News

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia have announced five new projects that will share in up to $650,000 as part of the eleventh instalment of the Skip Ahead initiative.

First launched in 2014, Skip Ahead is the ground-breaking program from Screen Australia in partnership with YouTube Australia. Open to documentary and scripted narrative Australian YouTube creators, the program is designed to develop storytelling skills, grow creative ambitions and elevate production value for the creation of diverse and engaging content for Australian and global audiences.

In addition to receiving funding to create new content, the five teams have participated in a three-day workshop to develop their projects, mentored by alumni of the program Luke Clark and James McPherson of Never Too Small and the Macfarlane Bros duo Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane, as well as industry leaders including Daley Pearson, director and Emmy Award-winning co-founder of Ludo Studio, online creator The One Shu’s Shuang Hu, author, scriptwriter, editor and producer Clare Atkins and Australian actor, writer and producer Tsu Shan Chambers. The Skip Ahead teams also worked with Changer Studios during the workshops and will continue to participate in bespoke modules with the digital video strategists.

The funded projects are: 

• Back Then: Fresh out of graduating Year Six, best friends Dave and Nick spend their final week before high school trying to become “grown up”, convinced they’re about to go their separate ways forever as they head to different high schools. The series will be released on Granny Flat. Team: Dave Hoey, Nicholas Burton, Vanilla Tupu, Michael Angelis.

• Dry Spell: When GG follows her boyfriend to a remote farm, an accident leaves her stuck taking his place as farmhand under the tough, emotionally closed off Michelle. Soon, forced proximity turns into unbearable tension as they try very hard not to act on what they actually want. The series will be released on the Mon & Han YouTube channel. Team: Monique Terry, Hannah-Rae Meegan, Abby Gallaway.

• The Moon Is Shining Tonight: Seeking closure after his mother’s passing, a grieving Jin from Hong Kong tracks down his estranged father in Melbourne. When he discovers his father already has an adopted step-son his own age, Jin conceals his identity and derails his plan by sparking a slow-burn romance with him. The series will be released on Omnia Studio. Team: Alyce Adams, Pius Kung, Vimbai Nenzou, Suzanne Soo Hyun Kim.

• Jill’s Wheels: Jackson’s grandmother, Jill, gifts him her old rollerskating rink. The series will be released on the Director Cogger YouTube channel. Team: Jackson Cogger-Clee, Clayton Jay Duncan, Mikey Hamer.

• Tracing Odysseus: Three thousand years after the story was first told, a young Australian archaeologist retraces the Odyssey from Troy to Ithaca. She is looking for a hero, home and the answer to the question the story has been asking for millennia. The series will be released on the fig tree YouTube channel. Team: Katerina Alexander, Alex Alexander.

Since its inception, Skip Ahead has supported 52 content creation teams. For more information about Skip Ahead funding, click here.

Screen Australia has opened applications for IFFI/WAVES Film Bazaar in Goa – Producer Delegation, supporting up to eight Australian producers or individuals from production companies to attend key Indian screen industry events. The initiative aims to encourage creative connections, foster meaningful relationships and develop B2B partnerships that will advance narrative Official Co-productions to be made under the Official Australia-India Co-production Treaty.

Successful applicants will receive funding of up to $8,000 each for travel, accommodation, living, insurance, accreditation to attend WAVES Film Bazaar (20-24 November 2026) and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) (20-28 November 2026) in Goa, and to pursue business opportunities in the region prior to the festival and market. 

Producers of narrative feature films and television series with a successful track record in television or online/direct-to-audience releases are encouraged to apply, provided their current slate includes narrative feature films and/or television series with genuine creative and business potential for Official Co-production with Indian partners. 

A funding cap of $8,000 per application will be in place, whether the applicant is an individual (including on behalf of a team) or a company. 

Applications close at 5.00pm AEST on Thursday 20 August 2026. More information regarding eligibility and assessment criteria and how to apply can be found here. 

