
13 09 2023 - Media release Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced
2023 Untapped Participants
Screen Australia and Australians in Film today announced the participants of UNTAPPED 2023 Development Lab, part of the ground-breaking online professional development program for Australia's best undiscovered writers and directors.
This year the participants are;
Grace Tan (she/her) & Neilesh Verma (he/him) NSW Horror/Psychological Drama Feature Koan
David Valencia (he/him) QLD Comedy/Drama Feature Here Now
Miranda Aguilar (they/them) NSW Dramedy Series Courting Ghosts
Samuel Leighton-Dore (he/him) QLD Animated Horror/Comedy Series Other Half
Tim Williams (he/him) VIC Comedy/Drama Series The Impatients
UNTAPPED is presented by Screen Australia and Australians in Film. Supporting Partners include the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, South Australian Film Corporation and VicScreen. Industry Partners include Australian Directors Guild, Australian Writers Guild, Screen Canberra, Screen Producers Australia, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screen West and Screenworks.
Run online yearly, the UNTAPPED program creates meaningful professional pipelines between Australia's top emerging screen talent and the influential Hollywood industry.
The program begins with a series of insightful and motivating Masterclasses with a number of high-profile international filmmakers who, through their powerful work, are breaking down barriers in film and television narrative storytelling. From over 380 participants, these five projects have been selected to move onto the Development Lab, which runs from August until December of this year.
The Development Lab consists of group and individual sessions, with each participant(s) given a professional mentor, script advisor and pitch coach, plus an invitation into the AiF alumni network, which consists of Australia's leading and award-winning content creators.
Masterclass speakers this year included A da Mashaka Croal (Jessica Jones, Luke Cage) moderated by Sarah Bassiuoni (The Heights), Amy Wang (Crazy Rich Asians 2) moderated by Jiao Chen (Sony Pictures Entertainment), Andrew Ahn (Fire Island) moderated by Thomas Wilson White (Heartbreak High), Cherien Dabis (Only Murders in the Building) moderated by Monica Zanetti (While the Men are Away), and Bilal Baig & Fab Filippo (Sort Of) moderated by Mithilia Gupta (Five Bedrooms).
Graeme Mason, CEO of Screen Australia said; For the past three years, we've partnered with Australians in Film on UNTAPPED to provide tangible pathways and cultivate exciting collaborations for undiscovered Australian creative talent. This new cohort of writers and directors exemplifies the depth and diversity of our world-class screen industry and how exceptional our emerging talent is. A huge congratulations to the five participants, I'm thrilled that Screen Australia can continue to support this career-changing opportunity and I can't wait to see what they achieve."
Peter Ritchie, Executive Director of Australians in Film said; Every year UNTAPPED uncovers some of Australia's most exciting new voices. We all know how hard it is to not only break into the industry, but also to maintain a career and bring a vision authentically to the screen. With the incredible support of Screen Australia and all our partners, UNTAPPED, as part of AiF's professional development programming is strategically placed to welcome the best emerging talent into a supportive network of international creatives who are currently working at the highest level in the industry.
UNTAPPED 2023 participants:
Grace Tan (she/her) & Neilesh Verma (he/him) NSW
Koan - Horror/Psychological Drama Feature
After recently being released from prison Anya finds herself caught in the grip of a mysterious online cult that watches her every move. When her estranged mother re-enters her life, Anya, now consumed by a delusion of divine purpose finds her sense of reality beginning to crumble.
Grace is a writer and director based on Gadigal land, Sydney and Neilesh is a writer, director, former stand-up comedian and sometimes actor based on Gadigal land, Sydney.
David Valencia (he/him) QLD
Here, Now - Comedy/Drama Feature
Struggling first-time parents Daniel and Sophie are determined to do the best by their young daughter with special needs all while trying to survive each other, their families, a bizarrely-themed birthday party and a rather unexpected arrival.
David is a Colombian-born stage and screen actor, writer and director based in Queensland, traditional Bundjalung land.
Miranda Aguilar (they/them) NSW
Courting Ghosts - Dramedy Series
Self-conscious teenager Luisa-Marie can't be honest with her online crush or herself, but when her Grandpa Ernesto dies, the only one who can help her grow up is his ghost.
Miranda is a queer, Filipinx writer, creative producer and community arts worker based on Gadigal land, Sydney.
Samuel Leighton-Dore (he/him) QLD
Other Half - Animated Horror/Comedy Series
In the 1960s a jaded marriage counsellor abducts a series of newlywed clients, surgically attaching them spine-to-spine and forcing them to compete in challenges designed to prove they are soulmates. Twenty years later, a documentary film student conducts interviews with the one surviving couple, who are divorced but not yet separated, in hopes of solving the absurd case.
Samuel Leighton-Dore is an artist, author and screenwriter based on Kombumerri country, the Gold Coast.
Tim Williams (he/him)VIC
The Impatients - Comedy/Drama Series
When a tenacious young wheelchair soccer prodigy is forced to spend his summer in hospital, he decides to put together a team of misfit patients to take on a group of bullies. In doing so, he starts to regain the sense of purpose he lost after his injury
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
07/05/2025
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
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 Hand...
01/05/2025
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
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
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 ...
22/04/2025
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 Susta...
15/04/2025
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 Champions...
14/04/2025
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 to...
09/04/2025
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 E...
09/04/2025
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 comme...
07/04/2025
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 is...
04/04/2025
SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...
01/04/2025
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 politica...
28/03/2025
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
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
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 a...
19/03/2025
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
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 So...
09/03/2025
No more Monday morning blues for football fans as Major League Soccer comes to S...
06/03/2025
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 Ra...
04/03/2025
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...
28/02/2025
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 Eurov...
24/02/2025
Adam Liaw delivers all new dishes and chat to help you reach culinary greatness ...
20/02/2025
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
18 02 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes
Gnomes writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven, and creato...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
13/02/2025
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
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
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 st...
11/02/2025
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 p...
05/02/2025
Screen legend Jacki Weaver tears back the curtain on Australia's most outrag...
05/02/2025
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...
03/02/2025
SBS boosts commitment to Indigenous leadership and innovation with Executive tea...