This year’s edition of the talent development program Untapped kicks off next month and applications are currently ongoing.
Presented by Australians in Film and Screen Australia, the groundbreaking program, which was born in 2020, is geared towards providing pathways for undiscovered and traditionally excluded Australian storytellers to showcase their abilities.
© (From left) Aïda Mashaka Croal, Amy Wang, Andrew Ahn, Cherien Dabis, Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo
Since its establishment at the height of the pandemic, Untapped has steadily built a good relationship with the community of filmmakers yet to be recognized in their artistic career.
This year’s edition of the initiative commences on March 8 with a series of exclusive online masterclasses mentored by noted film and television creatives. They include Aïda Mashaka Croal (Marvel’s Jessica Jones), writer/director Amy Wang (Crazy Rich Asians 2), writer/director Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Emmy-nominated writer/director Cherien Dabis (Only Murders in the Building), and Peabody Award-winning tandem Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo (Sort Of).
Through the series of masterclasses, eligible applicants are afforded the chance to talk to groundbreaking filmmakers to give them a better understanding of the artistic processes and strategies to achieve creative success.
To be considered for the program, applicants must submit an online application which should include a logline, project synopsis, applicant biography, statement of interest and prior directing work sample, if applicable. Submissions can be at treatment or script stage.
The masterclasses will run until May 2023. For every masterclass, participants must complete a survey, which is assessed along with the submitted application and corresponding projects. Five to six participants are then selected to take part in a four-month Development Lab from July to November 2023.
Organizers of the Untapped program are satisfied and encouraged by the direction the program has taken and how talents it has produced continue to soar and are now affiliated with leading studios.
“Untapped has advanced the careers of incredibly talented storytellers and we’re thrilled to bring it back for its third year together with AiF. We’re proud to support Australian creators in gaining world-class mentorship and development, and the chance to build meaningful connections in the US market through this program,” said Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason.
He added, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for creators to reach international audiences and take Australian stories to the world. I look forward to seeing the next crop of new voices and bold stories.”
To make the program fresh and evolving, some modifications are to be in effect this year.
“This year, rather than announcing our mentoring companies in the Development Lab when we open for submissions, we will specifically match our participants with the most suitable and effective creatives or executives working in Hollywood — once they have been accepted into the Lab and we have assessed their individual creative and professional goals,” Peter Ritchie, Executive Director of Australians in Film, said.
Untapped is supported by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, South Australian Film Corporation and Scripted Ink. Industry Partners, meanwhile, include Australian Directors Guild, Australian Writers Guild, Screen Canberra, Screen Producers Australia, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest and Screenworks.
Applications for Untapped are open until March 3. For more details check out australiansinfilm.org/untapped/.
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