ZERO FEE LICENSING
The Film Australia Collection Library offers Australian independent documentary makers up to 10 minutes of footage and 40 stills for a no-fee licence as apart of the Zero Fee Licence (ZFL) scheme.
Who can apply?
This scheme is intended for Australian independent documentary makers only and they must fulfill one of the following criteria:
- their production has an Australian free-to-air or pay television presale;
- their production is an online documentary;
- their production has funding from Screen Australia or a state funding body;
- their production has a letter of interest from an Australian broadcaster or funding body;
- the producer is a film student at an Australian educational institution; or
- the producer/director is a member of the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) or Australian Directors Guild (ADG).
A documentary is a program that is "a creative treatment of actuality other a news, current affairs, sports coverage, magazine, infotainment or light entertainment program" (Australian Content Standard, Australian Communications and Media Authority, 16/12/2004).
Duration
Up to 10 minutes of footage and 40 stills from the Film Australia Collection (FAC) may be used per one-hour documentary without a licence fee being charged.
Up to 20% of the duration of any one title from the collection will be available for the ZFL.
Additional material may be negotiated and may be charged at the standard FAC Library Rates.
Rights
Rights licensed will be All Media, Worldwide, In Perpetuity
Online documentary productions made primarily for a website will be granted full online rights but will be required to watermark all footage and stills with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) logo.
Please note that some restrictions (eg. copyright, talent, location) apply and FAC Library staff will advise on these at the time of footage and/or stills selection.
Costs
Research, handling and preview materials are charged at $250 (+GST) per hour (minimum one hour).
Charges for transfers, stock and freight are additional.
An Access Fee (50% of standard licence fee) is charged for the use of non-FAC copyright footage and stills.
On-screen credit
The NFSA requires an on-screen credit in the end titles stating "Archive material supplied by National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Film Australia Collection" or as otherwise agreed.
Zero fee licensing terms and conditions
Access to the licence fee-free material is contingent on:
- application from an eligible documentary filmmaker;
- acceptance by the filmmaker of the FAC Library’s charges for research, handling, transfers, stock and freight;
- the filmmaker entering into a contractually binding licence agreement with the NFSA; and
- the FAC Library having the appropriate rights and clearances to the selected material.
The production must have or be eligible for a rating of "MA15+" or less from the Office of Film and Literature Classification or be an eligible program under the Australian Content Standard.
Material is licensed on a non-exclusive basis, for one use in one production as specified in the licence agreement. Uses outside those expressed in the licence agreement require the permission of the FAC Library.
On completion of the production, master material provided by the FAC Library must be erased.
The filmmaker is liable for any damage or loss incurred to FAC Library material whilst in their possession.
A DVD copy of the completed production must be supplied to the FAC Library.
What productions are NOT eligible?
- advertising;
- broadcasters’ inhouse productions;
- drama;
- exhibitions;
- news and current affairs;
- retail products; or
- corporate funded and personal websites.
Right of refusal
The NFSA retains the right in its absolute discretion to refuse any applications for a Zero Fee Licence agreement.
Contact Film Australia Collection Library
The FAC Library website includes a contact form that can be used to enquire about Zero Fee Licensing for your production
You can also search for footage and stills online, preview clips and thumbnails, and make an enquiry about a specific selection.
There is more information on Zero Fee licensing in the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website.
Information sheet
You can also download the details on this page as an information sheet - Zero Fee Licensing (PDF 135KB).
