Create NSW extends Screenability to support national emerging filmmakers with disabilities.

Create NSW has announced that its Screenability Filmmakers Fund will now support emerging filmmakers with disabilities from all states, with applications now open for the opportunity that offers up to three teams $30,000 each to produce shorts that could premiere at the Sydney Film Festival.

Previously the fund had supported solely NSW-based teams, but the guidelines have been widened to encourage involvement from emerging filmmakers with disabilities from other states – as long as the key applicant is NSW based.

Applications are sought for short film proposals between 5-15 minutes that appeal to a broad audience (with or without disability content), from teams that have at least one key creative identifying as having a disability and with an intention to develop a career in screen content creation.

Eligibility, in this case, covers people with sensory or physical impairments (including deaf people), hidden impairments, intellectual impairments, learning difficulties or mental health conditions, who face barriers accessing opportunities in the screen industry.

Create NSW will appoint an Executive Producer to oversee the successful projects, which must be filmed and post-produced entirely in NSW. Successful projects will also be considered to premiere as part of the 66th Sydney Film Festival in 2019.

“We’ve received a fantastic level of interest for our Screenability initiative and opening this up to wider talent from across the country will help ensure that the fund continues to nurture and support exciting emerging filmmakers that can otherwise face barriers to entry in the industry.

“We are very proud to extend our support to a national level and look forward to uncovering more talent in the year ahead,” Executive Director for Create Investment and Engagement, Elizabeth W. Scott said.

First announced as part of the Screenability Program Opening Night at the 64th Sydney Film Festival, the Screenability Filmmakers Fund is part of a suite of initiatives under Screenability NSW, an open-ended policy commitment by Create NSW to work with industry to grow participation in the screen sector by Australians with disabilities.