SQ News

Screen Queensland announces Channel Lab: YouTube Accelerator participants


Image: Sarah Magusara, participant of Channel Lab: YouTube Accelerator initiative.

Screen Queensland has announced the 25 participants from 21 channels selected for its inaugural Channel Lab: YouTube Accelerator initiative, a new upskilling program supporting local creators in the online video space to share their screen stories.  

The cohort comprises emerging and established creators from diverse backgrounds from across Queensland, including people from regional communities, people with disability, Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Participants include Sarah Magusara, who is Australia’s most followed influencer on TikTok with 18.1 million followers and Lucas Proudfoot, a prominent multi-platform First Nations artist.

The creators have now begun a 16-week program of masterclasses and mentoring, in partnership with Queensland’s globally recognised Changer and support from YouTube.

The program runs from May to September 2024 and offers the selected participants a unique opportunity to work with industry experts from Changer. They will gain invaluable insights into audience engagement strategies, content creation techniques and production skills designed to upskill and grow their YouTube audience while enhancing their storytelling capabilities.

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Queensland Government is committed to championing Queensland’s talented online creators to share diverse local screen narratives through increasingly accessible global platforms.

“This exciting capacity building initiative is contributing to the delivery of our Government’s priorities for a strong and sustainable sector, sharing our unique stories and celebrating our storytellers.”

Screen Queensland’s CEO Jacqui Feeney said she is delighted that 21 talented content creators will be supported through Channel Lab: YouTube Accelerator.

“Screen Queensland is dedicated to cultivating the talent and skills of our local creators, recognising their pivotal role in the evolution of storytelling on screen. We are committed to empowering a new generation of screen content creators, providing them with the essential tools and support they need to flourish in the dynamic creator economy.

“Channel Lab: YouTube Accelerator provides an unparalleled opportunity for these content creators to foster new connections, gain valuable insights and receive exposure crucial to their development as storytellers. We look forward to seeing their progress and wish them every success.”

Channel Lab: YouTube Accelerator participants: 

Bench Chicken – Jordan Peña  
bengthebrazilianengineerinAus – Gabriel Ribeiro Gardin Costa e Silva  
brookestyless – Brooke and Jake O’Neill  
Elly’s Everyday Wholegrain Sourdough – Elly Emmett  
Evelyn Wood – Evelyn Wood  
Kristina’s Travels – Kristina Costalos  
Lucas Proudfoot – Lucas Proudfoot  
macfarlanebros – Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane  
McIntyresMalts – Wade McIntyre  
Me Moni – Toddler Learning Videos – Monica Ferreira  
mitchellburns – Mitchell Burns  
Naysy – Anais Riley  
Ocean Pancake – Katt Andryskova  
rainbowbop – Sara Taghaode and Amy Parry  
Rookie Rockhounding – Jesse Darrah  
Salty Monkeys – Dennis Fay  
sarahmagusara – Sarah Magusara  
Self Suffishing Me – James Valencia  
That British Girl: Jordana Grace – Jordana Grace Brown  
Travel For Phoebe – Phoebe Lee  
We Got The Chocolates – Mitchell and Leigh Drennan 

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Media contact
Carrie Barber
Marketing and Communications Manager
media@screenqld.com.au | 07 3248 0500

 ABOUT SCREEN QUEENSLAND
Screen Queensland is the state government-owned agency investing in locally made films, series, and games, and attracting international and interstate production and post-production. The agency runs career-building initiatives for practitioners around the state and supports film festivals and industry events such as Screen Forever, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the AACTA Awards and Festival. Screen Queensland also operates Screen Queensland Studios in Brisbane and Cairns. 

Recently supported productions include Apples Never Fall, Boy Swallows Universe, Eden, Elvis, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Land of Bad, Mortal Kombat 2, Nautilus, The Portable Door, Thirteen Lives, Ticket to Paradise, True Spirit, Audrey, Black Snow, Bluey, Darby and Joan, Dawn of the Dolphins, How to Make Gravy, In Limbo, In Our Blood, Limbo, Love is in the Air, Rebel with a Cause, Rock Island Mysteries, ScaryGirl, Strait to the Plate, Tastes of the Tropics and digital games Broken Roads, Capes, Cities: Skylines – Remastered, Go-Go Town, Memento, Mowing Mazes, My Little Pony: Mane Merge, Unpacking and Servonauts.  

For more information about funding programs, incentives, locations and facilities, visit 
screenqueensland.com.au