A new South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) initiative will give local screen creatives funding and early access to ABC commissioners as they develop original projects for television.
The ABC First Look: Early Development Grant, launched on Monday, is designed for South Australian writers, directors and producers developing scripted and unscripted projects, with the intention of helping promising concepts progress towards production.
Successful applicants can receive up to $50,000 for scripted projects, including children’s content, and up to $25,000 for unscripted projects. Recipients will also receive feedback from ABC commissioners during the development process.
The initiative is being delivered through the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund, a partnership launched in 2023 to support screen production in South Australia and create opportunities for local creatives and production crews.
Projects supported through the existing fund include children’s series Beep and Mort S2, crime drama Treasure & Dirt, Logie Award-nominated Top End Bub, and the upcoming third season of Austin. Other productions connected to the fund include Ladies in Black, Eat the Invaders and documentary KUMARANGK: Sacred Women’s Business, which is scheduled to premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival in 2026 before its ABC release.
The SAFC said the new grant is intended to help creatives develop original Australian stories while giving projects a clearer route towards national audiences.
South Australian Arts Minister Kyam Maher said the initiative builds on the work already supported through the ABC SAFC partnership.
“Since its launch three years ago, the ABC SAFC Content Pipeline Fund has injected more than $41 million into the state’s economy and created more than 1,500 jobs for local crew, cast and creatives,” Maher said.
SAFC Acting CEO Leanne Saunders said the partnership had already helped bring locally developed stories to audiences, pointing to Treasure & Dirt, Top End Bub and Austin as examples.
She said the new development program would give writers, directors and producers an opportunity to work on projects with feedback from the ABC at an early stage.
For the ABC, the program provides an opportunity to identify and develop projects before they reach the commissioning stage.
ABC Director Screen Jennifer Collins said the grant would allow South Australian creatives to connect with ABC commissioners while their ideas were still being developed.
“South Australia is home to a wealth of creative talent,” Collins said, adding that the broadcaster wanted to support local storytellers developing Australian stories for audiences across the country.
The focus on early development means funding will be available before a project reaches production, potentially giving creators access to industry feedback at a stage when ideas, formats and scripts can still be refined.
The program also adds another layer to South Australia’s existing screen funding activity, with the SAFC positioning the initiative as a way to strengthen the pipeline of locally developed projects rather than focusing solely on productions already ready to enter filming.
Applications for the ABC First Look: Early Development Grant will support projects across scripted and unscripted formats, with the funding amounts determined by the type of project. Successful applicants will work with the ABC during development, providing a direct connection between South Australian creators and the national broadcaster.
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