2026 UNTAPPED Application

How to Participate

Development Lab Application: Apply for the Development Lab and attend all four Masterclasses as part of the process. ($25 USD Total)

The Program

The program runs online from July to December 2026, providing practical creative pathways and fostering exciting collaborations for a new generation of Australian filmmakers.

Phase One: Masterclass Series

The program begins with a series of open-access online Masterclasses available to all eligible applicants. This year’s theme is Creative Collaboration.

In each session, attendees will hear from a different Australian writer, director, or actor who has achieved breakthrough success with their original work. These visionary creators and their collaborators will offer in-depth discussions on the creative partnerships and relationships that help bring groundbreaking screen stories to life.

Please note: this year, Masterclasses will take place weekly (not monthly as in previous years). See the timeline below for dates.

Eligibility for the Development Lab is contingent upon attendance of all four Masterclasses.

Phase Two: Development Lab

Following the Masterclasses, five to six writers, writer/directors, or writer/director teams will be selected for the UNTAPPED Development Lab, a virtual two-month intensive mentorship program running from September to December 2026.

Unlike previous years, the 2026 Development Lab is creator-focused rather than project-specific. Rather than developing a single project, participants will work to identify their strongest creative ideas, develop their voice and vision, and build the skills and strategy needed to take their careers to the next level.

Each participant or team will receive a stipend of AUD $2,000.

Over the course of the Lab, participants will:

• Work with AiF, industry consultants, and peers in group sessions to review their project ideas and receive feedback
• Be paired with a mentor, meeting one-on-one three times over the course of the program via Zoom
• Be partnered with an UNTAPPED alum to receive peer support and insight from someone who has been through the program
• Participate in virtual roundtable sessions with a range of industry professionals, covering topics including pitching, story development, and navigating the film and television industry
• Work with a pitching coach to develop and refine their presentation skills in preparation for a final Industry Showcase, where they will introduce themselves and share one of their project ideas to an online audience of industry professionals

UNTAPPED 2026 Timeline

• June 22, 2026 - 4:00pm PDT | June 23, 2026 - 9:00am AEST: Applications and registrations open
• July 13, 2026 - 5:00pm PDT | July 14, 2026 - 10:00am AEST: Application deadline
• July 21, 2026 - 5:00pm PDT | July 22, 2026 - 10:00am AEST: Masterclass 1
• July 28, 2026 - 5:00pm PDT | July 29, 2026 - 10:00am AEST: Masterclass 2
• August 4, 2026 - 5:00pm PDT | August 5, 2026 - 10:00am AEST: Masterclass 3
• August 11, 2026 - 5:00pm PDT | August 12, 2026 - 10:00am AEST: Masterclass 4
• September 2026 - All applicants notified of their status
• September 2026 - Selected Development Lab participants announced
• Late September - December 2026 - UNTAPPED Development Lab

Application Requirements

For consideration in the UNTAPPED Development Lab, applicants must submit an online application including a logline and short paragraph (up to 150 words) for up to five project ideas (features or series), a statement of interest including personal career goals and what they hope to gain from the program, an applicant biography, and a prior work sample. The program is for scripted feature and series projects only, not documentary.

There is a one-time application fee of $25 USD to cover some of the expenses incurred from eligibility checks and assessment of applications, and attendance of the four Masterclasses.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and would like to request a fee waiver, please send an email with an explanation of your hardship to untapped@australiansinfilm.org.

Program Eligibility

UNTAPPED is a program for emerging Australian writers and/or directors who have not yet received significant recognition and opportunity in their artistic career.

Priority will be given to applicants who have not received prior funding from Screen Australia or state agencies.

Applicants must be a writer and/or director. They may apply as an individual or with a co-applicant who is also a writer and/or director. Co-applicants must also be a writer and/or director.

Applicants will only be considered if they meet the following eligibility requirements and Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade. If you are submitting as a team, the following must be true for the co-applicant as well:

• You have not previously participated in any of the following Australians in Film or Screen Australia Programs: Gateway LA, Global Producers Exchange, Mentor LA, Talent Gateway, Talent USA: LA
• You are 18 years of age or older
• You are a permanent resident or citizen of Australia
• You are not enrolled full-time or part-time in a film, television or interactive digital media course at a film school or other tertiary educational institution
• You are not an employee of a broadcaster or commissioning platform (e.g. an SVOD service)
• You are not acting in the capacity of a trustee of a trust

Selection Criteria

Candidates are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Uniqueness, creative potential, and range of submitted project ideas
• Specificity of stated goals and creative vision in the statement of interest
• Demonstrated talent in project materials and work sample

For questions about the application or eligibility, please contact untapped@australiansinfilm.org.