The Reality of Financing Indie Films in Australia
In the world of Australian indie filmmaking, securing funding for your feature film can feel like a long, winding road—challenging, unpredictable. There’s no simple formula for success, but with a mix of creativity, persistence, and a touch of innovation, it’s entirely possible to turn your dream project into a reality.
Often getting your film off the ground is one of the most gruelling parts of the process. Screen Australia luckily offers the Screen Story Development Fund, which supports filmmakers to develop compelling scripted stories. Filmmakers can apply for funding through two main strands: the Generate Fund, designed for lower-budget episodic TV and feature film projects from emerging creators; and the Premium Fund, which supports higher-budget, ambitious long-form projects from experienced filmmakers with a focus on commercial viability and audience reach.
For productions that are ready to shoot, the Australian Screen Production Incentive offers substantial rebates for feature films and TV projects, including the Producer Offset (40%), the Location Offset (30%), and the Post, Digital, and Visual Effects Offset (30%). These financial incentives are designed to make filmmaking more affordable by providing a refundable tax rebate based on eligible Australian production expenditure. Essentially, these offsets incentivize filmmakers to produce films in Australia by offering a significant financial return on their locally spent production budget. Individual states also have additional funding support, see here for: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, NT & Tas.
Crowdfunding has also become a significant source of financing for local indie films, allowing filmmakers to connect directly with their audience. Platforms like Kickstarter, Documentary Australia, Pozible and The Australian Cultural Fund make this possible. One example of a local success is Everybody's Oma, a documentary by Central Coast filmmaker Jason Van Genderen. The team raised $67,975 AUD via crowdfunding. This funding injection helped finance the post production to bring Jason’s personal story of caring for his mother, Hendrika, to the screen. The film navigated both the emotional toll of dementia and their journey of bringing awareness through Hendrika’s online fame.
Internationally, filmmakers have also attempted slightly different styles of crowd funding. The Beta Test director Jim Cummings raised $350,000 in just 15 days through the crowd-equity platform WeFunder. Cummings bypassed traditional Hollywood financing and retained 65% ownership of the film. Cummings’ success proves that indie filmmakers can utilise the internet and global audiences to take control of their projects and explore alternative funding avenues—a route that Australian filmmakers should look into as well.
But beyond funding, having the right team is essential. Working with passionate and experienced producers who understand how to stretch a budget can make all the difference. Building connections with other filmmakers through online communities and local networks is key to navigating the indie filmmaking world.
Making a feature film is no easy feat. There will be challenges, setbacks, and compromises along the way. But sometimes, when the right team, funding, and vision align, the result is something truly magical. The journey is tough, but the reward of seeing your story come to life on the big screen is well worth the effort.