21 06 2022 - Media release Impact Australia returns to Melbourne
Impact Founders Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Tyler Mitchell
The highly coveted screenwriter accelerator program Impact Australia returns to Melbourne for its third year with principal funding from Screen Australia and VicScreen.
The Australian edition of the intensive eight-week program will be delivered by international entertainment start-up Impact and Melbourne-based production company Gentle Giant Media Group. The program is supported by Learning Partner the University of Melbourne and state and territory screen agencies across Australia and will be held at the University of Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts' Southbank campus.
Impact Australia is designed to discover, cultivate and empower diverse Australian screenwriters, with the goal of accelerating projects to be pitch-ready for global buyers and producers.
During the program, participants will be mentored by industry-leading screenwriters from around the globe. The mentors will work with the creators to hone their projects and prepare them for Pitch Day, where they will be given the opportunity to pitch their project to the global market.
The first two years of the program has resulted in tremendous success. The majority of the 19 projects developed in the 2020 and 2021 programs have attached producers, and almost all of the 23 alumni writers have signed with representation or have gone on to have success after their participation in the program.
Impact CEO, Tyler Mitchell said, Australians continue to prove that they punch above their weight creatively. 70% of the projects developed in Impact Australia's 8-week accelerator programs have gained producer attachments or received additional funding, 60% of our writers have been hired or sold a new project after completing the program, and one alum had his first TV series debut on AMC earlier this year.
We're thrilled that Impact Australia will be going into its third year and are excited to continue working with our incredible partners to create more pathways that promote and empower talented Australians pursuing careers in the screen industry.
Gentle Giant Chairman and CEO Greg Basser said, Impact Australia, in just its first two seasons, has shown the international screen industry the great depth of creative talent we have always known was embedded in the Australian industry. I have watched our alumni punch those holes in the sky and can't wait to see what our third season of great Australian creativity will bring!
Impact Australia supports successful participants with all they need to succeed, including a stipend to allow them to relocate to Melbourne and focus on their projects during the eight-week intensive program.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, Impact provides a unique opportunity for local creatives to develop distinctive original stories, connect with global decision makers and find pathways to showcase them on a world stage. We're proud to continue supporting this program and help generate opportunities for local screenwriters.
Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said, Victoria's screen industry is dynamic, diverse and growing all the time the $191.5 million VICSCREEN strategy provides the best career development and job opportunities in the nation. Impact Australia creates a unique opportunity for our screenwriters to break through and take local stories to global audiences.
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, The Impact Australia program is proven to foster the next generation of screenwriters and progress their careers on the global stage. We are proud to support the innovative program return to Melbourne for the third year running, and again, highlight our exceptional homegrown talent.
Impact Australia is supported by Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Canberra and Screen Territory.
Applications are open from 21 June - 10 July, with the mentorship program set to begin on 26 September 2022 and the Pitch Day in January 2023. For more information or to apply, visit here
L to R: Kylie Munnich, Kate Marks, Tyler Mitchell, Carolyn Pitcher, Greg Basser, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Graeme Mason at the G'Day AAA Arts Gala
MEDIA ENQUIRIES Impact
[email protected]
Jadan Carroll | VicScreen
[email protected]
Media enquiries 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]
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
11/05/2026
You're not meant to look at an Eclipse, but you won't be able to take yo...
04/05/2026
It's Andrew! stomps onto screens this June 4 May 2026
The ABC and Screen Australia are delighted to announce that brand new preschool series, It's Andr...
30/04/2026
SBS & NITV LEAD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2026 WITH LANDMARK GULPILIL DOCUMEN...
29/04/2026
Surgeon Dr Jasmina Kevric wins 2026 Les Murray Award
29 April, 2026
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Dr Jasmina Kevric...
23/04/2026
Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market 23 April 2026
Screen Australia, in partnership with Ontario Creates, has opened application...
22/04/2026
SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge
22 April, 2026
Media releases
National broadcaster also releases its second annual...
21/04/2026
Applications open for 2026 AISF and Screen Australia Writer/Director Virtual Ses...
20/04/2026
Register now - Market & Audience Department Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 11 February 2026
Screen Australia Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley
Talking to...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces funding for 44 documentary projects that reflect a s...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia appoints Tanya Phegan as Narrative Content Head of Development 17 March 2026
Tanya Phegan
Screen Australia has today announced the appointmen...
