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Seven First Nations writers selected for short film development initiative

05 April 2024

A new cohort of First Nations South Australian creatives will grow their skills while developing original short film projects as part of the South Australian Film Corporation’s (SAFC) First Nations Short Film Program, with seven successful round two applicants announced today.

Launched in 2022, the SAFC’s First Nations Short Film Program is a skills development program for First Nations storytellers of all career levels, designed to support the professional development of First Nations writers, directors, and producers.

The program is delivered in two parts, with phase one seeing selected writers participate in a script development workshop, mentoring and one-on-one feedback sessions with screen industry experts to develop a polished seven to 10-minute script ready for production. Following the Writing Program, the developed scripts will be eligible for production funding through phase two, the First Nations Short Film Production Program, where at least two writer/director/producer teams will be selected by a panel of SAFC and broader industry representatives to receive up to $45,000 production funding for full delivery of their short films.

The seven writers selected for phase one of the program are:

• Joshua Barbo
• Lilla Berry
• Leesha Cole
• Dylan Coleman
• Tyler Petersen-Dix
• Colleen Raven Strangways
• Shania Richards

The First Nations Short Film Program has already boosted the careers of five talented First Nations South Australian creatives who have gained new short film credits as writers, directors and producers through the inaugural round of the initiative – writer/director Travis Akbar and producer Wayne Campbell for Tambo; writer/producer Tammy Coleman-Zweck and director Edoardo Crismani for Black Time, White Time; and writer/director Adam Jenkins for The Getaway. Their short films were selected to premiere at SXSW Sydney 2023, and screened at the 2023 Adelaide Film Festival in the First Nations, First Films event as a true showcase of up-and-coming First Nations South Australian talent.

Phase two of the First Nations Short Film Program will launch later in 2024 with a call-out for applications for production funding from writer/director/producer teams. Stay tuned to the SAFC newsletter and social media channels for more.

For more information about the First Nations Short Film Program go to safilm.com.au/industry-and-skills#fnsfp