Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Fund offers funding to individuals, businesses and organisations running screen festivals, events and other activities that benefit Queensland’s screen culture. This guide covers Round 2 of the 2026-27 program, including a genuinely useful correction: the closing date has been extended, giving applicants more time than originally announced. Here is what the fund covers, who can apply, and how to put together a competitive application.
An important correction up front: an earlier figure circulating for this round claimed funding of up to $150,000 with a closing date of 14 September 2026. That $150,000 tier was only available in Round 1, which has already closed. The current Round 2 offers up to $8,000 per application for standard festivals and screenings, and Screen Queensland has since extended the Round 2 closing date to 9am on Monday, 28 September 2026 (moved from the originally advertised 14 September 2026, 5pm). This article uses the correct, current figures.
What is the Screen Culture Fund?
The Screen Culture Fund is administered by Screen Queensland, the state government’s screen industry development agency. It supports events, festivals and activities that build Queensland’s screen culture, meaning anything that helps Queenslanders engage with film, television and games as a cultural experience, showcases Queensland-made screen content, or strengthens the local screen industry’s capacity and networks.
Unlike many grants aimed only at individuals or only at incorporated organisations, this fund is explicitly open to “any individual, business and/or organisation providing benefits to Queensland’s screen culture,” provided they meet the eligibility requirements below. That makes it relevant to production companies, event businesses, festival organisers and screen industry professionals, not only registered not-for-profits.
How much funding is available?
For the current Round 2 window, the standard funding tier is up to $8,000 per application, with a stated minimum of $2,000, for festivals and screenings. Screen Queensland’s guidelines are clear that “funding allocations may be less than requested amounts,” and that funding levels are determined on a case by case basis, so an $8,000 request is not guaranteed to be funded at the full amount.
There is also a separate, uncapped multi-year funding option available for festivals that attract Queensland attendance exceeding 10,000 people, though the specific amount available for that tier is not published and would need to be discussed directly with Screen Queensland. The larger $150,000 (for significant cultural festivals and events) and $25,000 (for touring festivals visiting six or more regional centres) tiers were Round 1-only and are not available in this round.
The total pool of funding available across all Round 2 applications is not published on the official program page.
Who qualifies?
To be eligible, you (or your organisation) must be an Australian incorporated entity, hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN), and have no outstanding acquittal reports or unfulfilled obligations from prior Screen Queensland programs.
Beyond that, you need to demonstrate appropriate capacity, experience and track record to develop and deliver your proposed event, backed by business, financial, marketing and contingency plans, along with evidence of community support for your proposal.
Who does NOT qualify?
Based on the official guidelines, the fund does not support events held internationally, since it is specifically about building Queensland’s screen culture. It also does not fund publications or magazines about screen, screen content development and production (this fund is about events and audience engagement, not making films or shows), advertising or marketing events and premieres, professional mentorships or attachments, travel to international film festivals, or private, non-screen-related fundraising activity.
Applicants with outstanding acquittals or unresolved obligations from a previous Screen Queensland program are also excluded until those matters are resolved.
What can the funding be used for?
Eligible event types include screen festivals that showcase diverse content and highlight Queensland-created material, public engagement events that promote film as a cultural experience, workshops and conferences that engage the screen industry, filmmaker tours and visits that foster discussion with audiences, online film festivals that engage Queensland audiences, and games festivals that showcase Queensland-created content.
Funded events must take place within the eligible event period, between 1 January and 30 June 2027.
Key dates
Round 2 applications close at 9am on Monday, 28 September 2026. This is an extension from the originally advertised closing date of 14 September 2026, 5pm, so if you had ruled this program out because you thought the deadline had already passed, it is worth a second look.
Funded events themselves must take place between 1 January and 30 June 2027. Late applications cannot be accepted under any circumstances, so build in time to submit well before the 28 September cut-off.
Documents you will need to prepare
Applications are submitted online through the SmartyGrants system. You will need an event outline, CVs and biographies of your key personnel, a business plan, a marketing and audience development plan, and a budget and finance plan. You can also include additional supporting materials if they strengthen your application.
As part of your application, you also choose which peer assessment panel reviews your proposal: the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Screen Culture and Community Development panel, or the general Screen Culture and Community Development panel. Choose whichever is the better fit for your event and community focus.
Once submitted, you receive an automated confirmation email within 30 minutes. If any required materials are missing, you have 10 business days to supply them, so respond promptly if Screen Queensland follows up after your submission.
How applications are assessed
Assessors consider your business plan and how you propose to allocate funding, the overall quality of your event proposal, including any regional components and evidence of genuine community need, and the diversity of screen content your event offers that the community would not otherwise have access to.
