AFTRS First Cut Returns To DocPlay With Five New Australian Documentaries – A new collection of emerging Australian documentaries is now available to stream, with AFTRS and DocPlay unveiling the latest instalment of the First Cut program.
Five new short documentaries – Before the Lights Go Out, Cover Up, First Contact, Heel Turn and Top Dog – premiered on DocPlay on Monday, 22 June, marking the return of the initiative following its successful launch in 2024.
The films explore a broad range of themes including sport, social justice, art, design, politics and LGBTIQA+ stories, while also examining ideas of belonging, transformation, community and finding common ground.
The documentaries were produced by Master of Arts Screen students at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) as part of their curriculum and in response to a real-world industry brief. The First Cut initiative provides emerging filmmakers with an opportunity to develop their craft through an industry-aligned production process while also giving their work a national audience through DocPlay.
The five films introduce the work of documentary graduands Catherine Young, Isabella Poynter-Symonds, Jacob Collings, Karly Marks and Maya Carmen.
Several of the documentaries have already enjoyed success on the festival circuit. First Contact and Top Dog both premiered at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival, with First Contact also screening at the St Kilda Film Festival. Heel Turn made its debut at Queer Screen, while Cover Up will receive its festival premiere at the Revelation Film Festival next month.
Maya Carmen, director of First Contact, said the project offered valuable experience in observational documentary filmmaking.
“I learnt a lot making an observational documentary while working to DocPlay’s brief. It was a deep dive into the world of doco – meeting interesting characters, shaping a story from unfolding events, and collaborating with fellow students. It’s epic that our short docs will now be available to watch online, allowing our films to reach the wider documentary community.”
Richard Welch, AFTRS Discipline Lead, Documentary, said the collaboration with DocPlay continues to provide important opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
“Now in its third year, the collaboration with DocPlay goes from strength to strength, with five new short documentaries being selected for the First Cut strand on DocPlay in 2026. The initiative provides AFTRS postgraduate students with a real-world industry brief, commissioning feedback, and a pathway to audience for their fantastic films to be seen right across Australia.”
Rufus Richardson, Documentary Executive at DocPlay, said the streamer was delighted to continue supporting new Australian talent.
“As Australia’s premier destination for documentary streaming, DocPlay is delighted to collaborate with AFTRS to share this engaging and thought-provoking collection of short documentaries with audiences across the country. Through empathy, curiosity and a strong sense of storytelling, these works explore a wide array of subjects and contemporary issues with depth and understanding.”
The AFTRS First Cut collection is now streaming exclusively on DocPlay.
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AFTRS First Cut Returns To DocPlay With Five New Australian Documentaries
