About

Screenworks is a non-profit registered charity based in Northern NSW that supports and services the screen industry across regional Australia by providing industry and professional development, networking initiatives, opportunities and services for screen content creators and workers.

Each year we deliver over 30 events attended by approximately 1,500 people. We also assist local and non-local productions through location and crew referral services and stimulate screen culture by promoting screenings and discussion of local and Australian films for the broader community.

Since being established over 20 years ago, Screenworks has demonstrated a strong track record of creating and managing well-presented, innovative and relevant development programs for professional and emerging screen content creators in the Northern Rivers and beyond.

More recently, Screenworks has strategically repositioned itself as an innovative, forward-thinking, borderless screen industry service provider delivering a greater diversity of programs, events and services that meet the changing needs of not just the Northern Rivers, but regional screen practitioners nationally.

Screenworks supports and provides leadership for the development of an innovative, vibrant and sustainable regional screen industry (film, television, online, games and apps), with a particular focus on the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

We do this by providing professional development and networking opportunities and services for screen content creators and workers, which are delivered in the Northern Rivers and beyond.

We promote regional-based screen projects, events and people and our unique regional cluster to the NSW, national and international industry via our communications and marketing strategies.

We also assist local and non-local productions in the Northern Rivers region through location and crew referral services and stimulate screen culture by promoting screenings and discussion of local and Australian films for the broader community.

By 30 June 2022, Screenworks will be a dynamic and indispensable hub for regional screen industries in Australia.

Screenworks will be an important bridge between regional screen industries and the state, national and international networks, agencies and markets.

During the three years, we will have shaped the future of the regional screen industry and provided value to members through delivering quality programs, creating opportunities and connections that would otherwise not be available.

We will have supported an increasing number of screen production projects in regional Australia each year, providing increased employment and screen-related economic benefit in regional Australia.

At the same time, the Northern Rivers screen industry will be recognised nationally as the leading regional hub and viable alternative to the major cities due to its cluster of skilled screen practitioners and as a ‘brand’ that says passion, innovation, creativity and quality.

Professional and industry development

Each year, we deliver a diverse and relevant range of professional development workshops, seminars and events covering the business and creative sides of all aspects of the Australian screen industry. Demand for and attendance at our professional development programs/events continues to grow annually and remains high, which has been demonstrated by solid attendance at recent Screenworks’ events and the quality of presenters agreeing to speak at our events.

Industry connections and opportunities

Our industry development activities deliver opportunities, connections and benefits for the regional screen industry. Our rigorous market-driven approach to concept/project development supports both established professional and emerging practitioners as they develop projects and we match-make them with market partners. Our program includes pitching opportunities, incubators and mentoring opportunities with visiting and local industry professionals and market representatives.

Crew referrals and location support

We work closely with Create NSW’s Production Attraction Unit and others to work towards increasing screen-related jobs and opportunities in the Northern Rivers. We assist both local and non-local productions in the Northern Rivers region by providing location and crew referral services.

Promotion and communications

Screenworks promotes local screen productions, projects, events and people to national and international networks via our communications and marketing strategies (refer to our one-year operational plan for marketing and engagement plan). We provide regular industry updates, local news and access to national and state industry policy, funding rounds and opportunities via events, e-newsletters and website updates.

Advocacy

Screenworks provides a voice at regional, state, national and international levels on behalf of screen practitioners in regional, rural and remote Australia. We act as a bridge between the regional screen industry and screen agencies’ markets and networks at all levels, and we help shape the future of the industry by keeping regional practitioners informed of trends and opportunities.

Screenworks are strongly committed to increasing diversity across all sectors of the screen industry.

We encourage all talented filmmakers to apply to our programs regardless of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability status.

We also ask that applicants consider inclusiveness, accessibility and diversity when forming their filmmaking teams for any Screenworks initiative.