Key dates:
Longlist submission – Friday 20 November
Shortlist interviews – early December
Writers’ rooms – mid-February 2027 and mid-March 2027
Various development activities – until July 2027 (with possibility of extension)
Applications close: Thursday 29 October, 5pm AEST
Six Queensland-based screenwriters will have the opportunity to each develop a polished script for a 3D animated feature through the Escalate: Feature Focus Writers Initiative.
Working with Queensland-based production house Like A Photon Creative (LAPC), each selected participant will develop a provided concept through the scripting process, from writers’ rooms to treatments, to delivering a complete, polished first draft of a commercially viable animation script.
Participants will gain valuable guidance from development and script producers, and international script mentors through the process, with the potential to further develop the script in preparation for production and gain a feature screenwriting credit beyond the initiative.
Please note that the selected participants will receive remuneration for their work completed as part of this initiative in accordance with standard industry minimums.
GUIDELINES
WHO CAN APPLY?
To be eligible, applicants must:
- not be a full-time student
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- be a Queensland resident for at least 6 months prior to the date of applying
- be aged 18 or over.
Applicants must also have at least one of the below:
- written a short film that has played at a recognised prestige festival
- worked as narrative lead on a widely received digital game
- written a web series of demonstrably high quality and audience reach
- been credited on a commissioned television series or fully funded feature film
- a long-form project (television series or feature film) currently under option/attachment with an established professional producer
- significant experience in other industry roles (e.g. directors, producers or development executives wishing to expand into writing).
WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?
Applicants will need to supply:
- an existing draft script equivalent to 30 minutes or more in screen time
- a short personal statement outlining their industry experience to date, their future ambitions and why they want to participate in this initiative.
HOW DO I APPLY?
The application process will be delivered in three parts.
Part One
Initial applications will be submitted via SmartyGrants here.
Part Two
A longlist of applicants will then be asked to provide a one-page outline for a feature film, based on a premise provided by Like A Photon Creative. All outlines will be due by Friday 20 November.
Please note, all longlisted applicants will receive the same premise, which is the sole property of Like A Photon Creative and must not be used or adapted by any applicant for any purpose other than writing the outline. All outlines will be the sole property of Like A Photon Creative but will not be used for any purpose other than evaluating the application without the prior approval of the relevant writer.
Part Three
A short list of the applicants, decided based on the provided outlines, will be invited to interview with representatives of Like A Photon Creative and Screen Queensland.
The final six participants will be notified of their successful application by mid-December.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM SUCCESSFUL?
The six participants will develop and deliver a polished first draft of a 3D animation feature script from a story concept provided by Like A Photon Creative. As part of the process, they will participate in two writers’ rooms, complete a short and long treatment and receive mentoring to complete a first draft.
Some participants may be selected after the initiative by Like A Photon Creative to continue work on the feature film script in preparation for production. If the script goes into production, applicants will receive a feature film credit, commensurate with any of their written work that carries through to the finished film, in line with AWG guidelines.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By submitting your application, you agree to the Terms and Conditions outlined and to Screen Queensland’s Privacy Policy.
Applicants must notify Screen Queensland in writing if they have an actual, perceived, or potential conflict of interest in applying for the Initiative and, if so, the manner in which they propose to deal with the conflict.
The Applicant retains all intellectual property rights in its submission. The Applicant grants an irrevocable, non-exclusive royalty and fee free license to Screen Queensland to use, adapt, and modify its intellectual property rights in its submission for the purposes of Screen Queensland analysing and evaluating the applicant’s submission.
Screen Queensland’s liability in relation to the application process is limited to $1.
Screen Queensland reserves the right to change any element of the initiative, these guidelines or the application process at any time and in its absolute discretion.
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