20/04/2026
Applications Open for Skip Ahead 11 19 March 2026
Past Skip Ahead recipients (L-R): Macfarlane Bros, Rainbow Bop, Lyanna Kea.
Screen Australia and YouTube Aus...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia empowers the next games generation, including new creatives fro...
20/04/2026
Official Co-production Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 26 March 2026
Image (L-R): Mix Tape, Michele McDonald, Flower & Flour.
Interested in international Co-pro...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces Narrative Content funding for 91 projects, including ...
20/04/2026
Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) pinpoints four key workfo...
20/04/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia Announce the 2026 Participants in the T...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia relaunches website with new tools and improved user experience 16 April 2026
Screen Australia relaunches website
Screen Australia has relaun...
16/04/2026
SBS reveals all-star alumni team to celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Co...
02/04/2026
SBS Welcomes Back Cup Fever! For The Biggest FIFA World Cup Ever
2 April, 2026
Media releases
Santo Cilauro, Ed Kavalee and a host of special guests retur...
02/04/2026
Truth. Power. Perspective: NITV's Flagship Current Affairs Programs Return t...
27/03/2026
NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-lo...
21/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnect highlights how we all deserve t...
21/03/2026
Statement regarding Rhoda Roberts AO
21 March, 2026
Media releases
SBS is deeply saddened by the passing of Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung Na...
20/03/2026
Feast for cycling fans as SBS extends road cycling broadcasts to include all Gra...
19/03/2026
Silicon Valley satire The Audacity premieres 15 April on SBS and SBS On Demand
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From one of the writer/producers of Succession...
19/03/2026
SBS brings communities together at Bondi Pavilion for Harmony Week multilingual ...
19/03/2026
Clarification from SBS regarding Western Sydney expansion
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From an SBS spokesperson:
SBS wishes to clarify some media coverag...
19/03/2026
Techtel announces inctrl : web-based production control for content creators, co...
18/03/2026
Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture
18 March, 2026
Media releases
New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...
17/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnnect highlights how we all deserve ...
12/03/2026
AFL and NITV partner to launch new First Nations led program Inside the Huddle&...
06/03/2026
Statement on the appointment of Dr Nicholas Pappas AM as SBS Chair
6 March, 2026
Media releases
The SBS Board and Executive have welcomed the appointment o...
05/03/2026
SBS and Mint Pictures to chronicle the Bondi terror attack in major feature docu...
05/03/2026
Winter Olympic stars return to the ice for ISU World Figure Skating Championship...
04/03/2026
100 Days to Go: SBS Unveils World Class Team for The Greatest Show on Earth -The...
02/03/2026
Global powerhouse Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at this year's Eurovi...
02/03/2026
SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek ...
02/03/2026
NITV Unveils Wednesday Night Sport Night
2 March, 2026
Media releases
A Midweek Hub for Blak Sport
Flagship NRL program Over The Black Dot moves to Wednes...
02/03/2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia launch joint UK market initiative 2 March 2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia have announced Partner with Australia (UK), a new init...
27/02/2026
Screen Australia announces Rachel Perkins as Director of First Nations Strategy 27 February 2026
Screen Australia has today announced the appointment of Rachel...
18/02/2026
SBS brings Australians together to mark Ramadan and Eid with communities nationw...
16/02/2026
SBS's Powerhouse Current Affairs Line-up is Back with the Conversations and ...
12/02/2026
Our Medicine S2: Frontline Medicine Through A Blak Lens
12 February, 2026
Media releases
A Bigger, Bolder Second Series showcasing First Nations Frontline ...
11/02/2026
ABS Strengthens Ku-Band Capacity and Expands Regional Reach Through Strategic Pa...
10/02/2026
World-first opt-out function now fully integrated on SBS On Demand
10 February, 2026
Media releases
SBS has announced a suite of audience-first enhancement...
09/02/2026
SBS Media Sustainability Challenge returns for 2026
9 February, 2026
Media releases
The challenge offers brands and agencies $500,000 in advertising invent...
04/02/2026
Queer Renegades: SBS Audio's new podcast reclaiming Australia's queer hi...
03/02/2026
The smash-hit series The Hospital: In the Deep End returns to shine a spotlight ...
21 06 2022 - Media release Impact Australia returns to Melbourne 
