Screen Australia Launches First Nations Factual Co-production Fund

Screen Australia’s First Nations Department, in partnership with several Australian regional screen agencies, has launched a factual co-production development fund, designed to elevate First Nations screen businesses in international markets.
 
The programme will support up to five First Nations businesses to expand their global experience by encouraging creative exchange between countries based on the development of factual projects that explore Indigenous perspectives of cultural significance.
 
Successful applicants will each receive a grant of A$30,000 ($21,400) for both the development of two factual projects with potential for international co-production and attendance at Canada’s TIFF: The Market.
 
Regional screen agencies partnering with Screen Australia on the initiative include Screen Canberra, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest, South Australian Film Corporation and VicScreen.
 
Screen Australia Director of First Nations Strategy Rachel Perkins said: “First Nations storytellers around the world share deep cultural connections that transcend time and place, offering powerful, diverse perspectives.

"This programme enables those perspectives to be realised on screen, creating distinctive, high-quality factual storytelling that resonates worldwide. By developing projects for the TIFF 2026 market, we’re creating a vital pathway for First Nations stories to reach global audiences.”
 
First Nations-owned and operated production companies led by Indigenous practitioners are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be mid-to-established career practitioners with at least two documentary screen credits or have created 60 minutes of factual content broadcast and be available to attend TIFF: The Market (September 10-16, 2026).
 
Applications close 5pm AEST, June 4. 2026.