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]
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, today unveiled its educational presentations for the 2026 NAB Show. This year SMPTE will ...
18/03/2026
Maxon, maker of powerful, approachable software solutions for creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, gaming, and more, today ann...
18/03/2026
Digital Alert Systems
Preview
2026 NAB Show
April 19 - 22
Booth C3452
At the 2026 NAB Show, Digital Alert Systems will showcase Version 6.0 of its DASDEC ...
18/03/2026
Setplex today announced that it will showcase its complete, fully integrated Zapflex platform for the first time at the 2026 NAB Show, introducing powerful new ...
18/03/2026
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES TO THE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIED OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 7(1) OF THE ...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking DP for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Director of Photography for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy Feature Film- I...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Location, Sound for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Location/Sound for Low Budget Dramed...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Film - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
Calrec Redefines Broadcast Workflows at NAB 2026 with its Most Powerful Hardware...
18/03/2026
Oscar Nominated Two People Exchanging Saliva Posted with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio handle...
18/03/2026
Boston Conservatory Presents Celebrated Musical Satire Urinetown Performances for this Center Stage production will take place at Boston Conservatory Theater ...
18/03/2026
Charlie Puth Joins Switched On Pop at Berklee NYC The Berklee alum spoke with host and Berklee NYC professor Charlie Harding for a live taping, answering audi...
17/03/2026
NASA+'s Rebecca Sirmons and Brittany Brown offer unique look at live streami...
17/03/2026
The transition to IP has fundamentally reshaped professional media infrastructures. Video, audio, and increasingly metadata now circulate as independent, precis...
17/03/2026
Live sports streaming can push every element in your video delivery chain to its limit, exposing every potential weakness in seconds. When the Super Bowl, the O...
17/03/2026
Texas Athletics sought to modernize its media production, enhance fan experience...
17/03/2026
Ikegami USA will demonstrate the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast...
17/03/2026
TNA Wrestling and iHeartMedia announces a new multi-platform collaboration that will integrate iHeartMedia across TNA's premium live events, weekly televisi...
17/03/2026
The goal was to transform Hard Rock Stadium into a global leader in sports and e...
17/03/2026
Spectrum has announced the launch of its new Multiview feature in the Spectrum TV App, giving customers the ability to watch up to four NCAA men's or women&...
17/03/2026
Genius Sports deal also covers data technology, AI, fan engagement, and performance analysis....
17/03/2026
Net Insight is supporting the rollout of a new state-wide centralized operation with Rede Massa, which is an SBT affiliate, the Brazilian regional television ne...
17/03/2026
Featuring audio from practice sessions, qualifying races, and Grand Prix races, the film represents Apple's sports-media ambitions
At Sunday night's Ac...
17/03/2026
Live broadcast has always been one of the most demanding environments in media a...
17/03/2026
DirecTV is introducing several new viewing features, including a multi-screen March Madness Mix channel and an updated Sports Central mobile app hub, ahead of...
17/03/2026
Deltatre has announced a multi-year partnership with ATP Media, the media arm of the ATP Tour, covering broadcast graphics, data, and production across the 2026...
17/03/2026
The Detroit Pistons have announced a third consecutive season partnering with Sc...
17/03/2026
Fresh Finds Africa spotlights emerging artists and movements across the continent and its global diaspora, with listeners tuning in to discover new Afro-forward...
17/03/2026
Last month, more than 60,000 fans piled into Bangkok's Rajamangala National ...
17/03/2026
Vintage-inspired channel strip joins line-up
Black Rooster Audio's latest plug-in provides an all-in-one mixing tool inspired by classic analogue consol...
17/03/2026
Level and EQ voice, reverb and noise independently
The latest plug-in to join Accentize's collection is said to take a new approach to dialogue processi...
17/03/2026
UHF radio mic & IEM bandwidth at risk
Once again, the UHF bandwidth that is currently allocated to RF audio gear is at risk of being reassigned to high-spee...
17/03/2026
Last Friday, the first Plant Fire Department Training Week in Bavaria successf...
17/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnnect highlights how we all deserve ...
17/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/03/2026
3D streaming infrastructure provider Miris today announced the launch of a public beta for its new 3D asset streaming platform. Miris is building the infrastruc...
09 02 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia announce applications open for UNTAPPED 
