Screen producers can now access the $50 million Temporary Interruption Fund (TIF), which opens today to help kick-start the local film and television industry.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts the Hon. Paul Fletcher MP, said TIF will support local film and television producers to start filming again. At the moment many new productions are in limbo because financiers will not release funds because of their concern that production may be interrupted if a key cast or crew member falls ill due to COVID-19.
“If a production is designated by Screen Australia as eligible under TIF this will allow financiers to release funds so production can commence,” Minister Fletcher said.
“Importantly, TIF means that local productions can get underway and cast and crew can return to work.”
“TIF will complement the practical COVID-Safe Guidelines, which have been developed and released by industry to support a safe return to work.”
Chief Executive Officer of Screen Australia, Graeme Mason, welcomed the certainty TIF will bring to the Australian screen production sector.
“TIF is expected to support around 50 Australian productions and support around 11,000 jobs. Importantly, it will also mean Australian stories are featured on screens here and internationally,” Mr Mason said.
TIF operates alongside market based risk minimisation practices. Producers must have Film Producers Indemnity (FPI) insurance covering named individuals from an approved insurer and applicants will need to provide an existing certificate of currency or valid quotation. The TIF operates as a grant program and will cover the loss to the production due to the death, injury or illness of a named individual (capped at 10 individuals) only if that loss is not covered under the applicant company’s film producers indemnity (FPI) policy, and solely due to the named individual contracting COVID-19.
TIF is part of the Morrison Government’s $250 million JobMaker package to help restart the creative economy over the next 12 months. This builds on the Government’s annual investment of around $750 million in the creative and cultural sector.
In July, the Government announced an additional $400 million boost to the Location Incentive that will create a pipeline of international projects, which will support Australian jobs in the screen industry over the next seven years.
TIF will be administered by Screen Australia. Eligibility criteria, guidelines and how to apply are available at https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/covid-19-support/temporary-interruption-fund.
