Screen Australia backs audience-led filmmaking with new insight-driven initiatives – Screen Australia has announced two new Market & Audience initiatives designed to help Australian theatrical feature films connect more strongly with audiences.
The new initiatives, First Cut Lab and Impact & Insights, form part of Screen Australia’s refreshed program strategy. Both programs will support filmmakers with audience insights as they develop, edit and prepare their films for release.
The initiatives draw on the expertise of global organisations Tatino Films and Publikum. Together, they will give Australian creatives access to tailored feedback, audience intelligence and release strategy support.
New support for theatrical feature films
First Cut Lab will support early to mid-career Australian filmmakers as they work towards the strongest possible cut of their feature film.
Impact & Insights will support established screen practitioners who want to build stronger audience and release strategies. Projects can be either in development or post-production.
To be eligible, projects must be narrative content intended for theatrical release. However, they do not need to have previously received Screen Australia funding.
“Connecting Australian stories to audiences locally and globally has never been more complex, making it critical that filmmakers have access to the right tools, expertise and audience insights,” Screen Australia Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley said.
“Through our First Cut Lab and Impact & Insights partnerships, Australian creatives will have the opportunity to work alongside international leaders and access guidance, research and audience intelligence to shape their projects and strategies.
“Our aim is to empower filmmakers to maximise the potential for Australian stories to resonate at home and around the world.”
First Cut Lab
Delivered in partnership with global film and talent development organisation Tatino Films, First Cut Lab will help local feature films maximise their reach potential.
The initiative will support narrative feature film projects with budgets under $8 million that are entering post-production or already in post-production.
Tatino Films has delivered labs and residencies to more than 300 film talents across more than 50 countries. Its work spans 150 screen projects, including features, series and shorts.
Through First Cut Lab, up to four Australian projects in the editing stage will take part in tailored workshops and mentorship. Each project will work with a bespoke panel of international delegates, including festival curators, directors, editors and producers.
Impact & Insights
Impact & Insights will connect established Australian practitioners with international strategic audience advisor Publikum.
The initiative will support scripted narrative feature films at either late-stage development or post-production. It will help teams develop audience strategies and increase engagement when their films are released.
Publikum uses anthropological research and data analysis to help filmmakers and distributors better understand domestic and international audiences.
Impact & Insights will support up to three late-stage development projects and five post-production projects. Australian teams will take part in individual Publikum-led workshops.
These workshops will help strengthen discoverability and guide creative, marketing and distribution positioning for each feature film.
Audience In/Sight series
Screen Australia is also launching Audience In/Sight, a new series of industry presentations, discussions and thought-leadership pieces.
The series will explore how audiences engage with different forms of screen content. It will also look at how screen creatives can use new production and marketing strategies to improve cut-through.
The first event in the series is Impact & Insights, a webinar co-presented by Publikum. It will explore how audience data can support screen projects and offer practical advice for applicants considering the Impact & Insights initiative.
The webinar will take place on Tuesday, 14 July, from 4.00pm to 4.45pm AEST. An Auslan interpreter will be available, and a recording will be published on the Screen Australia website after the event.
First Cut Lab, Impact & Insights and the Audience In/Sight series form part of Screen Australia’s Market & Audience strategy. They also align with the Engage pillar of the agency’s Corporate Plan.
Screen Australia’s recently launched Narrative Content Market & Audience Programs — Assets, Audience Testing and Channel Management — will also reopen in the coming weeks.
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