AUTHENTIC ZK: Real Stories from the Torres Strait Islands

AUTHENTIC ZK IS THE LATEST MICRO SHORT INITIATIVE TO BE DELIVERED BY SCREEN QUEENSLAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCREENWORKS, TSIMA AND THE ABC.*

*As part of our commitment to cultural respect and inclusion, we have included a translation in Torres Strait Creole.

Parap ZK e dis nau mek-e this idea por mak-e sort pi-lam por Screen Queensland gor run-em long-sa-id Screenwork, TSIMA an-e da ABC.*

Applications are now OPEN. Submission deadline is 9.00AM AEST Monday 22 September

Screen Queensland, in partnership with Screenworks, the ABC and Torres Strait Islander Media Association (TSIMA), has opened applications for Authentic ZK, a talent development initiative to elevate the skills of emerging filmmakers from the Torres Strait.

Screen Queensland, long-sa-id Screenworks, da ABC and Torres Strait Islanders Media Association (TSIMA), e op-en this wok en-e ask-e pi-pol por put-e idea blo them-pla por Authentic ZK, da idea por lukraun pi-pol por lun-e them-pla por mek-e pi-lam prom da Torres Strait.

If you are a Torres Strait Islander and have a story that celebrates your people and culture, here’s an opportunity to tell it on screen. We are looking for factual stories that can be told via interviews and visual exposé. We are looking for filmmaking teams who have some experience. The team could include a camera person, a writer, a director and a producer, you will be asked to provide credits and examples of work from your team. To apply, you will need to submit a story plan that includes a description of the story you want to tell (within 3–5 minutes) and why people would want to watch your story.

Ip yu prom Torres Strait an-e gad pra-pa story por spek an-e wan-de mek-em k-am pi-lam, dis wan i cance blo yu ya nau. Mepla e luk por tru stories wer i gad tok and pik-sa. Me-pla luk-raun por pi-pol who-da sab-e sam-ting bout mek-e pi-lam. Da team blo yu i kin gad, wan kam-ra man, wan raita, wan director and wan producer. You gor bi ask por gibe prais and sam-pel blo wok blo youpla. Por apply, yu gor nid tu put-e wan stori idea dat i tok bout da stori yu wande tok about (yu oni gad 3 to 5 minit) an-e why pi-pel e gor wande luk stori blo yu.

The selected filmmaking teams will be supported to produce stylistically compelling projects that celebrate Torres Strait Islander stories, people and culture by profiling a significant local personality. Applicants are asked to submit a short film idea that will uncover unique and untold stories from the people of the Torres Strait as well as showcase the region.

Da pi-pel we gor pik e gor gad sa-pot por mek-e wan mina deadly wok dat i prais-e Ilan stori, pi-pol an-e wey, an-e lip-te someone prom ples. Pi-pel mus put a sot pi-lam idea blo them-pla por kam-aut-e stori pi-pol nor be les-en bi-por prom da Torres Strait tu so pi-pol dis ples.

Authentic ZK will provide $5,000 to support three teams of filmmakers to produce original 3–5 minute microfilms. Participants will work closely with Supervising Producer Shontell Ketchell and Producer Ben Southwell alongside the program partners across all stages of the projects, from script approval to production and final edit picture lock. The ABC will provide editorial assistance and oversight to meet ABC standards.

Pra-pa ZK i gor gibi $5,000.00 tu sa-pot three g-rup ob pi-lam makers por mek-e you-pla own 3-5 minit s-mol pi-lam. Da pi-pol whoda gor get pik e gor wok klos-tun wer. Supervising Producer Shontel Ketchel and Producer Ben Southwell, longsaid da program partners por all steize blo the wok, prom pi-ilam raiting to mek-e the pi-lam and las minute sek por pinis the pi-lam. ABC gor gibi editorial elpe ane make sur the pilam e mit ABC stan-ded.

Application requirements:

• Authentic ZK is open to local early-career filmmaking teams Torres Strait Islanders from the Torres Strait region and Far North Queensland. Prapa ZK e open por local pi-pol prom Torres Strait and Far North Queensland, whoda e start-e pilam wok blo thempla.
• Selected stories must have a First Nations theme and production team. Dem stori mus gad First Nations theme an-e pi-pel.
• Applicants must be available to work with the program partners to develop, produce and deliver their microfilms between September 2025 and April 2026. Pi-pel mus bi free to wok longsid the program partners to develop, makem and so-e da smol pilam blo thempla meilen lo Septemba 2025 and April 2026.

Applicants must read through the Guidelines and Terms & Conditions before completing the online application materials to submit proposals. Pipel mus rid thru the Guidelines and Term & Conditions bi-po pi-nis the online application por thempla por luk stori blo yu.


Registrations for AUTHENTIC ZK will close at 9.00AM AEST Monday 22 September.

