Screen NSW Industry Development Program Round 2 2027: Training Grants for Screen and Game Organisations Open 1 December
Screen NSW's Industry Development Program is preparing a second 2026/27 funding round for Australian organisations offering meaningful training and professional development to screen and digital-games practitioners in New South Wales. The forthcoming round supports single-year workshops, masterclasses, labs, conferences and related professional-skills initiatives, not individual filmmakers' feature-film production.
NOT YET OPEN — Screen NSW's general programme page currently displays CLOSED because Round 1 ended in July 2026. However, its official 2026/27 rounds table separately schedules Round 2 to OPEN on 1 December 2026 and CLOSE on 18 February 2027. These two statements are compatible: Round 2 is upcoming, not cancelled.
ROUND 2 IS SINGLE-YEAR ONLY — The current programme schedule expressly limits the second round to SINGLE YEAR funding applications, with projects commencing between 15 April and 13 September 2027. Multi-year submissions are restricted to Round 1 and should not be refiled in Round 2 as though both windows have identical purposes.
AMOUNTS AND A KEY LIMIT — The overall Industry Development Program spans grants from A$5,000 upwards, with a different large ceiling for its multi-year streams. But Screen NSW says funding over A$10,000 is generally not available for a SINGLE YEAR initiative. Exceptions may be considered for a programme with significant benefits to designated NSW priority areas. Do not advertise Round 2 as automatically offering the multi-year A$150,000 limit.
ELIGIBLE ORGANISATIONS — Australian incorporated companies, registered non-profits, co-operatives, trusts, local government authorities and qualifying consortia can apply if they have an ABN and satisfy legal-status and Terms of Trade requirements. Individual artists, informal groups, unincorporated bodies and education institutions are excluded as applicants. A consortium must nominate a lead eligible entity.
NSW OUTCOMES REQUIRED — The funded activity should develop the skills of NSW screen and digital games professionals, especially those entering or growing in the industry. The programme prioritises meaningful involvement of regional NSW, Western Sydney, First Nations, culturally diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ screen workers. An applicant outside NSW must demonstrate strong local benefit or deliver the activity in NSW.
WHAT DOES NOT QUALIFY — Screen NSW excludes content production or distribution, normal festival exhibiting, awards or competition prizes, general organisation operating costs, business travel to markets, conventions and school-focused programmes. Therefore a games studio seeking cash simply to develop its new game should consult separate production funding rather than this training initiative.
APPLICATION PLANNING — Describe training objectives, beneficiaries, instructors, event locations, sessions, participants, partner commitments and inclusion strategies. Provide evidence of demand, organisational track record, financial and in-kind support, delivery budget, realistic measurement of learning outcomes and the organisation's legal status.
ABOUT SCREEN NSW — Screen NSW is a New South Wales Government agency supporting the state's production, workforce and screen/digital-games sector. Its official site publishes detailed programme assessment weights, eligibility, previous rounds and a SmartyGrants link.
OFFICIAL ROUNDS AND GUIDELINES — https://www.screen.nsw.gov.au/funding-support/industry-development . Access the Round 2 application when it opens through the linked SmartyGrants portal. Verified 22 October 2026; applicants should check the live funding status, close time, permitted single-year budget and full criteria.