WA Documentary Production Fund (Screenwest)

Total funding per project: Up to $400,000.
Matched funding (core contribution): Screenwest will match cash funding from legitimate, arm’s-length market partner(s) up to $300,000, or 25% of total Qualifying Western Australian Expenditure (QWAE) (a 1:4 ratio), whichever is less.
Additional incentives: Additional funding may be available via incentives, capped at $100,000 per project (with category-specific caps).
Matched funding / in-kind requirement: Cash co-contribution from market partner(s) is required to access the matched component (as above).
Applications close: May 4 2026 (5:00PM AWST)

The Screenwest Documentary Production Fund supports Western Australian producers to deliver feature-length documentary films, factual one-offs and documentary series with significant marketplace attachments.

Projects can receive up to $400,000 per project, including a matched cash component tied to arm’s-length market partner funding (up to $300,000 or 25% of QWAE, whichever is less), with potential additional incentives (capped at $100,000) to support Screenwest’s First Nations and diversity objectives. Applicants must meet WA company requirements, satisfy documentary and marketplace tests, and demonstrate minimum $300,000 QWAE and strong WA outcomes.

Key Requirements

Support WA documentary production with market attachment: Projects must be documentary/factual content (feature, single, series or large format) and have confirmed marketplace evidenced by a current Letter of Intent from a bona fide distributor/broadcaster/exhibition platform.
Meet WA economic and cultural outcomes: Projects must have at least $300,000 QWAE and score at least 10 points in the Western Australian Elements Table, demonstrating strong WA elements (e.g., WA company control, WA creatives/crew, WA post spend).
Project timing/status requirement: The project must not have entered pre-production or production prior to Screenwest’s funding decision.
Diversity and First Nations encouragement/expectations: Screenwest encourages applications from First Nations Australians and historically under-represented groups, and requires authentic representation where relevant.
Workforce development requirement (where applicable): Productions receiving over $100,000 in production funding must budget for Attachment/Mentorship opportunities in consultation with Screenwest (number determined by Screenwest funding amount).
Fees and obligations: Budgets must include a Screenwest administration fee of 2% of the funding amount (capped at $5,000) and repayment obligations where prior Screenwest development investment applies.

What is eligible for funding?

Production financing for feature-length documentary films, factual one-offs, and documentary series with significant marketplace attachments.
Post-production funding may be supported where a project has bona fide market or significant festival interest at rough cut stage and post-production work has not commenced (only work after Screenwest approval is eligible).
Delivery of agreed production deliverables under a Production Grant Agreement (PGA), including scheduled milestones and materials required for payments.

Incentive categories (available amounts)

A – WA First Nations Production Company: Up to $50,000.
B – WA Key Creative (First Nations / CALD / disability): Up to $30,000.
C – WA Female Series Producer or WA Female Series Director (series): Up to $30,000.
D – WA first-time Series Producer or Series Director (series): Up to $50,000.
E – WA first-time Producer or Director (feature documentary): Up to $30,000.
F – Social change documentary aligned to diversity/inclusion/equity outcomes in WA: Up to $50,000.
G – Flexible WA incentive aligned to Screenwest Strategic Plan priorities: Up to $30,000.
Rules for incentives: Total incentives are capped at $100,000 per project; only one incentive per category; the same individual can’t be used across multiple categories.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants

Western Australian resident company.
Western Australian resident company in a Genuine Co-production Partnership with a non-WA resident company (per Screenwest Terms of Trade).
Western Australian resident company in an Official Treaty Co-production relationship with a non-WA resident company.

Key project eligibility considerations

Must satisfy ACMA documentary definition test.
Must have confirmed marketplace via Letter of Intent aligned to finance plan.
Must meet minimum $300,000 QWAE and minimum 10 WA elements points.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

Industry analysis presentation
Competitor Analysis Presentation
Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

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