The film is based on the Kiama-born, three-time Oscar winning costume designer’s recently recovered, unpublished tell-all memoir, Women I’ve Undressed.

Director Gillian Armstrong and crew will film interviews in the USA, followed by a six-day shoot after Easter in Kiama and Sydney.

According to producer Damien Parer, the crew would visit Kiama for a day.

Kelly, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated costume designers, won three Academy Awards for his work on the films An American In Paris, Les Girls and Some Like It Hot in the 1950s.

Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon were among his other film credits.

Screen Australia’s board decided to fully fund the film, due for completion this year.

It is tentatively due for cinema release in late 2014/early 2015.

There are also plans to publish Kelly’s autobiography to coincide with the film’s release.

The memoir allegedly includes details about actor Cary Grant.

Written by Kelly before his death in 1964, it was never published amid rumours that Grant’s estate put a hold on the book to protect Grant’s reputation.

Catherine Martin’s recent second Oscar win for The Great Gatsby saw her pass Kelly for the most number of Oscars won by an Australian.

Martin’s second win of the night was the fourth of her career.