SDIN / Factual series The Assembly wins 2024 SDIN Award – The Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN) and Screen Producers Australia (SPA) have announced factual series The Assembly as the winner of the annual SDIN Award, at the 23rd Annual SPA Awards.
The Assembly follows a group of autistic journalism students as they interview well-known Australian personalities, including actor Sam Neill, sporting legend Adam Goodes and singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem. Under the guidance of acclaimed journalist Leigh Sales the students develop their skills in research and interviewing, resulting in candid and unpredictable conversations that reveal unexpected sides of their guests, present fresh perspectives and diverse voices, and challenge stereotypes about neurodiversity.
The first series in Australia to explore the strengths of neurodivergence in journalism, The Assembly was the catalyst for Macquarie University developing Australia’s first autism-friendly journalism course.
Produced by HELIUM Pictures for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, supported by Aspect, Bus Stop Films and Macquarie University,the acclaimed series was also nominated for Best Factual Entertainment Program at the 2025 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.
Announced tonight at SCREEN FOREVER 39 on the Gold Coast, the SDIN Award recognises an Australian-based project, producer and/or production company and/or screen organisation that has made a significant contribution, through excellence or impact to diversity and inclusion either on or offscreen, within the Australian screen industry.
Also Highly Commended by the SDIN this year was South Australian feature documentary Songs Inside. Written, directed and produced by Shalom Almond and produced by Katrina Lucas and Lauren Drewery, the film follows First Nations singer-songwriter Nancy Bates and the ground-breaking music program she led with inmates at the Adelaide Women’s Prison.
This year’s SDIN Award shortlist also recognised series Four Years Later, produced by Four Years Productions and Easy Tiger, and Moonbird,produced by kutikina Productions and SheOak Films.
The SDIN Award jury said: “The Assembly provided a fantastic opportunity for both autistic journalists and crew. It also empowered those involved to spread education and awareness about the barriers that can face neurodivergent individuals. Most importantly it worked to showcase their skills and talents, and challenge misconceptions that disability is a barrier to success. The judges overall were impressed with the way in which The Assembly presented this.”
The SDIN is a network of broadcasters, screen funding agencies, business associations, guilds and industry-aligned education and training organisations who have committed to work together towards a more inclusive and diverse screen industry. Find out more at sdin.com.au
The Assembly is produced by HELIUM Pictures for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with production funding from Screen NSW and additional funding from Screen Australia.
The Assembly is an inclusive production proudly supported by Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), Bus Stop Films and Macquarie University. HELIUM has developed The Assembly for an Australian audience from a format created by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, originally produced by KIOSCO.TV & QUAD+TEN, and distributed by CAN’T STOP Media.
Media Release – abcgfilm
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SDIN / Factual series The Assembly wins 2024 SDIN Award