They also look at your audience development strategy and how viable your marketing plan is, your track record delivering similar events, the viability of your budget and any third-party contributions you have secured, and the network of business relationships that will allow your event and business plans to actually be achieved.
In practical terms, this means a strong application needs to show more than just a good idea. It needs a credible plan for execution, marketing and audience reach, and evidence that you have the relationships and track record to deliver.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using outdated funding figures. As this article’s correction notes, the $150,000 tier belonged to Round 1 only, and using that figure in your planning or budget for a Round 2 application would set unrealistic expectations. Plan around the correct $8,000 standard tier, or discuss the multi-year option directly with Screen Queensland if your event attracts more than 10,000 Queensland attendees.
Applying for something outside an eligible event type. Screen content development, production funding, or straightforward advertising and premiere events are all excluded, so make sure your proposal is genuinely about audience engagement, festivals, workshops or community screen culture, not content production itself.
Underestimating the business plan and relationship-network components of assessment. Since assessors specifically weigh your network of business relationships and the viability of your business, financial and marketing plans, a purely creative pitch without this operational detail is unlikely to score well.
Missing the response window if materials are requested. You only have 10 business days to supply any missing documentation after you apply, so keep an eye on your email after submission.
Not resolving prior Screen Queensland obligations first. If you have any outstanding acquittals or unfulfilled requirements from a previous Screen Queensland program, resolve them before applying to this round.
How competitive is this grant likely to be?
Screen Queensland does not publish the total Round 2 funding pool or applicant numbers, so we are not going to guess at odds. What we can say is that the modest, capped standard funding tier ($8,000, minimum $2,000), combined with a defined and fairly detailed assessment process involving a peer panel, points to a genuinely competitive but achievable program for well-prepared, clearly eligible applicants with a credible delivery plan.
What to prepare before you apply
Confirm your organisation is an Australian incorporated entity with a valid ABN, and that you have no outstanding obligations from a previous Screen Queensland program.
Choose an event type that clearly fits the eligible categories: a festival, public engagement event, workshop, conference, filmmaker tour, online festival, or games festival, taking place between 1 January and 30 June 2027.
Put together your business plan, marketing and audience development plan, and budget and finance plan early, since these carry significant weight in the assessment.
Decide which peer assessment panel is the right fit for your event.
Submit well before the 28 September 2026, 9am deadline, and respond quickly if Screen Queensland requests any missing materials.
Related funding options for Queensland businesses and creatives
If this particular round or funding tier does not fit your event, there are other Queensland-focused options worth exploring. For a broader view of funding available to Queensland businesses generally, see the guide to business grants in Queensland and small business grants available in Queensland. If your project involves creating digital or online content more broadly, rather than a screen culture event specifically, it may also be worth reviewing options for digital content creation grants. Artists and creatives outside the screen sector may find relevant options in the broader guide to grants for Australian artists.
Using the Grants Assist eligibility tool
Not sure which grant programs are the right fit for your business or project? Grants Assist’s online eligibility assessment tool is a useful self-service starting point to help narrow down realistic options based on your situation.
The bottom line
The Screen Culture Fund Round 2 2026-27 offers up to $8,000 (minimum $2,000) for screen festivals, public engagement events, workshops, conferences and similar activities that build Queensland’s screen culture, open to individuals, businesses and organisations alike. The closing date has been extended to 9am on 28 September 2026, giving applicants more runway than originally announced, though a strong, well-prepared application covering your business plan and delivery capability still matters given the competitive, criteria-based assessment.
Want to keep exploring your options? Grants Assist’s online portal gives you access to detailed, regularly updated information on grants and assistance programs across Australia. Explore the Grants Assist portal to browse more programs like this one, or call us on 1300-005-999 to speak with one of our advisors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does the Screen Culture Fund Round 2 offer?
Up to $8,000 per application (minimum $2,000) for standard festivals and screenings. A separate, uncapped multi-year option exists for festivals attracting more than 10,000 Queensland attendees, amount to be discussed directly with Screen Queensland. The $150,000 and $25,000 tiers were Round 1 only and are not part of this round.
When does Round 2 close?
9am on Monday, 28 September 2026. This is an extension from the originally advertised 14 September 2026, 5pm deadline.
Who can apply?
Any individual, business or organisation providing benefits to Queensland’s screen culture, provided they are an Australian incorporated entity with a valid ABN and no outstanding obligations from a previous Screen Queensland program.
What kind of events does this fund support?
Screen festivals, public engagement events promoting film as a cultural experience, workshops and conferences engaging the screen industry, filmmaker tours, online film festivals, and games festivals showcasing Queensland-created content.
Can this fund be used to produce a film or screen content?
No. Screen content development and production is explicitly excluded. This fund is for events and activities that build screen culture and audience engagement, not for producing the content itself.
When must funded events take place?
Between 1 January and 30 June 2027.
