COVID-19 National: Business, Non-Profits, Individuals – Screen Australia Temporary Interruption Fund (TIF)

This program aims to support local film and television producers to start filming again in circumstances where new productions have been halted by insurers not providing coverage for COVID-19. It seeks to provide assistance for new local productions which have been unable to start production due to production insurance exclusions relating to COVID-19.

The Fund will provide coverage to productions for specific events relating to COVID-19 that occur during the last two weeks of pre-production and the period of principal photography.

Funding available is up to 60% of the total budget, or $4 million, whichever is less. An applicant can agree with Screen Australia for coverage at a lesser amount than the capped amount.

A total funding pool of $50 million is available.

Eligible applicants must meet the following provisions based on Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade:
- The applicant must be a company incorporated and carrying on business in Australia, and have its central management and control in Australia.
- The applicant company must control the rights to carry out the production.
- The applicant company and its related companies must not be in breach of any obligation under any agreement it has with Screen Australia or its predecessors.

Eligible activities are Australian productions made in Australia, including:
- Feature films, drama series, documentary series or single episode programs that must have passed the Significant Australian Content test or be an official co-production, as evidenced at the time of application by (issued by Screen Australia, as appropriate):
a) A provisional certificate for the Producer Offset.
b) A provisional official co-production approval.
- Entertainment or reality series that must, in Screen Australia’s opinion, be capable of passing the Significant Australian Content test based on the information provided in the application form.

TIF is available to productions regardless of whether or not they have separately received direct Screen Australia production funding.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete project eligibility requirements.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Proximity to the commencement of principal photography.
- Readiness to enter production.
- Demonstrable need to acquire TIF coverage to move into production.
- Impact of the length of principal photography on the ability of TIF to support other productions.
- The total current contingent TIF exposure.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- A feature film, drama series, documentary series or single episode program that does not have a provisional certificate for the producer offset (i.e. location offset productions, productions below producer offset minimum spend thresholds).
- An animation program unless it is a hybrid live action animation (and is predominantly live action).