Screen Australia has today announced the Above the Line Documentary Accelerator program, a national initiative designed to upskill producers developing premium, original Australian documentary content with global appeal. With a focus on limited and returnable series, the new initiative supports content across heritage, streamer and online/direct-to-audience platforms. Up to 10 mid-career practitioners from around Australia will hone their producing skills, build experience across project ideation and development, while also establishing local and international industry networks.

Successful applicants will participate in a three-week intensive program led by Fatima Salaria, Executive Chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival, Head of Factual at Dancing Ledge Productions and former Managing Director of Naked Television. A globally renowned creative leader, Salaria has overseen a wide-ranging and distinctive slate spanning premium documentaries, returnable factual formats and popular entertainment, with credits including The Rap Game UK, The Apprentice, Grand Designs, Charles Bronson: Fit to Be Free, Brian Cox: How We Earn and Spend, and Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne. Fatima also led VicScreen’s highly successful Originate Factual initiative, which resulted in the commissioning of factual series The State of Man, The Animal Sanctuary and other soon-to-be-announced projects, including with a global streaming platform.

The accelerator program will be held in-person in Melbourne from 1-20 November 2026. Over a series of masterclasses, pitch training, audience insight and project ideation sessions, participants will cultivate a wide range of skills required to create successful documentaries in the local and international landscape.

At the end of the program, participants will pitch to leading industry decision-makers, with the opportunity for one project to secure a development grant from the ABC.

Applications close at 5pm AEST on Thursday 13 August 2026. More information regarding eligibility, assessment criteria, and how to apply can be found here.

After hosting FUTURE VISION in Melbourne for the past two years, Australians in Film and Screen Australia today announce the creation of FUTURE VISION Forward, an eight-month online television project development lab designed to cultivate ambitious Australian television creators and accelerate the creation of globally competitive original IP.

FUTURE VISION Forward will be led by television executive and Chief Creative Officer of Anonymous Content David Levine (True Detective, 13 Reasons Why, Boy Swallows Universe), who was a guest at the inaugural FUTURE VISION in 2024. Featured guests on the industry panels include Oscar and Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning writer Tony McNamara (Poor Thing, The Great, The Favourite), acclaimed writer Anchuli Felicia King (The Sympathizer, Mary & George) and DGA award-winning and Emmy and BAFTA-nominated director Shannon Murphy (Dying for Sex, Killing Eve), who has just finished directing and executive producing The Age of Innocence in Prague.

FUTURE VISION Forward is a strategic response to the findings of the highly acclaimed FUTURE VISION industry conference, which attracted some of the world’s leading television creators, including Lee Sung Jin (BEEF), Joanna Calo (The Bear), Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer), Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley) and Soo Hugh (Pachinko).

Eight original television projects will be selected by an international committee of highly respected commissioning and buying executives, chosen for their creative excellence and potential to resonate with global audiences. Through an intensive online development lab, participants will receive strategic mentorship and industry guidance, providing a clear pathway from project development to a polished, market-ready pitch.

Through a combination of craft workshops, leadership training, mentorship and industry engagement, the lab will encourage a cohesive team environment and will equip writers, producers and development executives with the skills required not only to create compelling series but to lead them creatively and strategically.

FUTURE VISION Forward is built around a simple goal: to elevate the ambition and global reach of Australian television storytelling.

The lab will integrate international best practices with the Australian television model, offering insight into a variety of international development principles and how they can operate within the Australian system. The program will feature leading creators, writers and producers from across the globe including the US, the UK and Canada.

Peter Ritchie, Executive Director of Australians in Film, said:

“Over the past two years, FUTURE VISION has connected Australian creatives with some of the world’s leading television creators, inspiring bold new ideas and globally relevant Australian stories.

“FUTURE VISION Forward is the natural evolution of that mission. The conversations sparked through FUTURE VISION highlighted the need for ongoing creative development and strategic support to help great ideas become market-ready projects. By evolving into an innovative online initiative, we’re able to provide writers, creators and producers with greater access to world-class mentors and industry expertise, wherever they are.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Screen Australia for their ongoing support and David Levine, Anchuli Felicia King, Tony McNamara and Shannon Murphy for lending their expertise to FUTURE VISION Forward. Their experience at the highest levels of the international industry will provide invaluable insight and inspiration, helping Australian creators shape stories that can resonate with audiences around the world.”

