Within the AFC, the key role of the Indigenous Branch is to resource and facilitate the participation of Indigenous Australians in the industry. The Branch also provides support to develop a vibrant Indigenous production sector. In seeking to meet these objectives the Branch offers professional development to filmmakers by providing both development and production investment funding for drama, documentary, animation and interactive digital media projects.
Please download the Indigenous Branch Funding Guidelines for full details of eligibility criteria and how to apply for Indigenous Branch funding. The PDF is available below.
The Branch strives to support originality, diversity and creative ambition in the development of Indigenous Australian practitioners and their projects by:
- providing production investment in collaboration with broadcasters or other funding entities through specific initiatives
- providing travel grants to filmmakers who have a film screening in an international film festival and funding for filmmakers to be attached to feature films or feature documentaries
- contributing to AFC policy development issues relevant to its area and assessing projects with Indigenous content that are submitted to the Film Development Branch
- working with the Indigenous filmmaking community in developing strategies for enhancing the employment and training opportunities for Indigenous filmmakers.
Forms of AssistanceThe Indigenous branch provides the following forms of assistance:- strategic initiatives that focus on particular sectors of the Indigenous film industry in any given year
- funding to enable both development and production opportunities for projects that have been initiated by Indigenous Australian writers, directors and producers which display originality and creative ambition
- internships to enable emerging and established Indigenous Australian practitioners to work or study with more experienced practitioners
- travel grants to enable Indigenous Australian practitioners to attend overseas festivals, markets and conferences for either professional or industry development.
Please note that most production funding is provided through joint initiatives between the Indigenous Branch and broadcasters or other third-party sources of finance. For example the Indigenous Drama initiative 'Dramatically Black' was set up in association with SBS Independent, the NSW Film and Television Office and the South Australian Film Corporation.
Alongside the specific initiatives currently underway, the Indigenous Branch's Funding Programs provide funding in the following areas:- drama development (for features, short features and short films)
- drama production and post-production (for features, short features and short films)
- documentary development
- documentary production and post-production
- interactive digital media development
- specific purpose grants (for internships or travel grants).
Indigenous filmmakers may apply to any AFC program in addition to the funding programs of the Indigenous Branch.
Email: indigenous@afc.gov.au
Fax: (02) 9357 3672
Ph: (02) 9321 6499A Brief HistoryIn 1992, the AFC commissioned the report Promoting Indigenous Involvement, in the Film and Television Industry, prepared by Shirley McPherson and Michael Pope. One of the recommendations of the report was the setting up of an Aboriginal program within the AFC, to develop strategies to proactively engage Indigenous Australians in the film and television industry.
The Aboriginal Program, or Aboriginal Unit as it was called, was renamed the Indigenous Branch in 1993 with two staff - a director and an administrator - and its own operational budget. This was in recognition of the need for self-representation by Indigenous Australians in the film and television industry. It also demonstrated the AFC's commitment to increasing the participation of Indigenous Australians in the film and television industries. |
