Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Screen Australia and SBS announce applications open for Emerging Writers' Incubator

15/05/2023

15 05 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce applications open for Emerging Writers' Incubator

The six successful writers selected for the Emerging Writers' Incubator in 2022.

Top (L-R) Skye Leon, Patrick Hogan, Aven Yap; bottom (L-R) Elena Carapetis, Becki Bouchier, Kelli Cross

Applications are open for the SBS Emerging Writers' Incubator, a nationwide initiative supporting the development of historically under-represented screenwriting talent in the Australian screen sector. In its third year in 2023, the initiative will be delivered in partnership with Screen Australia, and state agencies Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screenwest, the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and VicScreen, and with the assistance of the Australian Writers' Guild.

Launched in 2021, the initiative was created to invest in the future of an increasingly inclusive screen sector and Australian storytelling, by providing a year of paid employment in a leading Australian production company for emerging writing talent reflecting backgrounds and experiences historically under-represented in the Australian industry. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; people who are culturally and linguistically diverse; people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or with disability; people who are female or gender diverse; people who identify as LGBTQIA ; and people located in regional and remote areas.

This year, once again, six successful writers will join the teams of Australian production companies acclaimed for their delivery of Australian drama. Over a 12-month period, employed full-time, they will gain significant work experience further developing their skills, knowledge, and networks, working across the production companies' slate of drama productions. They will also be supported by the Australian Writers' Guild with access to creative and training workshops.

In 2023, the award-winning production companies taking part in the initiative are Curio Pictures who will host a Western Australian writer; Endemol Shine Australia who will host a NSW-based writer; Kindling Pictures hosting a Victorian writer; Kojo Studios who will have a South Australian writer join the team; Orange Entertainment hosting a Queensland writer; and TAP (Tony Ayres Productions) who will host a Tasmanian writer in their office in Melbourne, supported by Screen Tasmania.

Screen Australia s Head of Development Bobby Romia said, Screen Australia is excited to support the third year of the SBS Emerging Writers' Incubator and uncover a new generation of screenwriting talent. With a year-long placement with top production companies up for grabs, this initiative is an exceptional launch pad for diverse and emerging voices across the country. I encourage emerging screenwriters with a unique story, voice and perspective to apply.

Julie Eckersley, Head of SBS Scripted said, At SBS, we're committed to bringing though a tidal wave of new and diverse voices to tell stories for our screen. Giving skills and opportunity to talent that reflects the wonderful richness of who we are as a country makes for fresh, dynamic, surprising and entertaining stories that more Australians can connect with. The Emerging Writers' Incubator is an exciting example of how we can come together as a sector and invest in genuine pathways and support careers. It is fabulous to see previous participants' credits on shows, and with so much untapped talent out there I can't wait to see what this year's Incubator uncovers.

Kyas Hepworth, Head of Screen NSW said, Screen NSW is looking forward to supporting the Emerging Writers' Incubator with SBS for another year. The Emerging Writers' Incubator provides a unique opportunity for under-represented screenwriters across the country to develop new skills and work with leading production companies to bring their lived stories to the screen. We look forward to seeing the NSW talent that will be unearthed through the Emerging Writers' Incubator this year!

Dr Belinda Burns, Acting CEO of Screen Queensland said, Partnering to deliver the SBS Emerging Writers' Incubator is one of the avenues through which Screen Queensland actively uplifts diverse talent, with a focus on supporting screen creatives to tell stories that are original and compelling. Industry contacts, hands-on experience and credits are crucial to launching life-long writing careers. By equitably creating space for diverse screenwriters, we are increasing our industry's capacity to authentically embed under-represented perspectives into the stories we see on screen.

Alex Sangston, Executive Manager, Screen Tasmania said, This is a great opportunity for an emerging Tasmanian writer to develop their skills in an industry setting and launch their career. On behalf of the Tasmanian Government, we're excited to work with TAP, Screen Australia and SBS to support this placement.

Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO said, We're proud to be supporting the third year of the Emerging Writers' Incubator. This fantastic initiative will again give emerging WA screenwriters from under-represented backgrounds the opportunity to hone their skills and talent through a year-long placement, which in 2023 will be with the passionate team at Curio Pictures.

Kate Croser, CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) said, The SAFC is pleased to once again support the Emerging Writers' Incubator, an exciting initiative which supports our aim to grow the capability and diversity of the South Australian screen sector through increasing the pool of credited key creatives in the state. In 2022, the SAFC facilitated a record 28 South Australian writers, directors and producers to gain their first above-the-line screen credit on a feature film or broadcast
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2023/05-15-app...
See more stories from screenaustralia

Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories

09/07/2025

Explore Love Without Limits in a bold, funny and unapologetic SBS Audio podcast about love, intimacy and disability

Explore Love Without Limits in a bold, funny and unapologetic SBS Audio podcast ...

08/07/2025

SBS strengthens commitment to inclusion with new commissioning guidelines

SBS strengthens commitment to inclusion with new commissioning guidelines 8 July, 2025 Media releases SBS has launched new Commissioning Inclusion Guidelin...

08/07/2025

Secrets, Spies and Sabotage: 40 years on, SBS podcast investigates historic bombing of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior

Secrets, Spies and Sabotage: 40 years on, SBS podcast investigates historic bomb...

07/07/2025

SBS Farewells Chair George Savvides AM

SBS Farewells Chair George Savvides AM 7 July, 2025 Media releases Born of Greek Cypriot parents, Mr Savvides joined the SBS Board as Deputy Chair in Febru...

30/06/2025

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel 30 June, 2025 Media releases SBS is expanding its international news offeri...

27/06/2025

Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong

27 06 2025 - Media release Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong Marton Csokas and Lila McGuire of Goolagong. Image c...

26/06/2025

Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On Demand

Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On De...

20/06/2025

Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Australia

Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Au...

13/06/2025

Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic sporting event

Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic spor...

12/06/2025

50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celebration

50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celeb...

06/06/2025

Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwright and Soo Hugh Headline Future Vision 2025

06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...

03/06/2025

Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Originals, as applications open for 2025

Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Origin...

28/05/2025

SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia

SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia 28 May, 2025 Media releases Marking 50 years of broadcasting on 9 June 2025, SBS...

28/05/2025

ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transformation through Salesforce Communications Cloud

ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transf...

22/05/2025

SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with Digital Originals

SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with ...

22/05/2025

Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast

Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast 22 May, 2025 Media releases Ever caught yourself using baby talk with your pet and wondered ...

19/05/2025

Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 million Australians tuning in

Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 m...

16/05/2025

Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced

Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced 16 May, 2025 Media releases Screen Australia's First Nations Department, the Australian Broadcasting Cor...

15/05/2025

Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There'

Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There...

15/05/2025

We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS

We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS 15 May, 2025 Media releases The We Go There Hub brings together over 300 ti...

14/05/2025

ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe, Middle East & Africa

ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe,...

13/05/2025

Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion

Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion 13 May, 2025 Media releases As the latest season nears its end, SBS's hit series brings full cast together for re...

13/05/2025

Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle

Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...

12/05/2025

And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS, Australia's Home of Cycling

And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS,...

12/05/2025

Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directing Debut with Dark Comedy Fangs

10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...

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...