Harry Avramidis, Screen Australia Head of International & Industry Partnerships, said:

“FUTURE VISION Forward represents an exciting new pathway in Australia’s scripted development ecosystem. By connecting Australian creatives with world-class international expertise at an early stage, the program provides a focused, project-driven environment where projects can be challenged, refined and positioned for global success.

“Through fostering creative collaboration and strengthening international partnerships, FUTURE VISION Forward elevates Australian stories to travel further while showcasing the depth, diversity and originality of our Australian screen talent to audiences around the world. We are proud to partner in this initiative, co-designed with Australians in Film, and excited by the opportunities it creates for Australian creatives to build meaningful industry connections, advance distinctive television series and bring more Australian stories to the global stage.”

David Levine, Chief Creative Officer, Anonymous Content, said:

“Having participated in the inaugural FUTURE VISION in 2024, I loved being part of the exceptional Australian creative community and it’s only grown my appetite for meaningful creative exchange. Being able to participate and support FUTURE VISION Forward is a real honour and I can’t wait to develop the deeply authentic Australian creators who will join us in this inaugural lab. We all have the remarkable capacity to create series that resonate well beyond our own borders and I deeply appreciate Australians in Film and Screen Australia for the opportunity to put my innate curiosity into practice.”

For more information and to apply visit FUTURE VISION Forward.

Headshots and bios here.

Presenting and Design Partners:

Australians in Film and Screen Australia

Media enquiries

Jane Lunn
+61 402 248 811 | jane@janelunn.com.au

A landmark collaboration between Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), Screen Australia and No Coincidence Media, will deliver a newly designed First Nations Screen Business Accelerator supported by Screen Canberra, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest, South Australian Film Corporation and VicScreen.

This marks the first time these key organisations have come together to invest in a coordinated, national approach to elevate First Nations screen businesses.

The First Nations Screen Business Accelerator is a bold new initiative designed to support emerging and mid-career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander producers to elevate their projects and production companies to the next level.

The business accelerator will provide participants with access to industry-leading mentorship, and targeted business development support delivered through a culturally informed approach that reflects Indigenous ways of doing business within the realities of the contemporary screen industry.

This collaboration represents a significant step forward in strengthening the First Nations screen ecosystem by aligning investment, expertise and opportunity across federal and state levels, through an industry-led, nationally coordinated approach.

The business accelerator will focus on building sustainable creative businesses and equipping participants with the skills, frameworks and support to scale their work for both national and international markets. Participants may benefit from pathways to finance and market opportunities, as well as tailored support through IBA.

IBA has a history of successful Accelerator programs with both a general business and tourism focus. They note this new initiative reflects a shared commitment to economic empowerment through storytelling:

“This partnership recognises that First Nations producers are not only powerful storytellers, but entrepreneurs and business leaders. By supporting their business growth, we are strengthening the foundations of a more resilient and sustainable First Nations screen sector,” said Sean Armistead, Deputy CEO, IBA.

Screen Australia Director of First Nations Strategy Rachel Perkins said, “To succeed in the screen industry, creativity needs to be matched with strong business foundations. Backed by national and state partners, this initiative creates that support – ensuring the next generation of Indigenous production companies have the business scaffolding to build sustainable careers and bring their stories to the screen.”

No Coincidence Media, which will play a key role in designing and delivering the program, emphasised the importance of First Nations-led design:

“No Coincidence Media is proud to lead the First Nations Screen Business Accelerator, drawing on our experience in the industry and our commitment to a First Nations-led lens as our foundation.”

“This program responds to a clear need in the sector supporting the next generation of producers to build sustainable businesses, strengthen their business acumen, and ensure our stories continue to be told our way,” said Mitch Stanley, Producer, No Coincidence Media.

Applications now open. Please visit: www.iba.gov.au/First-Nations-Screen-Business-Accelerator.

Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au

About IBA
Economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is at the heart of what we do. Our programs support Indigenous Australians to buy their own homes, be successful in business, and invest in commercial ventures that provide strong financial returns. IBA was established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (ATSI Act) and is a corporate Commonwealth entity for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). IBA resides in the portfolio of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and is accountable to the Australian Parliament through the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy. www.iba.gov.au

About Screen Australia 
Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government agency charged with supporting the development, production and promotion of Australian narrative, documentary and children’s content, across television, feature films, online and games. Screen Australia also administers Australia’s Official Co-production program, in addition to the Producer Offset incentive. The agency provides a broad range of resources and opportunities to the industry including access to research, market intelligence and special initiatives. For more information visit www.screenaustralia.gov.au 

About No Coincidence Media
No Coincidence Media (NCM) is an Independent First Nations media company that produces and develops raw, cutting edge and signature feature films, documentaries and television. The team aim to reshape Australian film and television by showcasing the strengths of First Nations’ Writers, Directors and Actors through storytelling, strengthening the country’s diverse identity, and entertaining a wider audience through filmmaking. www.nocmedia.com.au

Australians in Film (AiF), in partnership with Screen Australia, has today announced the return of its talent development initiative, UNTAPPED, for 2026.

Now entering its sixth year, UNTAPPED has established itself as one of Australia’s leading pathways for emerging screen talent, connecting the country’s most promising filmmakers with world-class industry knowledge, mentorship and creative networks.

This year’s Masterclass Series will spotlight a remarkable group of Australian screen creatives who have achieved breakthrough success with their original work over the past year—some of whom are alumni of the UNTAPPED program.

The 2026 UNTAPPED Masterclass speakers include:

• Adrian Chiarella, whose debut feature Leviticus premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Neon for U.S. distribution. The film opened in Australia and the United States last week.
• Kalu Oji (UNTAPPED 2021), whose debut feature film Pasa Faho had its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2025 and is currently streaming on SBS On Demand.
• AP Pobjoy (UNTAPPED 2022), whose debut series Homebodies premiered at Series Mania in France in 2026. A Screen Australia and SBS Digital Original, the series is currently streaming on SBS On Demand.
• Jasmine Yang, is the Development Executive for Glitch Productions, an independent animation studio based in Sydney, Australia that just released The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act which has grossed over $37.6 million globally.

The theme of this year’s Masterclass Series is Creative Collaboration, exploring the partnerships and creative relationships that help bring compelling screen stories to life.

Additional creative collaborators joining the speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Combining open-call masterclasses—available to anyone wishing to learn from some of Australia’s most exciting screen creatives—with an intensive development lab for a select group of filmmakers chosen through a competitive application process, UNTAPPED provides participants with current global market insights, industry expertise and invaluable opportunities for mentorship, inspiration and community-building.

For the first time, the 2026 development lab will focus on professional and career development rather than the advancement of specific projects, equipping participants with the skills, knowledge and industry connections needed to build sustainable careers in the screen industry.

Over the past five years, UNTAPPED has developed a proven track record of helping launch the careers of Australia’s next generation of screen storytellers. Alumni from both the Masterclass Series and Development Lab have gone on to make their first feature films, secure television commissions, advance projects into production and development, and gain their first professional opportunities within the screen industry.

Australians in Film Executive Director, Peter Ritchie, said, “What began as an initiative during the COVID pandemic has evolved into a highly meaningful international talent development pathway for Australia’s most exciting emerging screen creatives. This year’s Masterclass lineup perfectly reflects what UNTAPPED is all about—discovering, nurturing and championing bold new voices whose stories will resonate with audiences around the world.”

“We are incredibly grateful to all of our Masterclass speakers for generously sharing their experiences and insights, and to Screen Australia for their continued commitment to supporting the next generation of Australian screen talent through this important initiative.”

Screen Australia Head of International & Industry Partnerships, Harry Avramidis, said, “Since its launch in 2020, UNTAPPED has consistently showcased the depth, diversity and originality of Australian storytelling, helping to fast-track bold new talent. It supports emerging storytellers to find their voice, maintain their authenticity, share their perspectives and build the communities and partnerships that are the pillars of not only successful individual careers but a strong and sustainable Australian screen industry.”