This initiative is part of Screen Queensland’s North Queensland Regional Program. This idea e pat blo Screen Queensland’s North Queensland Regional Program.

Authentic ZK is an early-career development initiative. Applicants, including all members of the filmmaking team, will be required to meet ALL of the following criteria: Prapa ZK e wan eli-career wok idea. Ol pi-pol, an-e ol dem wan in the pilam team, e mus mit-e ol da ting wer da lis ya anda-nit:

• Be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, aged 18 or over. Be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and i 18 or oba.
• Demonstrate that you have been living in the Torres Strait for a minimum period of 6 months prior to submitting your application. Yu mus so yu be st-ap Torres Strait for 6 months bi-por yu can put-e your application in.
• Complete all sections of the online application form and submit the application prior to the application deadline of 9.00AM AEST Monday 22 September. Pinis ol ge-da p-at blo da online application form an-e sen-da the application bi-por the ta-im i ran out.
• Be available to produce your film to these broad and key deadlines (subject to change): Yu mus put-e ta-im wan side por mak-e pilam blo yu.
  • October – December 2025: Script development, pre-production and production. Octoba tu Decemba 2025: mak-e the story, plan por mek-e the pilam and mak-e da pilam
  • January 2026: Post-production. January 2026: meke tings redi for the prapa pilam.
  • February – April 2026: Post-production and delivery. February tu April 2026: meke tings redi por so-e the pilam
    
• We are committed to ensuring diverse representation across all aspects of the production and development process, including differences in gender; age; Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity; cultural and linguistic diversity; disability; sexuality (LGBTQI+), and socio-economic status. Mepla i prapa stan up por ol kind pepol por be in da pilam wero l pat blo da pilam wok, dis wan include ol kine man an-e oman, age, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pepol, pepol prom nada culture and langgus; disability pepol, sexuality (LGBTQ) an-e pepol wer social.
• The project that is the subject of the application must: Da ting dat the pilam e bout must:
  • Focus on factual content, stories, and/or characters from the Torres Strait region Da pilam mus bi on prapa
  • Be under 5 mins in length Bi unda 5 min-it ol-tu-geda
  • Be aware of/comply with the ABC Act Mus ting bout an-e pol-i da ABC Act.
  • Not be advertorial or intended primarily as advertising or marketing material. Nor yuz-e da ting yu tok bout por advertising or por sel-em.

• Please complete the online application form (INSERT LINK). The deadline for submissions is 00AM AEST Monday 22 September. Late submissions will not be assessed. Please pinis da online pom. Da taim por ham-dem-in e 9.00AM AEST Monday 22 Septemba. Ip yu put-e pom blo yu late, we nor gor luk-em.
• Supporting documentation within the application form includes: Supot pe-pa wer the application pom mus gad:
  • A story plan that details the episode outline, the subject, script, characters and creative treatment (5 pages max). Download story plan example. Download the story plan template here. A Stori p-lan dat eksplein wan-em wan-em ebri part blo the pik-sa i bout, the ting yu tok about, da ri-ting, pipol inside the pik-sa an-e wis k-ine deadly wey yu gor mak-em. Downlad stori plan sampel. Download da stori plan por elp-e yu rit-em ya.
  • Up to a 2-minute pitch video consisting of: Aptu 2 minute video tok dat e gad dem ting ya:
    • characters and brief story summary pi-pol and kwik stori tok
    • themes and tone of the project Wande the pi-lam e bout and pil-ing blo idea blo yu
    • confirmation of your access to the factual content and characters Pas por yu ged-e da pra-pa tru ting and pi-pol.
    • your team and their past experience creating content Grup blo yu an-e ip ol e sabe mek-e dis kine ting
    • what is unique and innovative about your project. Au idea blo yu e di-frent and nu
  • Current CV for applicant and all crew – including any links to previous works (if any). Por yu and ol teim blo yu – an-e links por any wok ol be mak-em be-por (ip e gad).
  • An outline budget to indicate how your $5,000 will be spent. Download the budget template here. A idea wiskain yu gor spend-e the $5000.00. E gad wan template yu kin yuz-em ya.

Please check the full Guidelines and Terms & Conditions before submitting your application. Kasa se-ke da pul Guidelines en Terms & Conditions bepor put-e application blo yu in.

Screenworks is strongly committed to ensuring equal access to this project. If you require assistance with your application, please contact Screenworks Project Coordinator, Rachel Smith [email protected] 0431 670 783. Screenworks e strongly committed por ebri wan tu gad se-im kein wei por da wok. Ip yu wan-de epl wer application blo yu, ring up Screenworks Project Coodinator, Rachael Smith or email em wer: [email protected].

