Open Call for Production Attraction Incentive Program: Australia

Deadline: 20-Mar-23

The Northern Territory Government is pleased to announce an open call for the Production Attraction Incentive Program.

Program Purpose

• Contribute to production finance of screen projects with the aim to attract footloose and fully financed screen projects to undertake production in the Northern Territory

Program Objectives

• Increase the level of screen production in the Northern Territory
• Increase the economic benefit and business activity for Territorian companies through screen production increase
• Increase skills development and employment opportunities for Territorians working in the screen sector

Funding Information

• The incentive amount will be at the discretion of Screen Territory and is subject to the availability of funding at the time of application. The incentive is calculated as a percentage of the qualifying Northern Territory expenditure.
• Applications for a Production Attraction Incentive must be approved by Screen Territory prior to the commencement of production. Funding cannot be sought retrospectively. An application will be considered to be retrospective if production has already commenced.

Project Requirements

The following formats are eligible to receive a Production Attraction Incentive:

• Fiction feature film or series
• Documentary feature film or series

Eligibility Criteria

Production Attraction Incentive Program is now open to all Australian and international producers, production companies and studios with screen projects that:

• Are spending a minimum of AU$2 million on qualifying Northern Territory Production Expenditure in the Northern Territory (exceptions may be considered in prior discussion with Screen Territory).
• Are footloose (i.e. are international or Australia productions that are not already lock in to production in the Northern Territory).
• Have evidence of genuine marketplace interest for commercial release or distribution.
• Are engaging screen industry practitioners in meaningful employment, including attachments, who are Northern Territory residents
• The following paragraphs set out eligibility provisions specific to individual applicants and company applicants, and then common eligibility rules applicable to both individuals and companies (and, to the extent indicated, to related parties). It should be noted that the eligibility rules will also apply to the contracting entity (if different from the original applicant), including any special purpose rights holding or production services companies.
• An individual applicant must:
  • be an Australian citizen;
  • be a Northern Territory resident;
  • have legal capacity;
  • not be enrolled as a full-time student at a film school or similar tertiary film, television or interactive digital media course. Applications from part-time students will be assessed on a case-by-case basis;
  • not be an employee of the Northern Territory Government where there is a conflict of interest;
  • not be active in the capacity of a trustee of a trust; and
  • not be an employee of a broadcaster or commissioning platform
• An applicant that is a company must:
  • be a Northern Territory Company except where indicated in the guidelines for a specific program (a Northern Territory company may also apply on behalf of a Genuine CoProduction between it and a non-NT company);
  • in the case of applicants seeking development or production funding, be a company active in the film, TV or interactive media business;
  • not be a broadcaster;
  • not be a holding company or subsidiary of a broadcaster;
  • not be jointly owned by one or more companies
  • not be acting in the capacity of a trustee for a trust.
• All applicants must:
  • not, in the opinion of Screen Territory, be in default or breach of any obligation under any arrangement they have with Screen Territory, or any of Screen Territory’s predecessors, or other Northern Territory Government agencies, either as an individual applicant or in association with any company or entity, including in relation to acquittals of previous funding. This requirement also applies to the Key Creatives included in the application;
  • always act in good faith in all their dealings with Screen Territory
  • have the capacity and resources to carry out the project that is the subject of the application;
  • have the right to carry out the project that is the subject of the application (including any relevant copyright or clearances);
  • have meaningful financial and creative control of the project that is the subject of the application;
  • demonstrate that their application is consistent with the purpose of the program applied to, and meets the program’s guidelines; and
  • where the application is based on an underlying work, must hold an appropriate option over that work.

For more information, visit Northern Territory Government.