How to Finance Your Short Film in Australia (Without Losing Your Mind)

So, you want to make a short film—but your bank account is laughing at you? Welcome to indie filmmaking! The good news? There are plenty of ways to fund your film, from hustling like a boss to tapping into grants, sponsorships, and good old-fashioned crowdfunding. I’ve personally funded shorts ranging from $200 to $30,000 and here’s what I’ve learned along the way.

1. Self-Financing & Hustling (aka: The Scrappy Filmmaker’s Approach)

Self-financing is both the easiest and the hardest way to fund your film. You don’t need anyone’s approval—but you will need to get creative as hell with your budget.

Hustle Hacks:

• Leverage your story – Got a compelling backstory? A reason you have to make this film? Use it shamelessly to ask for discounts or deals. People love a good underdog story.
• Offer contra deals – Need a location? See if the owner needs a free promo video or social media content in return. I’ve gotten huge discounts this way.
• Ask for favours – You’d be amazed how many people are willing to help out if you ask the right way. A lot of people support the arts, and if you can convey your passion for your project you might find that they’ll want to support you too.
• Cut the fluff – You probably need less than you think to make a film, except for post production where you almost always need more. You don’t want to compromise on quality, but consider whether you really need 2 ADs and a massive camera package. Strip it back to the essentials and keep it lean.

2. Crowdfunding: Do or Don’t?

Crowdfunding seems like a dream—until you realise it’s basically a full-time marketing job. Here’s the reality:

The Hard Truths of Crowdfunding:

• The majority donations will come from friends & family of you and any cast/crew who share the campaign. Unless you have a hot-button topic, a built-in audience, or a big name attached, don’t expect strangers to throw cash at you. Even if you do have those things, it’s still a shot in the dark. Crowdfunding just isn’t an avenue you can count on to bring in the budget you need.
• You don’t always need Kickstarter – Sometimes it’s easier to skip the middleman and just ask for direct donations via PayPal, bank transfer, or a cheeky “buy me a coffee” link.
• You have to keep posting – One tweet won’t do it. You need to talk about your campaign a lot, even if it feels awkward. People won’t donate if they forget you’re fundraising.

If you still feel like you want to do it, then I won’t stop you! But you’ll need to put time and effort into the visuals, pitch video, and reward tiers.

3. Grant Funding

Australia has some amazing funding opportunities for short films, but applying takes time, patience, and a willingness to fill in a LOT of forms.

Where to Apply for Film Grants in Australia:

• Screen Australia – The big one. If you can get funding here, you’re golden. However, Screen Australia generally doesn’t provide funding for short films. They do have a development fund where money can be used to create a short proof of concept (extremely hard to get), or they have an online fund where you can get some dollars for a web series (if you can stretch to a series, this is a tiny bit easier to be competitive in, but you normally have to have a previous web series under your belt).
• State Film Bodies: You might also look at the film body in your state, which sometimes fund short films.
  • VicScreen (VIC)
  • Screen NSW (NSW)
  • Screen Queensland (QLD)
  • Screen Tasmania (TAS)
  • South Australian Film Corporation (SA)
  • ScreenWest (WA)
  • Screen Territory (NT)
• City Councils & Regional Grants – Many councils have small arts grants for local creatives. Don’t sleep on these! Sometimes $5k is all you need to make your film.
• Industry Contests – Industry bodies like AACTA run contests to fund short films, like the Pitch: Focus contest (for students).
• Post-Production Grants – Sometimes easier to get than production funding because you can show what you’ve already shot.

Pro Tip: Grant writing is a skill—the more you do it, the better you get. Apply for everything. Worst case? You get a “no.” Best case? Free money!

4. Private Investment: Finding People Who Want to Back You

Yes, private investors exist! No, they’re not just for Hollywood. Plenty of people love funding indie projects—you just have to find them.

How to Get Private Investment:

• Look at your film’s themes – Who might connect with your story? If it’s a feminist thriller, reach out to businesswomen and feminist organisations. If it’s about disability, approach advocacy groups.
• Use your network – Sit down with your team and list every person you know who might have a connection to someone with cash to spare.
• Cold outreach can work – A well-written email with a strong pitch can land an investor.
• Have a lookbook or pitch deck – Investors want to see a vision. You don’t need to hire a designer—Canva is your best friend.

5. Sponsorships & Business Partnerships

Think of sponsorship as private investment’s cooler, more corporate cousin. Businesses might not give you straight-up cash, but they might offer discounts, products, or services that help cut your budget.

Sponsorship Opportunities:

• Local businesses – Restaurants, cafes, breweries—anyone who might want exposure through your film.
• Industry connections – Some post-production houses offer discounts in exchange for a “Producer” credit.
• Issue-based sponsors – If your film tackles a social issue, organisations working in that space might want to be involved.

6. International Funding Opportunities

If you’re thinking bigger than just Australia, there are some international film funds that support independent short films:

Where to Look for International Film Funding:

• Monkeypaw Productions’ ‘Out of the Shadows’ Grant – Jordan Peele’s production company offers funding for diverse filmmakers, particularly in horror, thriller, and socially relevant genres.
• Netflix’s Emerging Filmmaker Fund – Occasionally, Netflix runs global initiatives supporting short films from underrepresented voices.
• Shore Scripts Short Film Fund – Provides an opportunity for emerging writers and filmmakers to receive much-needed financial support to get their work produced and seen.
• The Film Fund – Provides short film funding to filmmakers anywhere in the world.

Pro Tip: Even if you’re making a low-budget short, think about whether your film aligns with any global funding priorities (e.g., diversity, horror, social justice, environmental themes). You might be eligible for funding beyond Australia.

The Reality: Most Films Use a Mix of Everything

Not many shorts are 100% funded from one source. You might get a bit from crowdfunding, a bit from an investor, a grant for post-production, and a whole lot of favours.

How I’d Approach It:

1. Start with crowdfunding if you want to do that, and private investment (including your own contribution) – These give you the most immediate results.
2. Hustle your costs down – The less you need, the easier it is to fund.
3. Apply for grants & sponsorships – If you still need more, chase down funding bodies and businesses.

Making a film is never easy, but with a mix of persistence, strategy, and creative problem-solving, you’ll find a way.

Also a note, from a screenwriter and editor—spend some of that money on your script! With all the work you do to get the cash, it’s worth spending a little to get your script into the best shape possible.