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First Nations stories in the spotlight with SAFC short film and podcasting initiatives
29 October 2026
A new wave of First Nations storytellers will share their stories while growing their skills with ten South Australian First Nations creatives selected across two exciting SAFC initiatives for short film and podcasting.
The SAFC’s First Nations Short Film Program has returned for a third iteration, building on the success of the initiative which was first launched in 2022 with the aim of boosting the careers of First Nations South Australian filmmakers through script development, mentoring and the opportunity to gain above-the-line short film credits.
In the first phase of the program, the Script Development Initiative, delivered in partnership with The Mercury, six First Nations writers will develop a 7-to-10-minute short film script from early concept to polished final draft.
The six writers selected for Phase 1 of the program are: Pearl Berry, Leesha Cole, Tammy Coleman-Zweck, Ricky Hutcheson, Kiara Milera and Colleen Raven.
The cohort will receive support from industry mentors Adrian Russell Wills (The Newsreader, RFDS) and Shontell Ketchell (Gold Diggers, Ghosts: Australia) – who joined the group for an intensive scriptwriting workshop in Adelaide last month.
Following delivery of their final scripts, the developed projects will be eligible for production funding through Phase 2 of the initiative, set to open later this year, with up to two writer/director/producer teams selected for up to $45,000 per project in production funding, along with further workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities.
First Nations Short Film Program Script Development Initiative Workshop – photos by Keith Gilbey Warrior
At the same time, four South Australian First Nations creatives are learning how to shape their original stories for a different type of screen audience, producing original podcasts through the SAFC’s new Heard…seen First Nations Podcasting Initiative: Tyme Childs, Alicia Papertalk, Janette Milera and Star Sandford.
Across two intensive workshops led by experienced First Nations broadcaster and facilitator Raymond Zada at the SAFC’s Pirrku Kuu First Nations workspace at Adelaide Studios, the creatives were given the opportunity to learn basic audio recording and editing principles, develop effective audio interviewing techniques and understand the fundamentals of podcasting and podcasting distribution pathways, in order to each create a 10–15 minute pilot podcast episode.
Heard…seen builds on the success of the SAFC’s Regional SA First Nations Podcast Program delivered in partnership with Country Arts SA and Riverland Youth Theatre in 2021. The initiative saw four compelling new podcasts released to indigiTUBE, the only media platform by and for First Nations People.
Heard…seen First Nations Podcasting Workshop – Photos by Naomi Jellicoe
SAFC Acting CEO Leanne Saunders said: “The SAFC is committed to championing South Australian First Nations creatives to reach new audiences, building on a legacy of storytelling that dates back tens of thousands of years.
“With an incredible cohort selected across the First Nations Short Film Program and the Heard…seen podcasting initiative I can’t wait to see these new stories come to life, while also enabling vital skills development for the screenwriters and creatives involved.
“I thank our industry mentors for the Script Development Initiative, Adrian Russell Wills and Shontell Ketchell, facilitator Adam Bishop and podcasting workshop leader Raymond Zada for so generously sharing their expertise.”
The new initiatives come as the SAFC launches its new First Nations showreel highlighting SAFC supported productions featuring the work of South Australian First Nations key creatives, crew and cast, and telling First Nations stories, highlighting the depth and breadth of talent in the sector.