Screen NSW has relaunched its Community Film Festival Opening Night Fund for a second year, supporting local festivals as they navigate rising costs and growing demand for community-driven events.
The fund, first introduced in 2024, will provide grants of $5,000 to up to 20 film festivals across NSW to help deliver opening night events and strengthen community engagement.
Expanding support across the state
In 2026, the program has been expanded to include both new and established festivals, reflecting a broader push to support diverse cultural storytelling across the state.
The fund complements existing initiatives such as Screen NSW’s Audience Development Program and forms part of the NSW Screen & Digital Games Strategy, aimed at growing local audiences and industry participation.
Supporting community connection
Kylie Munnich, Executive Director at Screen NSW, said the initiative recognises the importance of grassroots film festivals.
“Our state is home to globally recognised film festivals, but there are many more community-driven festivals across NSW that celebrate the diversity of our communities,” Munnich said.
“To help alleviate the rising costs associated with hosting these important cultural events, Screen NSW is putting support behind these film festivals.”
She added that the expanded program aims to support both established and emerging events.
“We want to see established festivals continue to thrive, while also enabling new festivals to create meaningful connections across communities.”
Proven impact
Previous recipients have already seen tangible benefits from the fund.
Margaret Chater and Hourie Demirjian, Co-Founders and Co-Directors of the Armenian Film Festival, said the grant helped elevate the impact of their event.
“It enabled greater investment in marketing and in crafting an opening night experience that deeply connected audiences with Armenian culture,” they said.
Applications now open
Applications for the 2026 Community Film Festival Opening Night Fund are now open and will close on 23 April 2026.
The initiative aims to ensure community film festivals continue to deliver vibrant, inclusive experiences that bring audiences together and celebrate storytelling through film.
Main image: Screen NSW