Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Australians in Film and Screen Australia announce applications open for UNTAPPED

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, 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]
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2023/02-09-app...
See more stories from screenaustralia

Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories

07/05/2025

SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recognising the strength and resilience of First Nations peoples

SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recogni...

07/05/2025

SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location

SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location 7 May, 2025 Media releases SBS has today launched a Request for Expressions of Intere...

02/05/2025

SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Handmaid's Tale

SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Hand...

01/05/2025

Screen Australia empowers 100+ distinctive Australian narratives

01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...

30/04/2025

Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award

Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award 30 April, 2025 Media releases Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla...

30/04/2025

SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives

SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives 30 April, 2025 Media releases SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ...

23/04/2025

We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it goodit's almost time for the Eurovision Song Contest!

We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it ...

22/04/2025

McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September

McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championshi...

16/04/2025

Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Sustainability Challenge

Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Susta...

15/04/2025

Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lifetime Who Do You Think You Are?

Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lif...

15/04/2025

SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide

SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Champions...

14/04/2025

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduction targets validated by the SBTi

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduc...

11/04/2025

Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo topics in podcast return

Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo to...

09/04/2025

SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering

SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering 9 April, 2025 Media releases SBS is expanding its international news offering with the...

09/04/2025

SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as Eurovision Song Contest commentary team

SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as E...

09/04/2025

Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase

09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...

07/04/2025

Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS commentary team for Spring Classics Races

Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS comme...

07/04/2025

Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election year

Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election ye...

07/04/2025

SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key issues of the Federal Election campaign

SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key is...

04/04/2025

SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and information about the 2025 Federal Election

SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...

01/04/2025

Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June

01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...

31/03/2025

Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new political podcast

Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new politica...

28/03/2025

Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and family

Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and fam...

28/03/2025

SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages

SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages 28 March, 2025 Media releases As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia...

26/03/2025

The Secret DNA of Us premieres 17 April

The Secret DNA of Us premieres 17 April 20 March, 2025 Media releases Family secrets, royal relationships and hidden histories revealed What would you disc...

24/03/2025

ABS further Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Matthieu Boutrolle as Chief Technology Officer

ABS further Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Matthieu Boutrolle a...

19/03/2025

NITV and Cricket Australia elevate First Nations sport with National Indigenous Cricket Championships Finals live broadcast on 7 April

NITV and Cricket Australia elevate First Nations sport with National Indigenous ...

19/03/2025

Yumi Stynes wants older women to be SEEN' as SBS podcast returns

Yumi Stynes wants older women to be SEEN' as SBS podcast returns 19 March, 2025 Media releases Feminist icon Yumi Stynes shines a spotlight on trailbl...

12/03/2025

Telespazio and ABS Expand Partnership to Deliver Tailored C-Band Connectivity Solutions for the Brazilian Market

Telespazio and ABS Expand Partnership to Deliver Tailored C-Band Connectivity So...

09/03/2025

No more Monday morning blues for football fans as Major League Soccer comes to SBS

No more Monday morning blues for football fans as Major League Soccer comes to S...

06/03/2025

Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025

06 03 2025 - Media release Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025 Top (L-R): Jet Wilkinson, Michael Shanks. Bottom (L-R): Ryan O Connell, Megan Park. Au...

05/03/2025

SBS marks 50 years of sharing culture and knowledge with all Australians this Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

SBS marks 50 years of sharing culture and knowledge with all Australians this Ra...

04/03/2025

SBS seeks risk-taking and boundary-breaking ideas for its next factual hit with return of development initiative

SBS seeks risk-taking and boundary-breaking ideas for its next factual hit with ...

04/03/2025

Satellite Mobility World interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle

Satellite Mobility World interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...

28/02/2025

Marlee Silva reveals how we can make our nation safer for women through Australia's most loved sport, in Skin in the Game

Marlee Silva reveals how we can make our nation safer for women through Australi...

26/02/2025

Global viral pop sensation Go-Jo to represent Australia at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland

Global viral pop sensation Go-Jo to represent Australia at this year's Eurov...

24/02/2025

Adam Liaw delivers all new dishes and chat to help you reach culinary greatness with ease

Adam Liaw delivers all new dishes and chat to help you reach culinary greatness ...

20/02/2025

Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced

18 02 2025 - Media release Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced Stars of He Had It Coming, Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewso...

20/02/2025

Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes

18 02 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes Gnomes writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven, and creato...

13/02/2025

SBS Media sustainability challenge open for applications

SBS Media sustainability challenge open for applications 13 February, 2025 Media releases The challenge offers brands and agencies $500,000 in advertising ...

13/02/2025

Love at First Bite? SBS podcast - Should You Really Eat That? returns

Love at First Bite? SBS podcast - Should You Really Eat That? returns 13 February, 2025 Media releases Join food writer Lee Tran Lam for another epic cul...

12/02/2025

Meet the Cast of Alone Australia Season 3

Meet the Cast of Alone Australia Season 3 12 February, 2025 Media releases Wilder, tougher and more extreme than ever Alone Australia is back for an epic ...

11/02/2025

In 2025 Australia's most trusted news brand celebrates 50 years with bold stories from home and across the globe

In 2025 Australia's most trusted news brand celebrates 50 years with bold st...

11/02/2025

NITV's flagship footy show Over the Black Dot returns Tuesday 4 March from Las Vegas

NITV's flagship footy show Over the Black Dot returns Tuesday 4 March from L...

10/02/2025

New series Memory Bites with Matt Moran stirs up nostalgia with a taste of the past

New series Memory Bites with Matt Moran stirs up nostalgia with a taste of the p...

05/02/2025

Screen legend Jacki Weaver tears back the curtain on Australia's most outrageous decade in a powerful new three-part series

Screen legend Jacki Weaver tears back the curtain on Australia's most outrag...

05/02/2025

Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead

04 02 2025 - Media release Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead Writer/Director of Penny Lane Is Dead, Mia'Kate Russell Sanc...

04/02/2025

ABS appoints Sameer Karimbhai as New General Counsel

ABS appoints Sameer Karimbhai as New General Counsel...

03/02/2025

SBS boosts commitment to Indigenous leadership and innovation with Executive team update

SBS boosts commitment to Indigenous leadership and innovation with Executive tea...