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Three new South Australian filmmaking teams announced for Film Lab: New Voices 4

21 July 2026
Film Lab: New Voices round 4 teams (L-R): Gemma Salomon, Lisa Bishop, Anthony Frith, Gilbert Kemp Attrill, program mentor Rebecca Summerton, Alexandra Short, Alex Salkicevic, Bryce Kraehenbuehl, Jasmine Leech

A new crop of South Australian screen creatives will get a chance to make their first feature film as part of the Film Lab: New Voices initiative from the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) and Screen Australia, with three filmmaking teams selected for the fourth iteration of the program, now underway.

Film Lab: New Voices has proven to be an outstanding career escalator program, with the first two films, Monolith and AACTA Award-winning Lesbian Space Princess each enjoying an impressive festival run and international distribution, and a third film The Debt currently in post-production and set to premiere at 2026 Adelaide Film Festival in October.

The three South Australian creative teams selected for Film Lab: New Voices round four are:

Co-funded by the SAFC and AFF with financial assistance from Screen Australia, Film Lab: New Voices offers three filmmaking teams the chance to develop their first low-budget feature film script through a 12-month skills development program. At the end of the development phase, one team will be selected to receive $600,000 in screen production grant funding with their film to premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival in 2028.

In 2026, the teams will be mentored by award-winning South Australian producer Rebecca Summerton (Animals, 52 Tuesdays) whose incredible skillset includes acclaimed low budget and innovative feature films, documentaries and television series. The program also features a lineup of guest speakers including acclaimed Australian producer Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films (Talk To Me, Leviticus) South Australian writer/director Matthew Bate (Shut Up Little Man!, Aftertaste), South Australian writer/producer Sandy Cameron (The Infinite Man, Mockbuster) and Film Lab: New Voices alumni Bettina Hamilton and Matt Vesely (Monolith).

Directors Bryce Kraehenbuehl, Gilbert Kemp Attrill and Gemma Salomon along with Film Lab: New Voices alumna Lucy Campbell (Monolith) have also been selected to travel to Melbourne next month to participate in the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) Accelerator Lab with support from the SAFC. Consisting of four days of workshops, screenings, seminars and networking events, the group will be able to connect with top local and international screen practitioners.

Minister for the Arts, the Hon Kyam Maher MLC said: “The Film Lab: New Voices program has proven itself to be a fantastic launchpad for bold new creative voices, taking South Australian talent to the global stage. The Labor Government is proud to invest in the development of the state’s screen industry, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for this cohort of up-and-coming filmmakers.”

South Australian Film Corporation Acting CEO Leanne Saunders said: “We are pleased to support a new group of eight emerging South Australian filmmakers with the fourth round of Film Lab: New Voices, South Australia’s premiere low-budget feature film development initiative. The program has already helped six key creatives to gain their first feature film credits – one of the most valuable tools for filmmakers to break into the screen industry.

“With three exciting new projects now in development under the expert guidance of Rebecca Summerton, this year’s teams reflect the diversity and outstanding talent of South Australia’s screen sector. Congratulations to all involved, and I look forward to seeing what is next for this groundbreaking program.”

Adelaide Film Festival CEO and Creative Director Mat Kesting said: “Congratulations to the three teams selected for Film Lab: New Voices round four. AFF is thrilled to support the continuation of Film Lab: New Voices and see such exciting new talent and projects continue to come through Film Lab. The success of previous projects Lesbian Space Princess and Monolith reinforces the value of dedicated development activities such as this for our filmmaking community and seeing our home-grown stories travel the world.”

Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said: “The fourth Film Lab: New Voices cohort brings together an exciting group of filmmakers whose fresh voices and creative ambition reflect the depth and diversity of Australian stories. With the international success of past projects such as Monolith and Lesbian Space Princess, Film Lab: New Voices continues to play a vital role in nurturing emerging filmmakers and their vision, build sustainable screen careers and ensure that Australian stories continue to evolve, thrive and connect with audiences worldwide. Screen Australia is excited to support these latest filmmakers as they develop their distinctive stories.”

Inaugural Film Lab: New Voices film Monolith from writer Lucy Campbell, director Matt Vesely and producer Bettina Hamilton was nominated for Best Indie Film at the 2024 AACTA Awards following its international premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and enjoyed a successful release in cinemas across Australia and the US.

Its successor, animated comedy Lesbian Space Princess from writer/directors Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese and producer Tom Phillips, and starring rising South Australian talent Shabana Azeez (The Pitt), won the 2026 AACTA Awards for Best Indie Film and Best Original Song, and has a 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes off the back of a successful cinematic run.

First Nations led horror The Debt from writer Piri Eddy and Yankunytjatjara writer Pearl Berry, Yankunytjatjara producer Lilla Berry, and director Johanis Lyons-Reid is now in post-production, set to premiere at the 2026 Adelaide Film Festival in October.

For more information about Film Lab: New Voices, go to safilm.com.au/funding-programs#filmlab

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