Inaugural Screen Queensland Fund Delivers $300,000 to Six Local Storytellers
Six bold Queensland short films have been selected to share in $300,000 through Screen Queensland’s inaugural Short Film Fund. The funding initiative supports the development of new Queensland stories and is intended to strengthen the state’s reputation as a leading screen production destination.
The inaugural Short Film Fund is part of the Crisafulli Government’s Queensland’s Time to Shine: a 10-Year Strategy for Arts and Culture. The government states that it is delivering a fresh start for Queensland’s film sector with the new fund, which is designed to help local filmmakers grow their careers and expand industry opportunities.
Promoting Homegrown Talent
Minister for Education and the Arts, The Honorable John-Paul Langbroek, stated that the new fund aims to promote more Queensland stories on the big screen and help local filmmakers reach wider audiences.
Minister Langbroek characterized Queensland as the “powerhouse of Australia’s screen industry”. He explained that Screen Queensland’s Short Film Fund supports Queensland-based creatives in developing distinctly local stories that can connect directly with audiences both domestically and internationally. He highlighted that short-form storytelling is one of the fastest-growing areas of the global screen industry, offering a launchpad for emerging filmmakers to build audiences and launch their careers.
The government is committed to delivering a thriving creative sector and expanding industry opportunities across the state. Minister Langbroek added that they wish to unearth more budding filmmakers from across Queensland and support them on their journey to becoming the next generation of Australian success stories working behind the scenes.
Diverse Projects Receive Support
The six projects selected to receive funding represent an incredible breadth of creativity and innovation coming out of Queensland. The successful projects are:
- The Stockman: A powerful First Nations drama by proud Butchulla/Kamilaroi filmmaker Rhianna Malezer.
- Bulb: A gripping drama by Felix Lovell.
- Chook: A horror comedy from Sasha Aubort.
- Clay: A hybrid animation comedy by Joe Bauer and Rita Artmann.
- Return to Work: A deeply personal drama from Emily Avila.
- The Novelty: A beautifully crafted drama by Charlotte Mungomery.
Incubator for Creative Practice
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney confirmed that the Short Film Fund demonstrates the agency’s strategic focus on creating meaningful ‘calling-card’ opportunities for the state’s screen storytellers.
Ms. Feeney noted that the fund serves as an “important incubator for local talent,” allowing the six recipient filmmakers to refine their craft and grow their creative practice. A key requirement of the fund mandated that applicants must have a pathway to audiences through film festivals, markets, and distribution, thereby ensuring a market-relevant credit was obtained.
Applications for the next round of Screen Queensland’s Short Film Fund are scheduled to open in 2026.
Source: statements.qld.gov.au
English