AACTA PITCH: REGIONAL LANDSCAPES
AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes, in partnership with Screenworks, is back for 2026! Now in its seventh year, it gives emerging Australian creatives the chance to bring the rich stories of regional Australia to the big screen. This program celebrates the extraordinary narratives that only regional Australia can inspire – where the landscape itself becomes a central character in the story.
We’re calling for original feature film concepts that showcase the heart, spirit and unique landscapes of regional Australia. Finalists will pitch their projects to a panel of industry experts, with the winning team receiving funding, mentorship and professional support to develop their script and take their concept to the next level. Teams can include up to three creatives, with at least one based in regional Australia.
WHAT’S ON OFFER:
- Development support for your screenplay and industry pitch
- $5,000 in prize funding: $1,000 cash plus $4,000 towards development (which could go toward travel support to markets or festivals, location scouting, script editing services or a consultant, sizzle reel or Proof of Concept, production costs etc.)
- Live script read at the AACTA Festival 2027
- Industry connections through the Australian Writers’ Guild Pathways program
- Professional script development sessions with expert guidance
- Feedback and mentorship from a panel of esteemed industry judges
- Annual memberships to AACTA, Screenworks, and the Australian Writers’ Guild
- Two tickets to the Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Forum
- Exclusive one-on-one meetings with up to two industry professionals at Screenworks Regional to Global
- Two tickets to the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony, including a discounted accommodation package
Bring your vision to life, showcase the stories of regional Australia and connect with industry leaders who can help get your story market ready. Submit your concept today!
2026 TIMELINE
Thursday 5th February:
AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes Program at AACTA Festival Launch
Monday 9th February:
Applications open for Round 1, 9:00am AEDT
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.
Monday 4th May:
Applications close, 5:00pm AEST
Monday 25th May:
Top 3 finalists confirmed and Round 2 commences
Finalists must deliver the first 30 pages of the screenplay (or the complete draft) along with a 5 page pitch deck.
w/c Monday 15th June:
First One-on-One Meetings with Judges
w/c Monday 6th July:
Second One-on-One Meetings with Judges
Monday 20th July:
Round 2 materials are due
Wednesday 5th August:
Final Meeting with all Judges to determine the recipient.
Date TBC:
Screenworks 2026 Regional to Global Screen Forum where the recipient is announced and their project and its development is explored.
February 2027:
Table read of recipients script along with a development session with experienced creatives and industry experts.
