2026 AACTA Pitch: Focus

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), in partnership with Sony, announced entries open for AACTA Pitch: Focus. Now in its fifth year, this national short film production and development initiative is a unique opportunity for Australian student filmmakers to kickstart their careers, gain industry recognition, and bring their bold ideas to life.

Each year, AACTA Pitch: Focus receives innovative and diverse pitches from students across Australia, showcasing the creativity emerging from film schools and institutions nationwide. Previous recipients have produced AACTA nominated and film festival winning short films, and used the program as a launchpad, building valuable industry connections and taking significant steps towards their professional careers.

The top five teams will receive state-of-the-art Sony equipment kit on loan, valued at over $2,500, to shoot a short proof of concept, with the recipient of AACTA Pitch: Focus to receive a $15,000 production fund and $20,000 worth of exceptional Sony camera equipment on loan.

"Now in its 5th year, Sony is proud to once again support the AACTA PITCH: Focus initiative to offer a platform for emerging filmmakers who are studying at a university, their first opportunity to pitch a project and have that concept vetted by industry professionals. This initiative aims to bridge that challenging first step from university student to working filmmaker, and we look forward to seeing the exciting concepts for Australia's next generation of filmmakers." Nick Rowe, Community & Partnerships Manager ANZ

AACTA Pitch: Focus are looking for projects that feature the following:

• Innovative, creative, and unique approaches to engage audiences
• Strong, compelling characters that resonate 
• Ideas that push boundaries, bend genres and break new grounds 

For the first round, teams will create a three-minute video pitch outlining their concept for a short film. The judging panel of industry figures and representatives of Sony and AACTA will then determine a longlist of 10 projects who will be asked to submit additional pitching materials to support their project. Teams can include directors, writers, producers, editors and/or cinematographers, with at least one team member currently engaging in film or screen studies. 

The five finalists will be selected by the panel, and they will then be provided with Sony equipment and given four weeks to shoot a proof of concept short. These finalists will be invited to present their films in front of the judging panel to determine the recipient. 

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager, Ivan Vukusic said  “A couple of our recent recipients are about to drop their short films and I cannot wait for the world to see them. There is such a depth to the young talent coming out of our uni’s and I know that we’ll see the same this year. 

If you’re just starting your film school journey and have a great idea, or if you are in your final year and working on your grad film, simply pitch us your idea and we will help make it happen and get your film in front of audiences and you in front of the industry”.

AACTA welcomes all new, emerging and student filmmakers and content creators to enter AACTA Pitch: Focus, and encourages concepts from teams from diverse and under-represented backgrounds. Entry fees are $50 for teams with at least one AACTA member and $90 for teams comprised of non-members. For more information on AACTA membership, click here.

Entries close 9am AEST, Monday 18 August 2025. 

Initial entry requirements include:

• Title and logline
• 500 word synopsis
• Three minute pitch video, and
• Résumé of the team.

		KATIE AMOS Katie Amos is an AACTA Award-winning producer and Head of Australian Production at Made Up Stories. Having worked in various capacities within drama and documentary project development and production, her previous credits include Nine Perfect Strangers, Thor: Love and Thunder, Hacksaw Ridge, The Water Diviner, Redesign My Brain, Hotel Mumbai, Ghosthunter, Lambs of God, and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.  Amos joined Made Up Stories as a creative and production executive at the end of 2022 before stepping up to producer/head of production for Australia in 2024. She produced AACTA Award-winning short film Gorgo, was an associate producer on the first season of Strife and upcoming feature Addition, and co-executive producer on the Liane Moriarty television adaptation of The Last Anniversary. She is currently an executive producer on Strife Season 2 and is set to produce series adaptations of Emily Perkins’ Lioness, and Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls and The Soulmate.
		NICHOLAS COLLA Nicholas Colla is a producer of film, television & digital content, working across both live action and animation. Through his production company LateNite, Nick is committed to investing in emerging creatives with strong, unique voices, helping them tell their stories in a creatively supportive and collaborative environment. Nick’s producing credits include fantasy comedy series The Wizards of Aus featuring Guy Pearce (SBS), children’s adventure comedy The Legend of Burnout Barry (ABC) and the AACTA nominated Rebooted, which had its world premiere at Annecy. Nick has produced units for Lingo Pictures AACTA award winning drama Lambs of God (Foxtel) and Princess Pictures sketch series The Slot (Comedy Channel). His more recent projects include animated sitcom Munch Rexford: Legendary Poacher!! (Adult Swim), mystery comedy Ruby Rai P.I. (ABC), the AACTA nominated animated sitcom The Future of Everything (Grouse House) and Australia-Canada-Singapore Co-Production Andrew the big BIG Unicorn with Pirate Size Productions, Mainframe Studios and Infinite Studios for ABC, SRC & CBC. He currently has projects in development with 20th Television Animation and Bento Box Entertainment in the US.

July 15 – Call for Entries Opens (Round 1) 

Entrants are asked to submit a Title, Logline, three minute video pitch, 500 word synopsis, and resumes of the team members.

August 18 – Round 1 Entries Close

Entries are due by 9am AEST, Monday August 18 2025.

August 22 – Longlist of Top 10 Confirmed & Start of Round 2

The Top 10 teams are asked to submit a pitch deck, complete screenplay and budget.

September 8 – Round 2 Materials Submissions Closes

Submissions are due by 9.00am AEST, Monday September 8, 2025.

September 12 – Top 5 Finalists Confirmed

The top five teams will be provided Sony gear on loan to shoot a proof of concept.

w/c September 15 – One on One Meetings with Judges

The judges will provide advice on finalists’ project/POC shoot. 

September 27 – Top 5 Finalists Announced at Sony’s Catchlight Film Festival

Top 5 finalists will be announced at Sony’s Catchlight Film Festival (panel with judges) 

October 4 – Proof of Concepts to be delivered

October 12 – Final Pitch to Judges, and Recipient Confirmed.