A program designed to reduce the gender imbalance in lead creative roles in the nation's film and television industry will allocate $3 million in funding for new story ideas and projects.

A new program will provide funding for more female-lead projects like the ABC's The Katering Show to be made. ( Supplied: Screen Australia )

The first recipients of Screen Australia's Gender Matters program, announced in Sydney on Tuesday, include 45 story ideas and 13 industry projects, which were chosen from 452 applications - the highest number of funding applications in the Federal Government body's history.

Brilliant Stories recipients: Television: Sex in the West: The story of three mixed-faith friends living in Western Sydney

Sex in the West: The story of three mixed-faith friends living in Western Sydney The Elementals: A tale of washed-up superheroes, co-written by Offspring's Kat Stewart

The Elementals: A tale of washed-up superheroes, co-written by Offspring's Kat Stewart Public Relations: A comedy set in a PR firm that puts our culture of spin in the spotlight Online: Manifest: Three female creatives adjusting to life without chai lattes in a post-apocalyptic slum

Manifest: Three female creatives adjusting to life without chai lattes in a post-apocalyptic slum Triple Oh!: Follows the antics of a mismatched pair of ambulance paramedics

Triple Oh!: Follows the antics of a mismatched pair of ambulance paramedics Funny Rabbit: A dark satire told through the eyes of a rabbit Feature film: Ride Like A Girl: Story of the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, to be directed by Rachel Griffiths

Ride Like A Girl: Story of the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, to be directed by Rachel Griffiths Baby Cat: A tale of a young woman with Down syndrome, determined to make it in krumping

Baby Cat: A tale of a young woman with Down syndrome, determined to make it in krumping The Last Flight: The true story of flight attendants on a rescue mission into Vietnam, during the war

The program was announced after Screen Australia identified a gender imbalance in lead creative roles across the sector, with women making up just 32 per cent of producers, 23 per cent of writers and 16 per cent of directors.

Screen Australia chief operating officer Fiona Cameron said the agency hoped the financial assistance would ensure the make-up of creative teams and stories were 50 per cent female by 2018.

"Gender Matters is unashamedly providing express-lane access to female business ideas and stories," Ms Cameron said.

"The funding boost provided by Screen Australia has been a game-changer, providing the industry with an opportunity to get behind some very commercial and creative prospects.

"Gender Matters has been divided into five programs.

"The two in today's announcement include Brilliant Stories, to enable the creative teams to fast-track the development of their creative concept, and Brilliant Careers, for the implementation of business proposals to tangibly grow careers and create work opportunities for female screen-makers."

Successful applicants in the Brilliant Stories program will receive up to $100,000 for feature films, up to $50,000 to develop a scripted TV series and up to $50,000 for a scripted online and interactive project.

These projects must have females in three of the four key roles - producer, writer, director and protagonist.

The Brilliant Careers program will award up to $250,000 to companies, industry organisations and guilds for proposals that generate and promote careers and programs for women in the screen industry.

Claudia Karvan in Love My Way... The role of women in film and television is at the centre of a new Screen Australia funding program. ( Supplied: Screen Australia )

Screen Australia has 'faith in potential of female filmmakers'

Gender Matters task force chair Deanne Weir said she believed the funding would have a resounding effect on Australia's screen industry for many years to come.

A still from Australian film, My Brilliant Career. ( Supplied: Screen Australia )

"What is significant is not just the number of applications we have been able to attract and support, but that the program has opened up funding opportunities for applicants who might otherwise fall outside of the established structures," Ms Weir said.

"For instance, nearly 20 per cent of the successful Brilliant Stories teams would not normally be eligible for Screen Australia development funding because they do not have that magic first professional credit.

"Although there are good reasons for these checks and balances, by opening the door a little wider, Screen Australia is showing faith in the potential of many female filmmakers."

Some of The Brilliant Careers recipients: Northern Rivers Screenworks: The Athena Project will provide writers and directors from regional Australia with industry forums.

The Athena Project will provide writers and directors from regional Australia with industry forums. Bunya Engendered: Will see women from diverse backgrounds develop their stories within a writer's lab.

Will see women from diverse backgrounds develop their stories within a writer's lab. Smart for a Girl – ROAR: Producer Imogen Banks (Offspring) and writer Alice Bell (Puberty Blues, The Beautiful Lie), will take 12 uncredited female writers through the process of developing a series.

Producer Imogen Banks (Offspring) and writer Alice Bell (Puberty Blues, The Beautiful Lie), will take 12 uncredited female writers through the process of developing a series. The Causeway Forward: The production company behind Jennifer Kent's The Babadook will identify, nurture and promote stories by women.

The production company behind Jennifer Kent's The Babadook will identify, nurture and promote stories by women. Gender Careers for Screen Practitioners: Two-year plan from the Australian Directors Guild to place female directors in the feature film and television space.