PROOF

2026 AACTA PROOF in partnership with Gold Coast Film Festival

PROOF, is a strategic new film development and short film production initiative, delivered in partnership with Gold Coast Film Festival and supported by Screen Queensland, Invest Gold Coast, Panavision, Sony and The Post Lounge. PROOF bridges the gap between early-stage development and theatrical momentum, placing audience strategy at the heart of the process.

Throughout this year-long program, three Queensland-based creative teams will develop and produce a proof-of-concept short for a mid-budget Australian feature. Each team will receive production funding and support valued at $65,000, along with an opportunity to be paired with an experienced EP and exclusive masterclasses and training on building an online fan base and developing strategic and impactful digital marketing. Team members will also participate in the 2027 Queensland Creative Launchpad and receive complimentary tickets to the AACTA Awards and AACTA Festival where they'll have an opportunity to meet with executives across finance, sales and distribution. 

Queensland-based creative teams are invited to submit a feature concept and accompanying proof-of-concept materials. Applications close on Monday 13 April, with three teams selected and announced at the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival on Sunday 3 May. From June to December, the teams will move into pre-production and production on their proof-of-concept shorts, before premiering the completed works at the 2027 AACTA Festival on the Gold Coast in February, where the overall winner will be announced by an esteemed jury alongside a publicly voted prize.

AACTA is honoured to include three leading figures from the world of exhibition and distribution as part of this year’s selection committee - Claire Gandy, General Manager of Film and Content at Event Cinemas Australia and New Zealand, Greg Denning, Head of Sales and Acquisitions and Development Manager at Studiocanal Australia and Kristian Connelly, CEO of Cinema Nova, Australia’s leading independent cinema.

PROOF has been welcomed as a timely evolution in how Australian features are developed and positioned for audiences.

“The PROOF initiative is exactly the kind of forward-thinking collaboration the Australian screen industry needs right now. The program is doing more than developing films  —  it’s deliberately engineering pathways to audience from day one.

From an exhibition perspective, this is exactly the kind of thinking we need more of. Cinemas thrive on culturally relevant, audience-driven IP, and there is a real opportunity to see more locally originated stories break through when projects are built with market awareness from the outset. PROOF helps de-risk Australian features by validating audience appetite early and creating meaningful industry and media heat well before a feature reaches the screen” - Claire Gandy, General Manager of Film and Content at Event Cinemas Australia and New Zealand.

This audience-first philosophy is embedded throughout the program, including through the delivery of dedicated workshops focused on audience insights and digital marketing strategy.

"What excites me the most is the boldness of this initiative. It doesn’t just focus on making great films, it focuses on getting those films to their intended audience. That practical, audience first thinking is exactly what our industry needs more of. I’m thrilled to be part of something that actively empowers filmmakers" Natalie Lynch, Cinch Media (providers of Audience and Digital Marketing workshops for PROOF).

We are calling for Queensland-based producers and creative teams to submit a feature film concept (with a proposed budget of $3–5 million) with broad audience appeal and a clear understanding of its market, along with detail on the associated proof of concept and how it will prove the essential elements of the film. 

 The three finalists will receive:

• A $20,000 Production Fund.

• Complimentary equipment hire from Panavision/Sony valued at $15,000.

• Complimentary post production from Post Lounge valued at $30,000.

• 2 x tickets to attend the 2027 AACTA Awards Ceremony on the Gold Coast in February 2027 (date TBC)

• Annual AACTA Professional Memberships for all team members.

• 2 x online workshops focussing on Audience Building and Digital Marketing.

• As agreed, the attachment of an experienced executive producer to help guide the project.

$80: AACTA members 

$100: non-members

Thursday 5th March

Applications open 9:00am AEST

Applicants are asked to submit the following:

•  A one-pager – a single page summary of no more than 500 words that includes:

• Title;

• Logline;

• Genre;

• Short synopsis of the proposed feature film;

• Statement on how the proof of concept short film demonstrates the feasibility, cinematic potential, tone, stylistic execution, and key creative elements of the proposed feature film.

