2026 AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes in partnership with Screenworks

AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes, in partnership with Screenworks, is back for 2026! Now in its seventh year, it gives emerging Australian creatives the chance to bring the rich stories of regional Australia to the big screen. This program celebrates the extraordinary narratives that only regional Australia can inspire – where the landscape itself becomes a central character in the story.

We’re calling for original feature film concepts that showcase the heart, spirit and unique landscapes of regional Australia. Finalists will pitch their projects to a panel of industry experts, with the winning team receiving funding, mentorship and professional support to develop their script and take their concept to the next level.

 "The Regional Landscapes initiative, sponsored by Screenworks and AACTA, is nothing short of an incredible opportunity for emerging creatives. Getting the chance to stage a table read at the AACTA Festival gave our film Boomerang more than a platform, it gave the project real momentum and buzz. The professionalism, generosity and belief from the Screenworks and AACTA team remind me why Australian stories matter. They don’t just celebrate films, they build the runway for them to take flight.” - 2025 Regional Landscapes winner Nathin Art Butler (for BOOMERANG, with Jonathon Saunders).

 This year, entrants are pitching for the chance to receive:

• Development support for your screenplay and industry pitch
• $5,000 in prize funding: $1,000 cash plus $4,000 towards development (which could go toward travel support to markets or festivals, location scouting, script editing services or a consultant, sizzle reel or Proof of Concept, production costs etc.)
• Industry connections through the Australian Writers’ Guild Pathways program
• Professional script development sessions with expert guidance
• Feedback and mentorship from a panel of esteemed industry judges
• Annual memberships to AACTA, Screenworks, and the Australian Writers’ Guild
• Two tickets to the Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Forum
• Exclusive one-on-one meetings with up to two industry professionals at Screenworks Regional to Global
• Two tickets to the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony, including a discounted accommodation package

In addition to the above, the winning script will be read live at the AACTA Festival, with a featured cast of established actors. This is a great opportunity to see your script brought to life in front of an audience and to develop an industry profile for your project at its earliest stages.

Teams can include up to three creatives, with at least one based in regional Australia.