
09 02 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia announce applications open for UNTAPPED
(From top left) Amy Wang, A da Mashaka Croal, Andrew Ahn, Cherien Dabis, Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo
UNTAPPED, Australia's pre-eminent professional development program for the next generation of writers and directors, kicks off on 8 March (AEST) with a series of exclusive online masterclasses featuring some of the most inspiring voices in the film and television industry. These sessions include writer A da Mashaka Croal (Marvel's Jessica Jones and Luke Cage), writer/director Amy Wang (Crazy Rich Asians 2, From Scratch), writer/director Andrew Ahn (Fire Island, Spa Night), Emmy-nominated writer/director Cherien Dabis (Only Murders in the Building, Ramy), Peabody Award-winning co-creators Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo (Sort Of).
Created in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, UNTAPPED is a breakthrough talent development program for undiscovered and historically excluded Australian screenwriters and directors. Since its inception, the program has forged a dynamic community of Australia's best new storytellers. Emboldened by invaluable masterclasses from groundbreaking filmmakers, the UNTAPPED talent continues to flourish, with projects in development at leading studios.
UNTAPPED is presented by Australians in Film and Screen Australia. Supporting partners include Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, South Australian Film Corporation and Scripted Ink. Industry Partners include Australian Directors Guild, Australian Writers Guild, Screen Canberra, Screen Producers Australia, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest and Screenworks.
UNTAPPED begins with four open-access online masterclasses for anyone who applies with a feature film or television project in development. Submissions can be at treatment or script stage. The masterclasses run from March to May 2023. Every participant must complete a survey after each masterclass, which is assessed along with the submitted application and corresponding projects. Five to six participants are handpicked to participate in a four-month Development Lab, which runs from July to November 2023.
Peter Ritchie, Executive Director of Australians in Film said, UNTAPPED is designed to uncover and elevate Australia's newest and most original screenwriters and directors who are bursting to tell their stories to the world. AiF, as always, is very proud to be working with Screen Australia and all our partners to bring UNTAPPED to life every year.
This year, rather than announcing our mentoring companies in the Development Lab when we open for submissions, we will specifically match our participants with the most suitable and effective creatives or executives working in Hollywood once they have been accepted into the Lab and we have assessed their individual creative and professional goals, Ritchie continued.
Screen Australia's CEO Graeme Mason said, UNTAPPED has advanced the careers of incredibly talented storytellers and we're thrilled to bring it back for its third year together with AiF. We're proud to support Australian creators in gaining world-class mentorship and development, and the chance to build meaningful connections in the US market through this program. It's a fantastic opportunity for creators to reach international audiences and take Australian stories to the world. I look forward to seeing the next crop of new voices and bold stories.
Filmmaker Alex Wu, who was selected for UNTAPPED in 2022 said, Being able to establish connections and talk one-on-one with experienced writers, producers and development executives provided an insight into the US industry that I would find extremely difficult to obtain otherwise as an early-career filmmaker. The program is impressively catered around each individual creator s needs and knowledge gaps.
UNTAPPED applications are open until Friday 3 March at 5 pm (PST). For applications and guidelines, click here.
Publicity and social media assets are available here.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES Please email [email protected]
Media enquiries Maddie Walsh | Publicist
61 2 8113 5915 | [email protected]
Lidia Williams | Senior Publicist
61 2 8113 1091 | 61 468 784 170 | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries
Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
More from Screen Aus
29/05/2023
29 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS And NITV Call For Applications To Digital Originals 2023
Latecomers, Appetite
Screen Australia, SBS and Nat...
15/05/2023
15 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce applications open f...
08/05/2023
08 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches the First Nations Game Studio fund
Image: Shutterstock
Screen Australia is pleased to announce the First...
04/05/2023
04 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $2 million for eight documentaries
Teagan Micah in This Is Us
Screen Australia has announced two docume...
01/05/2023
01 05 2023 - Media release ABC and Screen Australia on the hunt for more Fresh Blood
Why Are You Like This
The ABC and Screen Australia are once again teami...
27/04/2023
27 04 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches three new Industry Developm...
20/04/2023
20 04 2023 - Media release Warwick Thornton Returns to Cannes Film Festival with The New Boy
Cate Blanchett as Sister Eileen and Aswan Reid as New Boy in The ...
14/04/2023
14 04 2023 - Media release Seeing Ourselves on-screen: Report reveals progress f...
11/04/2023
11 04 2023 - Media release Foxtel Group and Screen Australia announce new origin...
22/03/2023
22 03 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $1 million to boost screen...
21/03/2023
21 03 2023 - Media release The Creators participants announced
(Top L to R): Jane Allen, Judi McCrossin, Kodie Bedford
(Bottom L to R): Sam Meikle, Suzie Mil...
21/03/2023
21 03 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $700,000 of story development funding for 20 projects
Marcus Rivera in Vonne Patiag's short film Tom...
09/03/2023
09 03 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Beep and Mort Season 2
Beep and Mort
ABC, Screen Australia and the South Australian Film Corpora...
08/03/2023
08 03 2023 - Media release Screen Australia commits $500K to West Coast Visions feature films
How to Please a Woman, Sweet As
Screenwest and Screen Australia...
07/03/2023
07 03 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan announce new documentary fe...
23/02/2023
23 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $4.6 million for 21 documentaries
Our Law: Queensland Police - Caboolture Police Station, Constable Jarw...
