Red carpet funding for local film festivals

Local film festivals across NSW could receive up to $5000 in support, thanks to the newly introduced Community Film Festival Opening Night Fund.

The NSW government announced the $200,000 program last week, which will assist film festivals across the state in hosting opening nights to bring communities together in country, regional, and suburban cinemas.

Minister for the Arts, Music and Night-Time Economy, Jobs and Tourism John Graham said the State Theatre had rolled out the red carpet for the opening of the Sydney Film Festival for 71 years.

“We want to do the same thing and roll out red carpets for opening nights right across NSW for these community film festivals.

“Film festivals with a strong community base can introduce and attract new audiences to the cinema in an era of streaming from the couch. The opening night is an important moment to celebrate, as it presents an unmissable experience.”

The initiative will support culturally diverse, regional, emerging, and genre-specific communities to develop the reach and impact of their events.

It also complements existing funding for film and community festivals, such as Screen NSW’s Audience Development Fund and Destination NSW’s Regional Event Fund.

Eligible festival organisers can apply for funding to cover specified costs, including venue hire, equipment, marketing and promotion, Auslan interpreters, and other associated costs.

“Community film festivals are often run on small budgets, driven by the sheer passion of a community. We know rising costs are making it harder to put on events. This fund will help ease some of that burden and allow these communities to continue to celebrate their stories,” Mr Graham said.

Funding applications are now open. For more information, head to screen.nsw.gov.au