“It’s particularly exciting to see former UNTAPPED alumni return as masterclass speakers—now recognised among Australia’s most exciting storytellers—alongside other distinguished creative visionaries who are challenging industry norms, forging new pathways and reshaping the screen landscape. We’re deeply grateful to all of our speakers, and to Australians in Film for their partnership.”

Applications and registrations for UNTAPPED 2026 are open now.

For more information about UNTAPPED 2026, please visit: https://australiansinfilm.org/

About Australians in Film

Australians in Film (AiF) is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing Australian screen talent internationally. Through education, professional development, networking and mentorship opportunities, AiF supports Australian creatives at every stage of their careers and helps build meaningful connections between Australia and the global entertainment industry.

About Screen Australia

Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government agency charged with supporting the development, production and promotion of Australian narrative, documentary and children’s content, across television, feature films, online and games. Screen Australia also administers Australia’s Official Co-production program, in addition to the Producer Offset incentive. The agency provides a broad range of resources and opportunities to the industry including access to research, market intelligence and special initiatives.

Bios

Adrian Chiarella

Adrian is an award-winning Australian screenwriter and director. His debut feature, Leviticus, premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it was acquired by NEON. The film was also the Opening Night selection at the 2026 New Directors/New Films Festival at Lincoln Centre/MoMa, as well as playing in competition at the 2026 Sydney Film Festival. The film, alongside screenings at SXSW, Frameline, NewFest and SXSW London, opened in the US and Australia in June 2026. Adrian’s television directing credits include Totally Completely Fine (Fremantle Media, 2023) and Five Bedrooms (Hoodlum Entertainment/Paramount+, 2023), as well as television writing credits on Erotic Stories (SBS) for which he won an AWGIE Award for his work. Adrian’s short films have also played numerous international festivals, including Clemont-Ferrand, Sydney Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival and Outfest, and earned him nominations from both AACTA and the Australian Directors Guild.

AP Pobjoy

Named one of Inside Film’s Rising Talent, AP Pobjoy is an award-winning, ADG-nominated writer/director based in Gadigal Land. AP is the creator, lead writer, and one of the directors of drama series Homebodies (SBS), which premiered in competition at Series Mania 2026.

It was one of only two Australian works selected for the festival, receiving a Special Mention in the Short Form category and praised as a Global Breakout by Deadline. AP wrote and directed the series Unerased, nominated for SPA’s Online Series Production of the Year, and the documentary Why Did She Have To Tell The World?, which earned an ADG nomination, won Best Film at the Mardi Gras Film Festival’s My Queer Career and was nominated for the Iris Prize. Their work has been recognised by The Guardian, The Age, Stronger Than Fiction, RUUSH Magazine and Global Citizen. AP’s work explores family, memory, transformation and identity through character-driven storytelling.

Kalu Oji

Kalu Oji is a filmmaker and educator whose practice is rooted in process-driven collaboration and the exploration of memory, place, and identity. Working in film and television for over a decade, his projects have screened at major international film festivals including the BFI London Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, Sydney Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival, where in 2019 he was named the ‘Filmmaker to Watch’. His debut feature film Pasa Faho premiered at the 2025 Melbourne International Film Festival to sold-out audiences, before going on to screen at the Chicago International Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival and the Africa International Film Festival, where it was awarded Best International Feature Film. In early 2026, Pasa Faho completed a national theatrical tour of Australia and is now available for streaming via SBS On Demand. Kalu is currently in development with his sophomore feature film.

Jasmine Yang

Jasmine is the Development Executive for Glitch Productions, an independent animation studio based in Sydney, Australia that just released The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act which grossed over US$37.6 million globally. Having grown with the company since close to its inception, she has overseen every single series, product and project, working across creative development, scripting, voice acting direction, marketing, merchandise and distribution. In her private life, she is a prolific tabletop gaming writer and amateur voice actor.

Media Enquiries

Jane Lunn

+61 402 248 811 | jane@janelunn.com.au