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Applications open for the 2025 Mercury Quicksilver Production Fund
28 August 2025
Calling all early-career and emerging South Australian filmmakers: The Mercury’s Quicksilver Production Funding Initiative is back, with applications open now until 12 October, 2025.
Supported by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), the Quicksilver Production Fund promotes the professional development of creative talent by providing funded production opportunities of short form content that demonstrate an authentic, original artistic vision.
In 2025, the program expands with additional support from Country Arts SA through the Country Arts Foundation, enabling greater opportunities for regional and First Nations filmmakers.
Thanks to this additional support, the two grants awarded to projects led by a majority of First Nations key creatives will receive increased funds from previous years, strengthening SAFC and The Mercury’s shared commitment to supporting the development of South Australia’s First Nations filmmakers. One of these grants will be specifically allocated to a film by a First Nations regional or remote filmmaker. All grant recipients in 2025 will receive equal funding.
With a total of $150,000 in funding and mentoring support, Quicksilver is an opportunity for projects ready to commence production for the first half of 2026. In 2025, the Quicksilver Production Fund will provide six creative teams with grants of $25,000 to produce a short film or the pilot of a web series. Projects can be narrative fiction, documentary or animation, up to 12 minutes in duration.
In addition to the provision of cash budgets, in-kind support will also be provided by way of equipment and facilities hire at The Mercury, public liability and volunteer insurance cover, a suite of contract templates & production forms, paid Script Consultation and project mentoring from an Above the Line (ATL) industry mentor, and the use of the Mercury’s Iris Cinema auditions and a cast & crew screening.
The Mercury CEO Sarah Lancaster said: “The Quicksilver Production Fund is a cornerstone of our commitment to nurturing South Australian screen talent. We’re proud to empower early-career filmmakers with the resources, mentorship, and platform to bring bold, original stories to life. This initiative not only fosters creative growth but also strengthens our local industry by championing diverse voices and perspectives. We’re deeply grateful to the South Australian Film Corporation for their continued support, and thrilled to welcome Country Arts South Australia as a new partner. Their involvement has enabled us to expand both the funding pool and our focus on supporting First Nations and regional and remote practitioners.”
SAFC CEO Kate Croser said: “The SAFC is proud to champion the development of emerging South Australian screen creatives through our continued support for The Mercury and the Quicksilver Production Initiative. In screen production there is no better way to learn and develop industry skills than on-the-job, and short film credits continue to be an important calling card for new and diverse screen storytellers to develop their careers. It’s wonderful to see Quicksilver broaden its reach this year to create opportunities for filmmakers based in regional and remote areas.”
Country Arts Foundation Board Chair Robyn Brown said: “The Country Arts Foundation is proud to support the Quicksilver Production Fund and to partner with The Mercury and the South Australian Film Corporation on this important initiative. Together, we are playing a pivotal role in fostering authentic First Nations storytelling, creating professional pathways for Indigenous filmmakers, and enriching the cultural landscape of South Australia. Our contribution to this program was made possible thanks to the generous support of the many organisations who hosted Nunga Screen in 2025. Their commitment to celebrating First Nations voices has directly enabled us to invest in the next generation of regional and remote storytellers.”
The Quicksilver Production Fund has a strong track record of developing local talent and showcasing South Australian stories to audiences on a national and global stage. Recent successes include Dragon’s Breath (writer/director Melanie Easton, producers Lisa Bishop, Poppy Fitzpatrick) which screened at Flickerfest, was nominated for Best Short at the AACTA Awards and received the AWGIE Award for Best Short, and I’m the Most Racist Person I Know (writer/director Leela Varghese, producer Suriyna Sivashanker) premiering at SXSW and receiving the Special Jury Award.
For more information on the Quicksilver program and how to apply, including guidelines and eligibility criteria, visit The Mercury website.
In addition to the Quicksilver Production Fund, The Mercury recently announced the Hamilton Health and Safety Fund, a new philanthropic initiative aimed at raising health and wellbeing standards across South Australian short film productions. Supported by SA producer Bettina Hamilton of Black Cat White Rabbit Productions and the Hanlon Larsen Screen Fellowship, a total of $8,000 will be distributed annually for a committed three-year period beginning July 2025, with grants of up to $1,000 per project available exclusively to Mercury subscribers.