1800 507 901. 

Please note that we are not able to provide creative advice or suggestions to strengthen your 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.