Catalyst Grant FAQ

NMF Catalyst Grant FAQ

Eligibility

Question: Are applications open to female-identifying applicants?

Answer: Yes, NMF Catalyst Grants are open to female and female-identifying applicants.

Question: I am new to the industry can I apply?

Answer: No, you will need at least 3 years’ professional experience in the Australian screen industry.

Professional experience may include formal unpaid internships.

Question: I am a foreign national living or working in Australia. Am I eligible?

Answer: We accept applications from Australian permanent residents and citizens, and Australian citizens who are currently working outside of Australia.

Question: Can I apply for the Catalyst Grant if I’ve already received a Natalie Miller Fellowship or Catalyst Grant previously?

Answer: You cannot apply for a Catalyst Grant if you’ve been successful in being selected for either a Natalie Miller Fellowship or a Catalyst Grant previously.

Question: What is the definition of a screen practitioner?

Answer: Women / Female-identifying working in any area of the Australian screen industry can apply including, but not limited to, all areas of development, production, post-production, exhibition, broadcast, distribution, festivals, events, finance, production services, screen agencies, industry organisations and guilds.

Questions: Do I need an ABN and Tax File Number to apply?

Answer: No.

Application Process

Question: Is there an NMF Representative I can talk to for advice before applying?

Answer: If you have any questions about the requirements of the application, eligibility or application process, please email admin@nataliemillerfellowship.com and an NMF representative will contact you as soon as possible.

Question: What is the difference between the Fellowship and the Catalyst Grants?

Answer: The Fellowship is one singular $20,000 grant awarded annually to a practitioner with ten or more years’ experience in the screen industry. There are five (5) Catalyst Grants ($5,000 each) awarded to practitioners with three or more years’ experience in the screen industry.

Question: Does my proposed Catalyst program need to start/finish on a specific date?

Answer: It should start no earlier than 24 June 2024 and finish no later than 23 June 2025.

Question: How long are the submissions open for the 2024 application ?

Answer: Applications for the NMF Catalyst Grants program open on 25 March 2024 and close on 10 May 2024.

Question: Do you offer extensions for exceptional circumstances?

Answer: We are not able to extend the submission closing date.

Question: My application form will be in English, but do you accept support material in other languages than English?

Answer: We would appreciate it if support material is in English, otherwise, please submit these documents in Microsoft Word/rich text so we can run the text through a translator.

Question: What is a video proposal?

Answer: A video proposal involves you (the applicant) speaking to the camera and answering the relevant questions instead of providing a written application. Production quality is not important, we just want to hear from you. This is optional and is not required if you submit a written application.

Application Supporting Documents

Question: Does my application need to include written evidence of acceptance into courses/secondments/training that I’ve proposed as part of my Catalyst Program?

Answer: You should not be currently enrolled in a course at the time of application or prior to receiving application results (we will not fund retroactively); however, you should provide evidence of your eligibility to enrol in a course and the proposed dates of the course.

This can include confirmation from a course provider that you are able to undertake the course within the next 12 months. Or it could include email correspondence with the proposed host company for a secondment, indicating they are willing to host you and what the structure of the secondment will look like.

Question: Do you have a Timeline Template?

Answer: Please use our timeline template, which can be downloaded HERE.

Question: What supporting documents do I need to provide to show my industry experience?

Answer: You will need to provide your CV, including contact details for at least one professional referee.

Budgeting

Question: Should I include GST in my budget?

Answer: No.

Question: Can I include childcare costs in my budget?

Answer: Yes, if this is necessary to you completing your program successfully.

Question: How important is it that I contribute my personal funds towards my Catalyst Grant program?

Answer: It is not necessary to contribute your own funds – we understand that not all applicants are able to do so. If you are in a financial position where this is possible or have other sources of funds, we would like you to include those amounts in the application budget.

If you plan to apply for grants from other funding bodies such as travel support, please include details in your application and indicate how the costs will be covered if this additional support is not received.

Question: What should the budget look like?

Answer: Please use our budget template, which can be downloaded HERE.

Selection Process & Catalyst Requirements

Question: What is the selection process?

Answer:

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility.
Applications will be assessed by a sub-committee of the NMF Committee, including members of the NMF Committee and 2-4 invited people with a diverse range of industry experience and background.
1. Conflict of interest checks are also undertaken for members of the NMF Committee and selection panel, and depending on the nature of the conflict, members will not participate in the applicant’s assessment or may be exempted from the entire assessment process.
Applicants are notified by 17 June 2024.

Question: Will I be working directly with the organisation during my Catalyst Program?

Answer: No, your grant program is your unique program that is conducted by you. We do, however, ask that you keep in contact with the NMF throughout the year, including providing updates and photos as your program progresses. You will be required to provide two reports during the conduct of your program, an interim/progress report, and a final report.

Question: When will I receive payment of the Catalyst Grant if successful?

Answer: You will receive the grant payment in two stages — 80% upon signing of your Catalyst Grant Agreement, and 20% after submission of a written final report about your experience.

Question: What is required of me after I receive my Catalyst Grant?

Answer: You will be asked throughout the year of your Grant to report on your progress and provide updates on your program that can be posted on the NMF social channels. At the end of the Grant Program, we require you to submit a report on your program outcomes, an abridged version may be published on our website, social media channels or marketing materials.

We ask recipients from time to time to represent the NMF – which may take the form of attending NMF events and your image and story included in NMF publicity. We hope that NMF Catalyst Grant recipients can be proud ambassadors not only of NMF, but as inspirational female and female identifying leaders in the screen industry.

If you need further help or need answers to questions that aren’t here, please email admin@nataliemillerfellowship.com. Or through our Contact Us page on our website: https://nataliemillerfellowship.com/contact-us/

What We Fund

Question: Do you fund development or production costs?

Answer: No, applications must not have any elements that go towards development or production costs for a feature film or series. We recommend looking at Screen Australia or your state screen agency for development or production funding.

Question: What can I include in my Catalyst program proposal?

Answer: Your Catalyst proposal can include, but is not limited to, any of the following elements:

Secondments that are an opportunity to progress forward in your career/learn essential skills towards being a leader.
Training programs, courses and workshop fees that are focused on building your leadership skills.
Research that is self-conducted will directly impact your leadership goals.
Market Attendance only if it is attendance at your first domestic or international market and includes attendance with a mentor to guide you at the market.
Career coaching and mentoring fees.
Travel, accommodation, grounds transfer and per-diem costs, as well as networking opportunities and meetings with those that are essential in achieving your leadership goals and fulfilling your grant program.
Stationery, office supplies, software, consumables, research materials that clearly support any activity that is essential in you achieving the activities that are part of your proposed grant program.
If there are other activities and costs not listed here that you would like to include, please feel free to email admin@nataliemillerfellowship.comto check if applicable.

Question: Do you fund research?

Answer: Yes, if the research is conducted during your proposed Catalyst Grant program (one-year duration). We do recommend that your professional development initiative not be solely comprised of a research project, as we want to see you prioritise strategies that grow your leadership skills.