21/02/2023
21 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Skip Ahead recipients
Skip Ahead recipients in Sydney for the workshop this week
S...
20/02/2023
20 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $7.4 million of produ...
20/02/2023
20 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce new crime drama Swift Street
Tig Terera, Swift Street
SBS and Screen Australia are thrilled to a...
17/02/2023
17 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Network 10 launch First Facts: F...
17/02/2023
17 02 2023 - Media release Production wraps in Sydney on Arachnophobia Horror film Sting
Sting. Photo credit - Emma Bjorndahl
Production has wrapped in Sydne...
13/02/2023
13 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Network 10 announce new drama Paper Dolls
Paper Dolls (L-R: Courtney Monsma, Miah Madden, Naomi Sequeira, Emal...
09/02/2023
09 02 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia announce applications open for UNTAPPED
(From top left) Amy Wang, A da Mashaka Croal, Andr...
07/02/2023
07 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.5 million for 11 digital games
Bilkins' Folly
Screen Australia has announced 11 games that ...
03/02/2023
03 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new drama In Our Blood
Actors Oscar Leal and Tim Draxl from In Our Blood.
As Australia gets read...
02/02/2023
02 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $2.2 million in funding for 11 online projects
Miss Ink: The Documentary Series
Screen Australia has an...
24/01/2023
24 01 2023 - Media release Eight Australian projects bound for Berlinale 2023 wi...
23/01/2023
23 01 2023 - Media release Aussie feature A Savage Christmas filming now in Queensland
Writer/director Madeleine Dyer on the set of A Savage Christmas
Produc...
20/12/2022
20 12 2022 - Media release Screen Australia announces $1.2 million of development funding
Just Chidi Things (L-R): Ana Tiwary, Chika Ikogwe, Rose Byrne.
Scr...
15/12/2022
15 12 2022 - Media release Six Australian screenwriters selected for the NCIS: S...
08/12/2022
08 12 2022 - Media release Four Australian films selected for Sundance Film Festival 2023
Noora Niasari's Shayda
Four Australian feature films will scree...
08/12/2022
08 12 2022 - Media release Screen Australia's Enterprise program returns in 2023
Sophie Hyde, Closer Productions
Screen Australia is pleased to announce ...
07/12/2022
07 12 2022 - Media release P-Plate comedy returns with Christmas special
Dylan Hesp in A Very Street Racer Christmas
Screen Australia and One Stone Pictures ...
07/12/2022
07 12 2022 - Media release Cameras set to wrap on Warwick Thorntons The New Boy
Aswan Reid on the set of The New Boy Photo by Ben King
Award-winning First ...
05/12/2022
05 12 2022 - Media release PARAMOUNT ANNOUNCES CAST OF THE APPLETON LADIES' POTATO RACE
Claire van der Boom
Claire van der Boom (Blacklight, Palm Beach)...
24/11/2022
24 11 2022 - Media release ABC announces Better Date Than Never
Better Date Than Never
Screen Australia and the ABC are thrilled to announce Better Date Tha...
24/11/2022
24 11 2022 - Media release ABC UNVEILS BOLD NEW DRAMA HOUSE OF GODS
House of Gods co-creator and writer Osamah Sami
Screen Australia and the ABC are pleased ...
24/11/2022
24 11 2022 - Media release Matt Okine and Denise Scott starring in reimagining of Mother and Son
Mother and Son's Matt Okine (Arthur) and Denise Scott (Ma...
22/11/2022
22 11 2022 - Media release Screen Australia and AIDC announce Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative
Fresh Cuts Documenatry Pitch Initiative
Screen Australi...
21/11/2022
21 11 2022 - Media release Screen Australia and Australian Writers Guild announce The Creators initiative
The Creators initiative
Screen Australia and the A...
15/11/2022
15 11 2022 - Media release Screen Australia, NZ On Air and TikTok announce Every Voice 2022 recipients
(New Zealand Creatives L-R): Sonya Milford, Sherry Zhan...
10/11/2022
10 11 2022 - Media release Drama Report 2021/22: Record $2.29 billion spent on d...
02/11/2022
02 11 2022 - Media release SBS commissions bold new Australian drama anthology Erotic Stories
Top (L-R) Niki Aken, Tamara Asmar, Alistair Baldwin, Christine B...
28/10/2022
28 10 2022 - Media release Six screen creatives announced for Emerging Writers' Incubator initiative
Top (L-R) Skye Leon, Patrick Hogan, Aven Yap
Bottom ...
14/10/2022
14 10 2022 - Media release Instagram and Screen Australia announce recipients of...
13/10/2022
13 10 2022 - Media release Spooktacular' new series The Spooky Files commissioned by ABC and BBC
(From top left): Guy Edmonds, Matt Zeremes, Paul Watters...
27/09/2022
27 09 2022 - Media release Nine Australian writers set to accelerate their proje...
27/09/2022
27 09 2022 - Media release New drama series Prosper announced for Stan
Lingo Pictures Jason Stephens and Helen Bowden
Stan and Lionsgate have commissioned th...
26/09/2022
26 09 2022 - Media release Screen Australia launches NCIS: Sydney Script Department Program
Image of Sydney Skyline / Shutterstock
Screen Australia has today...
14/09/2022
14 09 2022 - Media release New drama Human Error greenlit for 9Network
Writers Gregor Jordan, Greg Haddrick and Samantha Winston
Screen Australia and 9Networ...