Screen Australia Podcast

The Snowtown and Nitram director shares what he learnt from making his first documentary, Ellis Park. Ellis Park is Kurzel’s third release over the past year, alongside feature film The Order, starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, and Amazon Prime’s Australian war drama series The Narrow Road to the Deep North. He shares the challenges and joys of juggling three feature film projects simultaneously, advice on shaping your project for success on the global market, and how his view of filmmaking has changed from director to producer. 

Digital content strategist and kids IP specialist Nico Lockhart shares what producers can learn about audience development and content production from YouTube. We discuss the opportunities and challenges for creatives and businesses working with online programming, as Lockhart shares the importance of a good thumbnail, why a viral video could take years, and how the direct-to-audience model is evolving with its audience, and the parallels between so-called traditional media and online media production. Resources Learn more about developing kids IP for YouTube with Nico Lockhart via the Kids IP Incubator webinar. Find out more about the Kids IP Incubator workshops and the successful online teams  here.  Interested in developing online content? Check out Screen Australia's Online Funding Podcast episode. 

Home to some of Australia's favourite stories and cultural storytellers including Little J & Big Cuz, Incarceration Nation, True Colours and The First Inventors, the National Indigenous Television Network (NITV) delivers content for and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture.  Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production Dena Curtis dropped by the Screen Australia Podcast to talk about the role of the broadcaster in showcasing and celebrating the diversity of First Nations experiences and supporting stories told by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners.  Throughout the episode, Curtis expands on her vision for NITV and gives advice for producers and filmmakers looking to pitch to the broadcaster. Curtis tells us about some of the great new titles joining NITV, including social justice documentary 2.6 Seconds, medical obdoc Our Medicine and comedy trivia series Big Backyard Quiz, and introduces her new team, including Senior Commissioning Editor Cieron Cody and Comm

Writer and director Nicholas Verso shares the process of shaping the award-winning novel Invisible Boys for the small screen. Throughout the episode, Verso shares the process of adapting a novel for screen, including building the writers room, knowing when to move away from the source material, and creating a visual language, as well as shaping authentic queer narratives for young adults. 

In the latest episode of the Screen Australia Podcast, Stephanie Dower discusses the importance of building an accessible culture on set, engaging Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent (DDN) crew, and her experiences working in the Australian screen industry. Dower talks about the emerging role of access coordinating; the philosophy and vision behind the role; the distinctions between access coordinators, safety officers, and support workers; and her experiences as a coordinator on upcoming feature films Australian indie Spit and international swashbuckler The Bluff - both due for release in 2025. 

Audrey screenwriter Lou Sanz and director Natalie Bailey on creating their debut feature film together. Throughout the episode, Sanz and Bailey share their love for comedy and dislike for the term unlikeable female characters. They also talk about getting the project to the big screen, creating compelling characters, the differences between writing for television and film, and the importance of finding the black comedy balance – or “balancing the sweet and sour”, as they call it. 

Videoland director Jessica Smith and producer Scarlett Koehne reflect on queer representation and 90s nostalgia in the Series Mania Comedy Competition-winning series. On the latest episode of the Screen Australia podcast, we spoke with Smith and Koehne following their win at Series Mania about their festival strategy and experience premiering in a foreign market. They also reflect on the creation of the queer dramedy and challenges of retro-fitting (literally) a video rental store. 

During the latest episode of the Screen Australia podcast, we explore the changing theatrical distribution landscape. Madman Entertainment's CEO Paul Wiegard and Screen Australia Distribution Manager Anthony Grundy explain how audience behaviour has shifted since the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect on the challenges and opportunities this presents Australian filmmakers in an increasingly global marketplace. Wiegard shares Madman's approach to audience engagement as an independent distributor, while Grundy discusses some of the research and tools available through Screen Australia to support discoverability, including the new Where to Watch function. 

Taking your project to market? Screen Australia Marketplace Manager Rakel Tansley shares the latest marketplace intel and advice to get the best deals on your projects. Tansley breaks down the key terms of finance plans and the market and explains the role of the Marketplace team in supporting Australian producers navigate domestic and global deals, as well as the resources publicly available on the Screen Australia website. She also talks to the key findings of the most recent Post-Financing International distribution of projects between 2020–2023, the current trend of rights, how to make IP and secondary rights work for you, the hidden costs to watch out for when building a finance plan, and shares the top five key territories and regions buying Australian film and television, both in terms of volume of sales and highest spendings. 

Screenwriter and media advocate Dot West talks writing animation, reflecting kid experiences in television, and the inspiration behind Little J & Big Cuz. Throughout the episode, West shares her insight on representing First Nations experiences on screen for kids, how ACER influences the narrative, incorporating Language and the power of translations, and her thoughts on the state of children's screen content.

Filmmaker Devina Saberi shares the inspiration for new documentary series Growing Pains, as well as the challenges and opportunities of documentary storytelling for online platforms, and advice for early career filmmakers. Throughout the episode, Saberi talks about structuring stories for social media platforms, supporting community storytelling, and the challenges of observational documentary – especially while filming your friends. 

Director Paul Clarke breaks down the elements of a music documentary, and the inspiration and process behind his latest feature Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line. Throughout the episode, Clarke shares his approach to research and production for the music documentary format, navigating the complexities of footage and music licensing, and celebrating the legacy of the Oils. 

Writer and director Tig Terera on the inspiration for new series Swift Street, and his journey to the small screen.

Learn more about the new below-the-line training and professional development initiative Screen Careers.

The Future Leaders Delegation and Screen Australia Games team share their takeaways and advice from the 2024 Game Developers Conference.

Ra Chapman and Katherine Fry share the journey from development to production of new ABC comedy series White Fever.  

Executive Producer and CEO of Blacksand Pictures Kauthar Abdulalim reflects on her Enterprise journey, reaching international audiences with online stories, and the power of authentic representation in the screen industry. 

From The Matrix to 1980s Australia, Gypsy Taylor discusses the art and craft of costuming and the design inspiration behind her most recent projects including Our Flag Means Death, The Way We Wore, and soon The Newsreader.

Cannes Critics’ Week Head of the Film Department Rémi Bigot speaks to the opportunities and process behind the program, and Screen Australia’s Manager, Festivals and Industry Partnerships Dale Fairbairn shares her advice for applying to festivals.

Australian Film, Television and Radio School alumni, award-winning filmmaker Warwick Thornton and production designer Bethany Ryan, alongside AFTRS Council Chair Debra Richards, reflect on 50 years of formal screen education in Australia.