FUNDING & SUPPORT
Frequently Asked Questions
The SAFC provides funding and support to a wide variety of screen practitioners and productions – but there are some activities that fall outside our scope. Below are some answers to frequently asked questions, as well as useful links to alternative screen support options and industry resources.
What the SAFC doesn’t do
- Fund non-narrative content and formats ineligible under the SAFC Terms of Trade.
“Narrative” means a structured story or account of a series of events or experiences, whether documentary or fiction.
- Produce titles in-house.
- Provide PR or marketing services for individual titles.
- Authorise the exhibition/broadcast of content.
- Hire crew, talent or extras for productions.
- Fund audience development / screen culture initiatives.
How can I find and hire a South Australian producer/key creative/crew member for my project?
SAFC Crew and Services Directory
The SAFC Crew and Services Directory lists contact details for South Australian screen creatives, crew and screen service providers, and is searchable by category, name, company or credits. All practitioners listed have had their credentials approved against set criteria by the SAFC.
SAFC Digital Production Brochures
The SAFC has a range of handy downloadable guides listing South Australian screen practitioners and businesses:
- SA Screen Producers (5mb PDF)
This brochure highlights some of the diverse producing talent in South Australia creating world-class film and TV productions – from Emmy Award winning TV series and feature films selected for Cannes, Venice and Berlin, to internationally acclaimed documentaries, innovative digital series and more.
- SA Screen Talent Spotlight (2mb PDF)
This brochure highlights selected new South Australian “Greenlighters” – credited writers, directors and producers with the ability to attract finance – who have worked on recent SAFC supported film and TV productions.
- SA PDV Service Providers (3.8mb PDF)
As an international hub for post-production, digital and visual effects (PDV), South Australia is world-renowned for excellence in sound and picture post-production, animation and VFX, with some of the world’s top PDV studios calling Adelaide home. Find out more about them in this digital brochure.
- SA Video Game Creatives (6.6mb PDF)
From large indie studios to solo developers working across desktop, console and mobile, to creatives working in XR, animation and robotics, this brochure highlights just some of the diverse range of talent and skills in South Australia’s growing game development sector
- SA Screen Production Facilities (2.5mb PDF)
This brochure highlights selected venues and facilities in South Australia suitable for screen production and filming.
Adelaide Studios Screen Creatives
The SAFC’s Adelaide Studios facilities in Glenside is a creative hub of more than 25 South Australian businesses and companies in the film, television and digital media industries, including producers, casting agents, animation and digital content studios and more. Find a full list of all tenants and their contact details in our Adelaide Studios Screen Creatives page.
SA Screen Industry Coffee Networking Mornings
Join SAFC CEO Kate Croser along with SAFC staff and Adelaide Studios tenant businesses at our regular coffee networking mornings, held quarterly in the Adelaide Studios courtyard. These free, drop-in style events allow those in the industry and newcomers to catch up with colleagues and create new connections over a cuppa. Subscribe to the SAFC newsletter to stay informed of future events.
Crew HQ
Launched in 2023 by Emmy Award-winning SA producer Kirsty Stark, Crew HQ is an online database of film and TV crew across Australia. Find out more at crewhq.com.au
How can I get permits for filming on location in South Australia?
If you are planning to film on location in South Australia, you may require a permit from the relevant local Council. Find a Council area map and contact details for SA Councils at the Local Government Association website.
If you are planning to undertake any filming or still photography in a South Australian National Park for commercial purposes, you may require a Commercial Filming Agreement or Photography Permit. Find out more and apply for a permit via the Department for Environment and Water.
South Australia is home to more than 30 First Nations groups with distinct beliefs, cultural practices and languages. Protocols and practices differ depending on which First Nations community and Country you are working on. For more information, consult the SAFC’s First Nations Cultural Protocols guide.
Find out more about what locations South Australia has to offer on the SAFC’s Locations page.
Where can I get support for developing a script?
The SAFC does not accept unsolicited scripts or “pre-assess” applications before they are submitted through our funding programs.
The SAFC supports The Mercury’s Script Club, which assists in the creative development of writers and filmmakers by enhancing their understanding of story, scene structure, dialogue, script formatting and more. Held monthly, attendees meet to discuss the creative and practical elements of a chosen script, led by an industry expert.
The Mercury also offers writing consultations for filmmakers who have draft scripts and story ideas.
Please see below a list of resources related to script development and assessment.
How do I put together an agreement for my screen project?
The Arts Law Centre of Australia sells a range of templates for agreements for the screen industry, from cast and crew agreements to loan agreements, music licensing agreements for games and more.
Screen Producers Australia negotiates benchmark industrial agreements and commercial arrangements, offering businesses exclusive access to resources, expert advice and dispute resolution services. Their negotiated agreements and template contracts are regularly updated and available for use under an exclusive licence to members, or on a single project basis. Find out more here.
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) provides members with access to a complimentary contract starter kit, containing proforma templates for a variety of agreements and contracts relevant to games industry members. Find out more here.
How do I put together a budget/finance plan?
Screen Australia have a range of downloadable templates and tools for screen practitioners, including budget spreadsheets, finance plans and more.
- Tools & Insights for Features (Screen Australia)
- Tools & Insights for Documentaries (Screen Australia)
- Tools & Insights for Television and Online (Screen Australia)
You might want to engage a South Australian production manager or line producer to put your budget together – you can search the SAFC’s Crew & Services Directory for suitable people, or check out the “How can I find and hire a South Australian producer/key creative/crew member for my project?” section on this page for more resources.
