Rebalancing Australian Screen Policy: Blueprint for a better deal for directors

The Australian Directors’ Guild and ASDACS have presented a detailed submission to the Australian Government’s next National Cultural Policy on behalf of Australian screen directors, whose vision shapes the stories we tell, how we see ourselves, and how we’re seen by the world. 

The result of deep consultation and advocacy across the sector, the submission calls for a generational shift in Australian screen policy from a system focused primarily on production volume and expenditure, to one that recognises and supports the full screen ecology. It argues for a policy framework that places directors and writers at the centre as audiovisual authors, ensures fair rights and remuneration, and builds sustainable creative careers.

We’re calling on the government to:

• Recognise directors as central creative authors and cultural leaders.

• Establish a Screen Authorship Levy or equivalent mechanism to fund essential creative infrastructure.

• Strengthen rights, remuneration, and credit systems to reflect the realities of streaming, international exploitation, and new technologies.

• Build a more complete evaluation framework for screen policy, one that measures cultural impact, audience connection, and career sustainability, not just production activity.

This is a pivotal moment for our sector. The next National Cultural Policy will shape the future of Australian screen culture for years to come. We urge you to read the full submission to understand what’s at stake and how you can be part of building a stronger, more sustainable future for Australian screen directors.

Read the submission here!