Screenworks will manage the online application process and check initial applications for eligibility. All applications will be assessed by a panel including representatives from Screen Queensland, Screenworks, Torres Strait Islander Media Association (TSIMA) and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) against the following criteria: Screenworks e gor lu-gaut da online application part an-e sek-e da pas application ip ol e mit wan-e Screenworks e luk por. Ol application e gor be sek bi a smol grup longsaid pi-pol prom Screen Queensland. Screenworks, Torres Strait islander Media Association (TSIMA) an-e da Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) e gad da pollowing lis por pol-em:

• The strength and distinctiveness of the subject and their story. Da strong an different prom nada ting
• The quality of materials submitted. Da ting e giv-em e pra-pa gud
• The skills, achievements, experience and track record of the applicant(s) and the quality of their previous work if available. Da sab-e, prize prom ol nada wok, sabe wis kein por mek-em, an-e gad gud n-em an-e au gud the pas wok, ip e gad.
• The potential of the project to contribute to a robust screen industry in North Queensland. Da cance por dis ting por gib-e something tu a big screen wok in North Queensland.

RESOURCES

• Application Form
• Story Plan Template
• Budget Template
• Guidelines
• Terms & Conditions

If you have any questions about this initiative or your application, please contact [email protected] or call 0431 670 783.

Applications close at 9.00AM AEST Monday 22 September

Registration por Authentic e gor kloze 9.00AM AEST Monday 22 Septemba

• Each successful filmmaking team will be allocated a budget of $5,000 excluding GST to produce their short film up to a maximum length of 5 minutes. Whoda thempla gor bi pik e gor gib-e them-pla $5,000 wit-aut GST por mek-e da 5 minute sot pik-sa.
• All projects must be produced and post-produced entirely in Queensland and have a maximum Australian Classification of MA 15+. Ol wok mus har-pen an-e mek-em ya in-said Queensland an-e m-us g-ad Australian Classification ob MA 15+
• Funding will be provided as a grant. If you are successful Screenworks will enter into a written agreement specifying the terms of the funding and what you will need to deliver in order to receive payments. Money e gor bi gib-em as a grant. Ip yu e get pik Screenworks e gor mek-e a riten kontraik wer e eksplein wiskain por us-e the money an-e wan-em yu gor need gib-e them-pla por ged-e the money.
• All projects selected for production will be subject to editorial guidelines and feedback provided by Screenworks, Screen Queensland, TSIMA and the ABC. Any feedback will be consolidated and communicated to each filmmaker through Screenworks. Ol wok dem pik por mek-em e gor bi unda da editorial guidelines an-e Screenwork, Screen Queensland, TSIMA and da ABC, gor let-e you-pla sabe wan-e ol e t-ink. Wan-e ol gor spek e gor bi put-im tu-ge-da an-e let-e ebri pik-sa maker thru Screenworks.
• All filmmaking making teams will be required to grant Screenworks, Screen Queensland, TSIMA and the ABC a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to publish and broadcast the short film across any media for perpetuity this will include ABC TV, Radio, Digital and social media platforms. Da grup who-da gor ged-e the wok mus gib-e Screenworks, Screen Queensland, TSIMA an da ABC permission, wolwide, royalty-free licence por sey-a the wok an-e so-e the sot pil-lam krose an-e media por as long as ol e wan-dem, dis gor include ABC TV, Radio, Digital and social media platforms.

• The ABC reserves the right to the first broadcast window of the films. If successful filmmakers choose to submit their Authentic ZK films into domestic or international film festivals, any entry fees will be their responsibility. ABC e gor av da rite for so-em pas. Ip the pi-lam maker e wan-de so-e pi-lam blo them-pla yaw er ples or obasee pi-lam festivals ol e av tu pay them-pla selp.
• The successful filmmaking teams will be required to credit Screenworks, Screen Queensland, TSIMA and the ABC in their project. The teim who-da bi win the wok e mus acknowledge Screenworks, Screen Queensland, TSIMA an-e da ABC in wok blo them-pla.
• Each key deliverable stage, e.g. shooting script, edits and fine cut, will require the approval of the project partners before progressing to the next stage. Ebri ki pat, e.g. riting blo da pik-sa wok, meke-em good an-e the pinis wok, e gor need pas blo da wok met be-por e gor por the nex steize.
• The project partners intend to promote this project through multiple channels including promotion via press releases and on social media channels. Each selected participant will be expected to support and co-operate with this to ensure that it is able to achieve the project promotion objectives set out above. The wok met e gor sapot the wok thru plenti wey an-e tok bout da wok thru nyuz an-e sosel media. Ebri wan e mus sapot and wok tigeda so da wok e gor so-e pi-pol da pi-lam idea mit-e da idea ol bi gad.

We also ask that applicants consider inclusiveness, accessibility and diversity when forming their filmmaking teams for any Screenworks initiative. Me-pla e also ask pi-pol por tinkbout eberi wan, mek saw pi-pol kan kum an-e olkain pi-pol wen put-e da pi-lam teim ti-geda for this wok.