Image: (L to R) Lena Cruz, Rae Choi, Triona Calimbayan-Giles and Rachel Maxine Anderson at CANNESERIES 2026. Photo by Olivier Vigerie
Queensland online series INA made waves at CANNESERIES 2026, screening in the official Short Form Competition at the iconic Palais des Festivals in Cannes.
Supported through Screen Queensland’s Market and Travel Grant, creators Rae Choi and Rachel Maxine Anderson used the opportunity to elevate the international profile of their series, build industry relationships and participate in high-level craft and marketplace development.
Premiering to a packed auditorium at the Palais des Festivals, INA competed alongside five international short-form series, with the Queensland team describing the audience response as overwhelmingly positive. Despite being the shortest series in the program, the creators felt INA punched above its weight, resonating strongly with audiences and jury members alike.
“We certainly didn’t go expecting to win, but the positive response from the audience and fellow filmmakers was so strong that we could feel the possibility and hope quietly building.“
Alongside the official program, the team participated in a wide range of industry talks, screenings and marketplace sessions featuring leading international creatives including Richard Gadd, Lesli Linka Glatter, Noah Hawley and Adam Scott. Rachel Maxine Anderson also participated in the festival’s invite-only Writers Club, which included sessions with industry leaders such as David Levine and Anna Winger. Discussions across the program explored authored storytelling, engine-driven television and the importance of the writer-producer model internationally.
The team returned home feeling encouraged, reflecting on the ways Australian storytellers approach craft and development.
“The experience validated for us that our standards, ambition and creative thinking genuinely stand tall in an international context,” the team reflected following the festival.”
The festival also provided valuable insights into the realities of international publicity and market positioning. Attending alongside publicist Courtney Boyce from Premier, the team initially expected official competition titles to receive facilitated press opportunities through the festival. However, once on the ground, it became clear much of the accredited media contingent and publicity focus remained centred on French-language productions and series attached to major international talent.
Rather than viewing the experience negatively, the creators described it as an important learning opportunity in understanding how international festivals operate with a regional focus. In response, the team pivoted quickly, creating their own press pack interviews and continuing to build audience engagement directly through the series’ social media presence and online rollout.
Beyond the festival screenings and publicity opportunities, a key focus of attending CANNESERIES was building long-term international relationships for future projects.
Throughout the festival, the team met with producers, commissioners and distributors including STUDIOCANAL and See-Saw Films, gaining further insight into how Queensland projects can be positioned internationally and identifying potential pathways for future collaboration.
Beyond the festival itself, the team has already seen strong international audience engagement following the launch of the INA trailer and online campaign.
Since releasing the trailer ahead of the festival, the series’ YouTube channel has recorded more than 17,000 views, with 84 per cent of traffic driven through YouTube recommendations. Audience analytics also revealed strong international reach, with the United States emerging as the largest audience segment, followed by the Philippines, Australia and Canada.
Reflecting on the overall experience, the creators described the opportunity as a significant creative and professional milestone, providing valuable international exposure while strengthening their ambition to continue making Queensland stories that travel globally.
“CANNESERIES was a significant milestone for Ina, and for us as creatives. We’re incredibly grateful for Screen Queensland’s support in helping make this possible.“
INA is proudly supported through Screen Queensland’s Online Production Grants and releases on YouTube on Friday 12 June.
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Image: INA key art, courtesy of Limina Pictures
