Applications open: SCREEN Fund

The $20 million Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund has opened.

Made available by the Australian Government and administered by Screen Australia, the fund will provide support to independent cinema operators who have experienced significant declines in revenue due to COVID-19.

Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, “The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruption to the screen industry and independent cinema operators were particularly hard hit. This funding will support the viability and recovery of independent cinema businesses as they move forward to more content and higher audience capacities.”

Funding is available as a one-off grant and the amount of the grant is dependent on reported box office for that cinema location for the pre-COVID period 1 March 2019 – 29 February 2020 as follows:

1 - $35,000 per location reporting below $1 million box office;

2 - $60,000 per location reporting between $1 million and $3 million box office; or

3 - $85,000 per location reporting over $3 million box office.

Claimed annual box office must be supported with evidence from an industry accepted third party box office reporting service (Numero or Comscore box office reporting, at the applicant’s election). Screen Australia will not accept claimed box office reported outside of these industry accepted services.

If a cinema business was interrupted during the period by a natural disaster such as bushfires, the claimed box office can be calculated as a three year average box office for the relevant periods.

A cinema operator that operates multiple locations will be able to apply for multiple grants, provided that each location meets the guidelines. A new application will be required for each location. Only one entity will be entitled to receive a grant for each location. Locations can include single screen venues, multiple screen venues, drive-ins and other outdoor venues.

Applications for the SCREEN Fund are open until 24 December 2021 or until total funds are committed. The SCREEN Fund is capped at $20 million.

For eligibility requirements and how to apply see the Guidelines here

If you have any further questions, please email us at ScreenCinemasFund