VIC — Victorian Screen Incentive (VSI)

  • Applications are ongoing: Projects seeking <AUD $2 million: assessed in 6 weeks. Projects seeking ≥ AUD $2 million: assessed in 6–16 weeks.
  • Two streams: Physical Production and Digital Games/Animation/Post-Production and Visual Effects
  • VSI grants are calculated as a percentage of Qualifying Victorian Expenditure (QVE)
  • Grants are capped at no more than 10% of QVE.

The Victorian Screen Incentive (VSI) is a state-based grant program designed to attract screen projects to undertake production and/or post-production activity in Victoria. It supports two streams: Physical Production, and Digital Games, Animation, Post‑Production and Visual Effects. Grants are generally paid upon project completion, and the fund operates on a rolling basis. VSI funding can be combined with federal offsets.

Key Requirements

  • Streams supported — Physical Production; Digital Games, Animation, Post‑Production & VFX
  • Commercial readiness — Projects must be fully financed with marketplace interest for commercial release/distribution at application.
  • Minimum QVE thresholds — $8m QVE (Physical Production) or $0.5m QVE (Digital Games/Animation/Post/VFX)
  • Footloose requirement — Physical production must have genuine interstate/international destination alternatives
  • Workforce & compliance — Budgets must include minimum Australian industry award rates for Victorian work.
  • Assessment focus — VSED Committee considers long‑term industry benefits, regional value, training outcomes, diversity & inclusion, showcasing Victoria, and sustainability.
  • Payment & combinations — Grants generally paid on completion; may be combined with federal offsets

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible project types include

  • fiction (feature film or series), documentary (feature film or series)
  • light entertainment that showcases Victorian locations/people/lifestyle, and digital games designed primarily for entertainment.

For activity to qualify, expenditure must be QVE—for example, payments to Victorian individuals/companies for work performed in Victoria, and salaries/expenses for Victorian residents engaged on the project in Victoria. Minimum QVE applies: $8m for Physical Production and $0.5m for Digital Games/Animation/Post/VFX.

What companies are eligible for funding?

  • Entities:
    • A company with the rights to produce the project (or part of it); and/or
    • A company with rights to undertake post‑production, animation, VFX or digital games work on the project.
  • Other considerations: Fully financed; commercial release/distribution interest; minimum QVE thresholds; footloose (for physical production); Victorian work paid at least at minimum award rates.

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.