• Script for the proof of concept short film of no more than 15 minutes in duration;

• A pitch deck of no more than 5 pages that articulates the vision of both the proof of concept short film and the proposed feature film, and how the proof of concept short film will capture and prove the essential elements of the feature film (tone, aesthetic, stakes, target audience);

• The resumes/CVs of all key creative members of the team;

• Any previous work (ie video files for previous productions).

Monday 13th April

Applications close 9:00am AEST

Sunday 3rd May

The three recipients are announced at the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival.

June - December

Proof of Concepts will move into pre/production

February 2027

The three proof of concept short films will be screened at the 2027 AACTA Festival as part of a showcase event. The Grand Jury prize winner along with the Audience Choice prize winner will be announced.

Claire Gandy

Claire has worked in the entertainment industry for over 16 years, beginning in the film department of Event/Greater Union by becoming a film programmer, where she gained knowledge, skills and contacts in the distribution, exhibition and film making community. With that experience she moved to Dendy Cinemas where she was the National Film, Content and Programming Manager, gaining a greater perspective of the independent landscape, whilst also becoming involved in the acquisitions process at Icon Films, eventually becoming Development and Film Acquisitions Manager in tandem with the Content Management for the cinema side of the business.

In 2017 she was offered the role of General Manager of Content for Event Cinemas, the largest and most successful cinema chain in Australia and New Zealand, where she is focusing on supporting and nurturing Australian and local content, and expanding the film palettes of the Event audiences with interesting and engaging film and content outside of the broader commercial content offerings.

Greg Denning

Greg Denning has a career spanning over 30 years in the entertainment industry, across Exhibition, Distribution and Production businesses, in Sales, Marketing, Programming, Acquisitions and Development roles. He has released over 500 films Theatrically and Programmed many more!

Since 2013 Greg has been with independent powerhouse STUDIOCANAL, as Head of Sales & Acquisitions and Development Manager. In that time, he initiated the STUDIOCANAL CULTIVATOR DEVELOPMENT FUND which produced local AACTA Award winning feature KANGAROO which was the highest grossing Australian film in 2025 at the Australian box office. 

Prior to STUDIOCANAL, Greg has held key executive positions at Icon Film Distribution and Hoyts Cinemas.

He served as the 78th President of The Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers and has previously held the position of President of the Australian Independent Distributors Association.

Kristian Connelly

A film industry professional since 2002, Kristian has worked across the industry in cinema exhibition, film distribution and production. Possessing an innate ability to anticipate audience taste, Kristian has spearheaded the release of countless film titles, overseeing campaigns to achieve high-visibility, industry-best results at a low-cost.

Luke Wheatley

After a significant career in marketing and acquisitions in the international marketplace Luke founded the Brisbane-based production company In Three Production with Beckie Adams in 2019.   Luke has directed and produced all of his recent credits which include the large-screen format feature documentary "Beyond the Reef," the theatrically released documentary "Same Same But Different" and "Grounded".  Recently Luke completed "Black Sunday," which is represented by William Morris Entertainment and is currently in post-production on his latest documentary, "How The West Was Won," produced alongside Ice T and Dante Ross. Luke is scheduled to direct his first feature film, AMNESIA, in July 2026.

As CEO of Film Fantastic, Luke led the strategy for The Brisbane International Film Festival in 2023 and 2024. Since 2023 he has spearheaded the Gold Coast Film Festival which saw its biggest attendance and ticket sales in 2025.  

Ivan Vukusic

Ivan Vukusic is the Awards and Industry Development Manager at AACTA, overseeing AACTA Awards processes while leading initiatives that accelerate careers for emerging screen creatives.

In 2018, he launched AACTA’s industry development arm, creating programs that fast-track early-stage talent into professional opportunities. In 2024, Ivan co-founded the AACTA Screen Careers Expo with Essential Screen Skills - now the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere - connecting students, career-changers, and educators with pathways, training, and opportunities in the screen industry.

Before AACTA, Ivan worked across production, distribution, acquisition and event management with Vendetta Films, Monster Pictures, Shock Entertainment, and Closer Pictures, and began his career at Walt Disney Studios.

A former music industry professional with Festival Records and Mushroom Records, Ivan is committed to championing creative talent and helping careers flourish.

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