11 05 2021 - Media release

Screen Australia and Australians in Film launch Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange

Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) today announced the Talent Gateway program and the Global Producers Exchange, two joint initiatives for established Australian creatives to expand on their skills and connect with key US decision makers, as well as help position Australian projects for success in an increasingly global market.

Supporting Partners for these industry development programs are Screen NSW, Film Victoria, South Australian Film Corporation and Scripted Ink. Industry Partners are Australian Directors’ Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild, Screen Producers Australia, Screen Canberra, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest and Screenworks.

These initiatives follow on from Untapped, an initiative designed to give emerging Australian screenwriters and directors the education and access needed to fast track their careers and their projects, which launched earlier this year and received over 700 applications. Together, these three new programs provide professional and project development opportunities for Australian creatives of varying skill levels, bridging the Australian and US screen industries.

Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, “Australia is home to world-class creators and creative teams, and these initiatives will assist them to find a pathway to tell distinctive local stories on a world stage. The Talent Gateway program and Global Producers Exchange will enable our creatives to build relationships and networks to achieve professional success.

“The US is a key territory for screen sector finance, distribution and careers, and Hollywood is the heartbeat of the global screen market. These programs will provide an opportunity for Australian creatives to connect with influential decision makers via roundtables, individualised mentorships and masterclasses. This will be an invaluable opportunity to elevate our Australian talent and make our projects globally competitive. The goal is to create a trusted, well curated pipeline for the US industry to discover and engage with Australia’s top creators.

“These initiatives have been made possible by the additional Federal Government support, and are part of a suite of opportunities and initiatives being developed to foster the advancement of scripted Australian projects that are aimed to resonate more competitively internationally, as well as locally. Screen Australia is thrilled to be working in partnership with Australians in Film to provide exciting collaborative opportunities for the participants in these programs. Australians in Film are dedicated to promoting Australian screen talent and culture in the US and have a proven track record of attracting leading Hollywood decision makers, creatives and executives to their labs and industry events.”

Australians in Film Executive Director Peter Ritchie said, “The timing is right to establish this strategic pipeline that connects the Australian and US industries, in both directions. AiF has been working very hard over several years to create unique and meaningful global-facing professional opportunities for Australian screen creatives. The response to Untapped has been overwhelming and we cannot wait to launch Talent Gateway and the Global Producers Exchange.

“We are thrilled to be working with Screen Australia and all the state and territory funding agencies, guilds and organizations to create these three complimentary international industry programs. Our DNA remains distinctly Australian, but our focus is squarely on the development of stories are that are most definitely global.”

The first initiative is the Talent Gateway program which will provide Australian screenwriters and directors who have had some success either internationally or in Australia, with the skills, knowledge, access, and relationships necessary to succeed further in the global market. The program aims to attract US support, investment and partnerships for Australian content and careers.

The second initiative is the Global Producers Exchange, providing Australia’s leading scripted producers the skills, knowledge, access and relationships necessary to succeed in the global market and to attract foreign investment and marketplace partnerships for Australian scripted content. The exchange aims to give Australian IP and cultural stories the opportunity to be developed with internationally based collaborators who possess a global outlook and a proven track record of success with international audiences and to help position projects for success in the global market.

Talent Gateway

Up to six delegates will be selected to participate in the Screen Australia and AiF’s Talent Gateway program. The bespoke program will include roundtables, masterclasses, introductions with key US based screen decision makers and individualised mentorships. Each delegate will receive grants of up to $20,000 to enable them to take part in the program which will run from September 2021 to June 2022. Funding will also be used to develop, refine and market the IP on their slate that receives any positive interest, to quickly engage international partners for their careers and projects.

For further details, eligibility requirements and how to apply see Guidelines here. Applications close 5pm AEST Thursday 10 June 2021.

Global Producers Exchange

Up to six production companies/producers will be selected to participate in Screen Australia and AiF’s Global Producers Exchange, a scripted development lab that features a series of roundtables and masterclasses with key US based screen decision makers, and mentors. Each of the six participants will receive grants of up to $60,000 to enable them to take part in the program which will run from October 2021 to June 2022. Funding will also be used to work with writers and directors to quickly develop, refine and market the scripted projects on participant’s slate based on feedback and positive interest from mentors and US executives throughout the program. The Exchange will culminate in a two day market where participants will meet with and pitch projects to an individually curated group of high level US industry executives, including production companies, studios, financiers, distributors, broadcasters and streamers, in order to attract international partners and investment for their slates.

For eligibility requirements and how to apply see Guidelines here. Applications close 5pm AEST Thursday 10 June 2021.

Please note that both programs will be entirely virtual, unless broader travel advice to the US changes.