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 Grants, creator/writer/director Rachel Maxine Anderson and producer Rae Choi 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. With Canneseries screening only the first two episodes of each series in competition, and despite being the shortest series in the program, the team felt Ina punched above its weight, resonating strongly with audiences and jury members alike.
“We were incredibly moved by how warmly audiences embraced our series. Hearing people laugh, connect with the characters and then immediately ask what happened next was such a special feeling. Sharing Ina with an international audience for the very first time is something we’ll never forget.”
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 festival also offered valuable insight into the realities of international publicity and market positioning. Attending alongside publicist Courtney Boyce from Premier, the team used the experience to better understand how different projects position themselves internationally, and how to build momentum around emerging Australian series on a global stage.
In response, the team leaned further into their own digital campaign strategy, creating original press content, capturing interviews on the ground and continuing to grow audience engagement directly through the series’ social media presence and online rollout.
Beyond the festival screenings and industry program, a key focus of attending Canneseries was building long-term international relationships for future projects.
Throughout the festival, the team connected with producers, commissioners and creatives from across Europe and Canada, including representatives from Studiocanal and See-Saw Films, gaining further insight into how Queensland stories can be positioned internationally and exploring 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 team 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 via YouTube on Friday 12 June.
Image: Production stills from Ina, courtesy of Limina Pictures
