The highly coveted screenwriter accelerator program Impact Australia returns to Melbourne for its third year with principal funding from Screen Australia and VicScreen.
The Australian edition of the intensive eight-week program will be delivered by international entertainment start-up Impact and Melbourne-based production company Gentle Giant Media Group. The program is supported by Learning Partner the University of Melbourne and state and territory screen agencies across Australia and will be held at the University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts’ Southbank campus.
Impact Australia is designed to discover, cultivate and empower diverse Australian screenwriters, with the goal of accelerating projects to be pitch-ready for global buyers and producers.
During the program, participants will be mentored by industry-leading screenwriters from around the globe. The mentors will work with the creators to hone their projects and prepare them for Pitch Day, where they will be given the opportunity to pitch their project to the global market.
The first two years of the program has resulted in tremendous success. The majority of the 19 projects developed in the 2020 and 2021 programs have attached producers, and almost all of the 23 alumni writers have signed with representation or have gone on to have success after their participation in the program.
Impact CEO, Tyler Mitchell said, “Australians continue to prove that they punch above their weight creatively. 70% of the projects developed in Impact Australia’s 8-week accelerator programs have gained producer attachments or received additional funding, 60% of our writers have been hired or sold a new project after completing the program, and one alum had his first TV series debut on AMC+ earlier this year.
We’re thrilled that Impact Australia will be going into its third year and are excited to continue working with our incredible partners to create more pathways that promote and empower talented Australians pursuing careers in the screen industry.”
Gentle Giant Chairman and CEO Greg Basser said, “Impact Australia, in just its first two seasons, has shown the international screen industry the great depth of creative talent we have always known was embedded in the Australian industry. I have watched our alumni punch those holes in the sky and can’t wait to see what our third season of great Australian creativity will bring!”
Impact Australia supports successful participants with all they need to succeed, including a stipend to allow them to relocate to Melbourne and focus on their projects during the eight-week intensive program.
Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said, “Impact provides a unique opportunity for local creatives to develop distinctive original stories, connect with global decision makers and find pathways to showcase them on a world stage. We’re proud to continue supporting this program and help generate opportunities for local screenwriters.”
Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said, “Victoria’s screen industry is dynamic, diverse and growing all the time – the $191.5 million VICSCREEN strategy provides the best career development and job opportunities in the nation. Impact Australia creates a unique opportunity for our screenwriters to break through and take local stories to global audiences.”
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “The Impact Australia program is proven to foster the next generation of screenwriters and progress their careers on the global stage. We are proud to support the innovative program return to Melbourne for the third year running, and again, highlight our exceptional homegrown talent.”
Impact Australia is supported by Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Canberra and Screen Territory.
