AFI Awards redefine eligibility criteria

The Australian Film Institute has updated its eligibility criteria, including the definition of ‘Australian’ productions and direct entry/pre-selection requirements.

All categories – Screen Content Innovation, Documentary, Short Fiction Film, Short Animation, Feature Film and Television – are now open.

Productions will be considered Australian, and therefore eligible if they:

• contain “significant Australian content” regardless of whether they satisfy the thresholds for “qualifying Australian production expenditure”; or
• are official co-productions; or
• in relation to a children’s television animation, animated feature film, short animation or documentary, are an “Australian program” as defined by Part 3 of the Broadcasting Services (Australian Content) Standard 2005; or
• otherwise satisfy the AFI that the production is Australian.

Feature films will require a minimum seven-day, five-capital city (including Sydney and Melbourne) release to qualify for direct entry, and at least two capital cities (one being Sydney or Melbourne) to be eligible for pre-selection. They must have been released between October 15, 2009 and October 6, 2010.