Indigenous screen organisations from Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia launch new international co-production initiative

Indigenous screen organisations from Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia launch new international co-production initiative 21 September 2026

Shared Ground will connect Indigenous filmmakers across three countries through a series of international labs designed to build relationships and create new opportunities for Indigenous-led collaboration.

[Update: Applications were opened on 27 October 2026. More information regarding eligibility and assessment criteria for Australian applicants can be found here.]

The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and Screen Australia First Nations Department today announced Shared Ground, a new international Indigenous co-production initiative bringing together Indigenous filmmakers from Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Australia to build relationships, develop their work and explore opportunities for international collaboration.

Built on the understanding that meaningful Indigenous collaborations begin with relationships, Shared Ground will bring together a cohort of Indigenous writers, writer/directors and creative producers for three immersive labs beginning in early 2027, with one hosted in each participating country.

In March 2026, while in New Zealand, ISO met with Screen Australia and the New Zealand Film Commission to advance discussions towards an Indigenous tri-nation development lab. This represents a significant opportunity for international collaboration and co-production between Indigenous creators, said Kerry Swanson, CEO of the Indigenous Screen Office. It is the first time our agencies have partnered to foster collaboration between these regions.

M ori storytelling is led by a relationship-first practice: the relationship we have with our t puna (ancestors), our whenua (lands) and each other. Shared Ground will give our filmmakers the opportunity to share space on each other's lands, developing meaningful co-productions informed by each other's cultural frameworks, said Ainsley Gardiner, Head of Funding, New Zealand Film Commission. New Zealand has made dual nation projects before. It feels timely that a Tri-Nation collaboration bringing together M ori, Aboriginal & Torres Strait and First Nation Canadian wh nau be supported.

Screen Australia Head of First Nations Content Gillian Moody-Ardler said: Co-designing Shared Ground with the ISO and NZFC represents a new approach to international collaboration, one that places Indigenous relationships, cultural perspectives and creative leadership at its centre. The initiative reflects our shared commitment to creating opportunities for Indigenous storytellers to connect across borders, learn from one another and build lasting partnerships. Together, we're creating new pathways for stories to travel, reach audiences and have global reach and impact.

How the program works

Shared Ground allows dedicated time and space for Indigenous creatives from the three countries to connect, exchange ideas and share cultural perspectives and innovation, and explore where collaboration might naturally lead.

Participants will bring feature film projects in development and take part in mentorship, workshops, creative development and industry sessions, while gaining insight into the screen sectors and international co-production opportunities across Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Ownership and sovereignty of all stories and projects will remain with the filmmakers, while each lab will be shaped by the cultural contexts, protocols and practices of its host country.

Over the course of the program, participants will build relationships, explore ideas and identify opportunities for future partnership. Rather than working towards predetermined outcomes over the three labs, Shared Ground will create the space for collaboration to emerge naturally through relationships, shared experiences and creative exchange.

Eligibility for application

Shared Ground is open to Indigenous writers, writer/directors and creative producers from Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia who meet the eligibility criteria set by their respective regional partner.

Applicants must bring a feature film project in development.

The initiative will begin with orientation and virtual workshops in January and February 2027, before participants come together for three week-long international labs:

Lab one: Aotearoa New Zealand, March 2027

Lab two: Australia, date to be announced

Lab three: Canada, date to be announced

Remote creative and project development will take place between labs.

Applications are expected to open by mid-October 2026, with the selected cohort announced in January 2027.

Further details on eligibility, application requirements and program dates will be available through the Indigenous Screen Office, NZFC and Screen Australia.

About the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

The Indigenous Screen Office is an independent national advocacy and funding organization serving First Nations, Inuit and M tis creators of screen content in Canada. The ISO's mandate is to foster and support narrative sovereignty and cultural revitalization by increasing Indigenous storytelling on screens and promoting Indigenous values and participation across the sector.

About the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)

The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) champions New Zealand's dynamic screen industry by backing local stories, supporting filmmakers and helping New Zealand stories reach audiences at home and around the world. Through financing, talent development, and industry support, NZFC invests in the people, films and partnerships that underpin screen storytelling in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand's 19 international co-production arrangements and the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) enable local producers to build international partnerships

LINK:	https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/indigenous-screen-organisations-fro...
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