Games industry expert Vee Pendergrast has created a downloadable Excel spreadsheet to aid game developers in putting together a budget/finance plan.
Where can I get legal and/or business advice for my screen business or project?
The Arts Law Centre of Australia provides free or low cost specialised legal advice, education and resources to Australian artists and arts organisations across all art forms, including games development, on a wide range of arts related legal and business matters.
You can also search the SAFC’s Crew & Services Directory for South Australian legal practitioners who specialise in the screen industry.
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) has a selection of downloadable information sheets that are free to all members of the Australian games industry – find out more here.
IGEA also offers a free legal advice call service to members, with Mat Jessep of Game Legal. Calls can be booked via the IGEA website.
Where can I find out more about copyright?
The Australian Copyright Council represents the peak bodies for professional artists and content creators working in Australia’s creative industries and Australia’s major copyright collecting societies. You can find a list of answers to common copyright questions here.
If you wish to use music in an advertisement/premium campaign, film or TV production or game you need the permission and a licence from the copyright owners of the musical work and sound recordings. Music rights organisation APRA AMCOS Research Service can help you obtain the details of particular published works and who holds the copyright to them. Find out more about this service here.
Screenrights is a non-profit organisation appointed by the Australian Government that licenses educational institutions to copy screen and radio content. Nearly all schools, universities and some TAFEs in Australia have a Screenrights licence, and the fees they pay for the licence are distributed to the rightsholders in the programs they use. You need to be a member to receive royalty payments, and membership is free. Find out more about membership here.
How can I best engage and work with First Nations Practitioners on my project?
The SAFC’s First Nations Cultural Protocols guide is a practical and informative handbook on culturally appropriate working practices with South Australian First Nations communities.
Designed for screen productions working in South Australia, the downloadable digital booklet outlines Cultural Protocols including Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country, how to identify whose country you’re filming on and advice on obtaining filming permits, as well as including an overview of other considerations for situations involving First Nations South Australian communities and content, with advice and links for further reading.
If you’re looking to engage First Nations crew and/or service providers on your project, you can search for them in the SAFC’s Crew & Services Directory.
What requirements are there for working with children?
People working or volunteering with children in South Australia must, by law, have a Working with Children Check. A Working with Children Check is an assessment of whether a person poses an unacceptable risk to children. As part of the process, the Department of Human Services Screening Unit will look at criminal history, child protection information and other information.
Where else can I apply for funding and get support?
South Australia
A range of organisations exists in South Australia to provide support for the local creative sector:
The Mercury provides support for entry level screen practitioners in South Australia, including curated programs, workshops, masterclasses and events, and filmmaking facilities for use by members.
Adelaide Film Festival provides equity investment in Australian screen production for the big and small screen through the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund.
The Research and Innovation Fund (RIF) (formerly the Research, Commercialisation and Startup Fund (RCSF) supports researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses to accelerate their progress with funding from the South Australian Government, administered via the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science.
The Helpmann Academy provides professional development opportunities including grants and awards, fellowships, mentorships, masterclasses and seminars, advisory services and international artist residencies, all tailored specifically for South Australia’s higher education students, graduates and emerging artists.
Carclew provides young people aged 26 and under support to try different art forms, and supports emerging artists to develop their craft and advocates for youth arts practice.
Country Arts SA provides a range of services and programs to ensure regional South Australians have access to arts and cultural development opportunities.
National & Interstate
Screen Australia is the national Federal Government direct funding body for the Australian screen production industry. There are also a number of other national and state agencies that also support the Australian screen industry.
Other organisations that provide support for the screen sector in Australia include:
Documentary Australia is an independent not-for-profit organisation supporting documentary filmmakers through fiscal sponsorship, access to online resources and in-person training.
Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) is a not-for-profit organisation supporting documentary, factual and unscripted storytelling in all screen and digital forms. The annual conference in Melbourne serves as both a marketplace to showcase the work of Australian and international producers, and a forum to discuss content, craft, technology and future directions.
The Natalie Miller Fellowship (NMF) supports the professional leadership of aspirational women in all sectors of the Australian screen industry, developing further skills, knowledge and connections through fellowships and programs. Annually, the NMF awards the Natalie Miller Fellowship—a cash grant of up to $20,000—to a recipient to pursue leadership development opportunities focused on building and enhancing their leadership capabilities and creating positive outcomes for the industry as a whole. The NMF also provides access to practical and inspirational leadership-focused learning and industry networking through its Brilliant Careers Leadership Forum, held biennially.
The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund make grants across Australia in various sectors, including creative fellowships for individual artists, arts managers and thought leaders in the arts and humanities.
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) keeps a regularly updated list of state and federal Government incentives and support packages for Australian game developers – you can access it here.
How can I become an extra or get a role in a film?
The SAFC is not involved in the hiring of talent or extras for productions (for further information, see the What the SAFC Doesn’t Do section above).
Sometimes SAFC supported productions may issue a call-out for SA screen professionals, including extras, to work on the production. You can see a list of any current opportunities on our Professional Opportunities page.
If you’re an actor, model or performer looking to become an extra or get cast in a production, we recommend contacting Adelaide Studios based casting agents Heesom Casting and RMT Management. You can read more about each business on our Adelaide Studios Screen Creatives Hub page.
You can also try contacting:
How can I get into the Screen Industry?
Just starting out? Check out our Getting Involved in the Screen Industry page for some helpful resources and general information about entering the film and television industry.
Main image: First Day (2020), photo by Ian Routledge, courtesy Epic Films
