Netflix has launched The Next Brilliant Career, a nationwide search designed to help emerging Australian women and non-binary screenwriters develop original stories for film or television.
As a result, the initiative brings Netflix ANZ together with the Australian Writers’ Guild and all eight state and territory screen agencies. Applications are open now and close at 11.59pm on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
For emerging writers, the most valuable part is direct access to development feedback rather than a promise of production. One finalist from every state and territory will pitch at Netflix ANZ’s Sydney headquarters. They will also receive feedback from Netflix on developing their story for the screen.
How The Next Brilliant Career works
Applicants must submit an original scripted concept that is recognisably and authentically Australian. The concept may be designed for either a series or a feature film.
After each state and territory agency checks eligibility, an independent Australian Writers’ Guild panel will assess the applications. Eight finalists will then progress, with one representing each Australian jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, those finalists must be available to attend a live pitch day in Sydney on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.
The judges will consider the strength and distinctiveness of each writer’s voice. They will also assess the clarity of the central premise and whether the story can sustain its intended format.
In addition, judges will consider genre control, marketplace awareness and a clear Australian identity.
Who is eligible to apply?
In practice, the programme targets emerging writers rather than first-time writers with no screen credits or established professionals with extensive credits.
- Applicants must identify as a woman or non-binary.
- They must be Australian residents aged 18 or over.
- They cannot be studying full-time.
- They must be available for the Sydney pitch day on 6 October.
- They must hold between one and three eligible professional writing credits.
An eligible credit must be on a commercially released short film, feature film or television production longer than 10 minutes. The work must also have screened at a recognised festival or received support from a state or federal screen agency.
What writers need to submit
In addition, applications require more than a single logline. Writers must provide enough material for the judging panel to understand both the project and the voice behind it.
- A brief professional biography
- A working title and logline
- The project’s genre and intended audience
- An explanation of its cultural relevance
- The writer’s personal connection to the story
- A one-page synopsis
- A five-page writing sample
Importantly, writers retain full ownership of their original work throughout the programme. Entering does not transfer story rights to Netflix, the Australian Writers’ Guild or a screen agency.
Selection also does not guarantee development, funding or further support after the programme. Instead, the initiative offers finalists a rare development and pitching opportunity with direct industry feedback.
Where to apply in each state and territory
For that reason, writers must apply through the portal for the state or territory in which they live.
- Australian Capital Territory: Screen Canberra
- New South Wales: Screen NSW
- Northern Territory: Screen Territory
- Queensland: Screen Queensland
- South Australia: South Australian Film Corporation
- Tasmania: Screen Tasmania
- Victoria: VicScreen
- Western Australia: Screenwest
Applicants can read the full FAQs on the public Netflix About page.
Inspired by My Brilliant Career
The programme takes its name from Miles Franklin’s celebrated novel and arrives ahead of Netflix’s new Australian adaptation. The six-part drama begins streaming globally on 13 August 2026.
Production took place in South Australia, while the story unfolds in 1900. The series follows Sybylla, a young woman determined to become a writer. Her ambitions are tested when adventure, romance and the expectations of a safer life begin to collide.
Netflix ANZ Content Director Amanda Duthie said the initiative was built around the same conviction that drove Franklin: the right to tell a story on the writer’s own terms.
Australian Writers’ Guild Executive Director Claire Pullen said the partnership would foster diverse talent and create meaningful opportunities for emerging Australian voices.
Watch the My Brilliant Career trailer
TV Central has more on the adaptation, including its cast and release details, in our My Brilliant Career trailer story.
For more Netflix stories, visit TV Central’s Netflix section. Viewers can also visit the public Netflix Australia website.
