AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes in partnership with Screenworks returns for its fifth year, giving aspiring Australian creatives the chance to develop a feature film that celebrates the idiosyncratically Australian stories inspired by our stunning regional areas – where the regional setting lends itself as a central character to the narrative.

Applicants are asked to submit an original film concept that features regional Australia as a central character and setting to the narrative. Selected finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of industry judges, with the recipient to receive development funding and support to refine their script and take their concept to market. Teams can consist of up to three creatives, with at least one based in regional Australia.

This year, finalists were pitching for the chance to receive:

  • Support to develop their screenplay and industry pitch
  • $5,000 in prize money, consisting of a $1,000 cash prize and $4,000 towards development
  • Supported live script read at the AACTA Festival in February 2025
  • Industry connection opportunities through the Australian Writers’ Guild Pathways program
  • Professional script development sessions
  • Invaluable feedback and ongoing guidance from the esteemed judging panel
  • AACTA, Screenworks and Australian Writers’ Guild annual memberships
  • Two tickets to Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Forum.
  • Exclusive one-on-one meetings with up to 2 industry professionals at Screenworks Regional to Global
  • Two tickets to the 2025 AACTA Awards Ceremony including discounted accommodation package

 

$40 – AACTA, AWG, or Screenworks members

$60 – non AACTA, AWG, or Screenworks members

 

March 7 – Call for Applications (Round 1)

Entrants are asked to submit a title, logline (1 – 2 sentence description of the film), up to 250 word description of the regional area where the film is set, up to 500 word treatment/synopsis/outline, first 10 pages of the screenplay; and résumé/CVs of each of the creative team.

April 22 – Applications Close

Applications are due by 9am AEST, Monday April 22, 2024.

May 6 – Top 5 finalists advised and start Round 2, where finalists must deliver the first 30 pages of the screenplay (or the complete draft) along with a 5 page pitch deck.

June 21 – Round 2 Materials Are Due

w/c July 8 – One-On-One Meetings and Training with Judges

July 17 – Final Pitch Meeting With All Judges

July 31 – Recipient Announced at Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Forum

 

For guidelines and to enter