AACTA Development Initiatives

2024 AACTA Young Stars National Youth Casting Call

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), in collaboration with Casting Networks® and the Casting Guild of Australia (CGA), have launched a groundbreaking national, youth casting initiative to uncover the next wave of Australia’s brightest acting talent - AACTA Young Stars: National Youth Casting Call. 

AACTA Young Stars aims to identify exceptional, diverse, bright, young screen talent across Australia and provide tangible opportunities to help them realise their dream. Australian residents aged between 13 and 18 years are invited to submit a video showcasing their performance talent for their chance to get in front of some of Australia’s leading Casting Directors. 

Submissions closed 5pm AEDT Monday 18 November 2024. 

Shortlisted entrants will be notified by w/c 25 November 2024.

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The finalists will be invited to the new home of the prestigious AACTA Awards, the Gold Coast, where they will have the chance to join workshops and receive mentorship from Australia’s top Casting Directors. Each finalist will also receive a complimentary six-month Casting Networks Premium membership, as well as the opportunity to get a headshot at the Casting Networks pop up studio at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

The top ten finalists will receive a complimentary twelve-month Casting Networks Premium membership.

One overall winner will receive a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help launch a career in the screen industry! Including a $10,000 Flight Centre voucher and $2500 cash in travel support to fly to the United States where they will have the opportunity to meet with a renowned International Casting Director, network with key industry practitioners and participate in an acting course at American Arts Film & Television Academy (AAFTA) in Los Angeles. They will also have access to The Studio by Casting Networks in Sydney for a full year and will have the chance to meet with both Australian-based Casting Directors!

All finalists will also receive a complimentary 12 month AACTA Youth Membership!

 

Finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of an esteemed panel of judges which includes top international Casting Directors, Thea McLeod (Neighbours, Better Man, Measure For Measure, Pawno), Anousha Zarkesh (The New Boy, Mystery Road, Total Control, Preppers), Nikki Barrett (Elvis, Mad Max: Fury Road, Talk to Me, The Power of the Dog, The Babadook), and Nina Gold (Baby Reindeer, Game of Thrones, Star Wars), AACTA Award winning actor Chloe Hayden, and Ngali Shaw (The recipient of the inaugural AACTA Brian Walsh Award).

Read more about our judges here.

Thea McLeod

Casting Director for Neighbours, Better Man, Measure For Measure, Pawno

Anousha Zarkesh

Casting Director for The New Boy, Mystery Road, Total Control, Preppers

Nikki Barrett

Casting Director for Elvis, Mad Max: Fury Road, Talk to Me, The Power of the Dog, The Babadook

Nina Gold

Casting Director for Baby Reindeer, Game of Thrones, Star Wars

Chloé Hayden

AACTA winning actor, award winning speaker, best selling author, content creator, TED talker

Ngali Shaw

The recipient of the inaugural AACTA Brian Walsh Award. Can be seen in RFDS, The Twelve, and Ladies in Black.

 

 

 

Entry is free and open to all Australian residents aged between 13 and 18 years. If you are under 18 years you will need a parent or legal guardian to assist with your entry. 

You can set up a FREE Casting Networks account to submit your entry. From there, choose a script from the MEDIA REQUEST and record a video of yourself reading that script. Once you have a take you're happy with, upload your video via your Casting Networks account. 

If you do not receive your MEDIA REQUEST within 2-3 days of completing the form, please check your spam folder and email support@castingnetworks.com

Information for Agents

If you have a Casting Networks account, this project will be visible in your account. If the project does not appear in your account or you need assistance setting up a Casting Networks account, please email support@castingnetworks.com.

 

For more tips and tricks, click here.

 

AACTA Young Stars aims to identify exceptional, diverse, bright, young screen talent across Australia and provide tangible opportunities to help them realise their dream. To submit your casting call to AACTA Young Stars you must be

  • An Australian resident;
  • Aged between 13 and 18 years

 

For the full terms and conditions, click here.

 

 

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