NMF Catalyst Grants 2024
Achieving gender equity and greater inclusion has never been more crucial to the success of the Australian screen industry which is why the NMF is committed to providing increased opportunities for women to invest in their leadership development and potential.
In 2024, the NMF embarks on its second decade of supporting women’s leadership and we are excited to offer five NMF Catalyst Grants ($5,000 each) to assist female and female-identifying members of the Australian screen industry to take the next step to fulfil their leadership ambitions in the industry.
Who can apply?
NMF Catalyst Grants are open to female and female-identifying applicants who have at least 3 years’ professional experience in the Australian screen industry. Professional experience may include formal unpaid internships.
Students enrolled full- or part-time at a college or university in an undergraduate program are not eligible.
Applicants from all parts of Australia and all backgrounds are strongly encouraged.
2024 Key dates
Grants Open: Monday 25 March 2024
Grant Deadline EXTENDED: Friday 10 May 2024 at 5pm (AEST)
Notification of results by: Monday 17 June 2024
Proposal
Your proposal should be for a professional development activity to be conducted between June 24, 2024 – June 23, 2025, which will help you take the next steps towards your leadership goals in the Australian screen industry.
We welcome many types of proposals and combinations–courses, mentorships, research projects—any combination of elements which will assist you in taking the next steps in your professional development.
What is NOT eligible for funding:
- Script or production development
- Screen production investment
- Market attendance unless the grant is to be used for your attendance at your first domestic or international market and includes attendance with a mentor to guide you at the market
- Business investment
- Courses or activities that commence prior to 24 June 2024
- Units of courses/degrees which you have already commenced (e.g., if you are already undertaking an MBA or other degree prior to July 2024, the grant cannot meet the costs of a future semester or unit of the course)
- Equipment purchases
Proposal budget
The budget for your proposal can include financial contributions from yourself and/or third parties in addition to the NMF Catalyst Grant amount (however, this is not a requirement).
Eligible expenses can include:
- Course or registration fees
- Mentor or career coaching fees
- Childcare and other dependent care fees enabling individuals to take part in the proposed activity (does not include regular, ongoing expenses)
- Personal accessibility expenses directly related to the proposed activity can include: transportation (including ride sharing, taxi); sign language interpretation; and personal support worker or attendant care.
How to apply
Complete the NMF Catalyst Grant application form, which can be downloaded here.
(Note: You can save your application progress and return to it).
Your application must include the following five elements:
- A maximum 250-word written summary of your proposal
- Either a written proposal, not to exceed 1000 words OR a video proposal not to exceed 5-minutes. Your proposal (whether written or video) should outline:
- Who you are;
- Your experience in the industry;
- Your ambitions for your career/leadership in the screen industry; and,
- Your proposal and how it will help you take the next steps in your professional and leadership development.
3. A completed NMF budget template, which can be downloaded here
4. A completed NMF timeline template for the fulfilment of the proposal, which can be downloaded here
5. Your CV, including contact details for at least one professional referee.
Please note: You can save as you go through the application process.
Interim and Final report requirements
If you receive a grant, you must submit both an interim and final report.
The submission of your interim report will be determined by the timing of your overall program. The interim report will be a short email report (250 words) on the progress of your program.
Your final report must be submitted upon the completion of your proposed initiative and include the following two elements:
- A final budget; and,
- Either a written report (500 words) OR a video report (3-minutes) – outlining the outcomes of the grant.