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Applications open: SCREEN Fund – second round

The second round of the 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 was set up with a total of $20 million to support the viability and recovery of independent cinema businesses in an environment where they are still returning to normality as the vaccine rollout progresses and Australia moves towards higher audience capacities.

Under the first round of grant funding which has now closed, $10.34 million was allocated to 198 independent cinemas around the country. With the continued impacts on cinema, the government has announced this second round of applications for the remaining funding.

Grants under the second round of funding will be available to eligible cinemas, including locations funded in the first round, which can demonstrate that their box office revenue for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021, was more than 30 per cent below their box office revenue for the corresponding period in 2019.

Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to cause major disruption to the screen industry and independent cinema operators have once again been hit particularly hard due to extended lockdowns and ongoing restrictions. This new round of funding will continue to support the viability and recovery of the Australian independent cinema business.”

Funding tiers remain the same as round one and support is once again available as a one-off grant. 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.

An independent 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 from 24 December 2021 until 30 April 2022 or until total funds are committed. The SCREEN Fund is capped at $20 million cumulatively across the first and second rounds.

For eligibility requirements and how to apply see the Guidelines here

If you have any further questions, please email us at ScreenCinemasFund here or call Program Operations on 1800 507 901.