Wake in Fright Development Initiative

The selected project will receive AU$30,000 in funding and dedicated development support from Sanctuary Pictures, with the goal of progressing the film into production.

AU$25,000 of the funding will be allocated to the writer to complete a draft and a polish, and AU$5,000 set aside for a script editor to help refine the script.

Our judging panel will consist of experienced creative producers, genre specialists and industry leaders. Full panel details will be announced closer to the application closing date. 

Annick Mahnert Director of Programming, Fantastic Fest; Programmer Sitges Film Festival; Executive Director Frontieres	Jonah Rabb Agent at WME, CAA Media Finance and Searchlight Pictures	Mitch Stanley CEO at No Coincidence Media

The Harvest - Darcy Conlan

When a British backpacker takes a job on a remote Australian fruit farm, she discovers that the land thrives under a sinister cosmic force and the farmers will spill blood to keep it that way. 

Asian Girls - Hyun Lee

Kim, a young ambitious Korean woman, receives a warning from a Korean shaman that she must ditch her career aspirations in order to become a shaman herself. Kim thinks the shaman is a fraud and refuses to believe in ghosts despite being terrorised by them daily.

Australian Made - Rob Draper

When Warren reports his family heirloom stolen, a Mitsubishi Magna, he learns his neighbour is a violent mythical legend from a bygone era - so naturally Warren asks him for help - worst decision ever.

Long Exposure - Taylor Adams

A young voyeuristic photographer spirals into morbid obsession after discovering the identity of a known serial killer.

Mother Instinct - Talia Zucker

A sleep-deprived mother checks herself into a mother-baby sleep clinic that claims to restore maternal wellness. But as the treatment progresses, her grip on reality begins to fray, revealing a sinister truth hidden behind the clinic’s gentle promise.

Stay Out of The Light - Steve Baker

After surviving a plane crash in the heart of the Australian outback, a young pilot is forced to guide a Vampire across a brutal landscape – where daylight is deadly, and escape is impossible.

Stonefish - Chad Murray

When a disillusioned student takes a labouring job on a remote mansion, he finds himself drawn into a brutal world of hypermasculinity and ritualised cruelty. As booze, drugs and predatory machismo engulf him, his fragile sense of self begins to unravel in the desert heat, becoming the very thing he fears most...

Territory - Lucy Knox, William Bleakley

Evicted and broke, when twenty-something Alistair convinces his three friends to squat in a long-abandoned house, their dream of rent-free living soon becomes a nightmare, as greed takes root, and an unknown presence threatens to tear them apart. 

The Boundary Rider - Samantha Alexis Laughton

A mysterious captive arrives at an Outback station igniting the will of a slave to escape her keeper.

The Harvest - Darcy Conlan

When a British backpacker takes a job on a remote Australian fruit farm, she discovers that the land thrives under a sinister cosmic force and the farmers will spill blood to keep it that way. 

Traditional - Jorrden Daley

After a string of failed relationships, a disillusioned young woman is drawn into a domestic fantasy but beneath the sourdough and sweetness lies something brutal. Through splintered memories and contradictory truths, she discovers the terrifying power of tradition and the lengths some will go to enforce it.

Competition Details

The Wake in Fright Development Initiative is intended as an annual opportunity inviting Australian writers to submit their film projects for the chance to receive significant development support.

Over the next three years, we will select one exceptional project annually from a diverse range of applicants as part of the initiative, providing funding and industry mentorship to help bring their story to life.

Assessment Criteria

A panel of external creative producers and script developers will review submissions based on:

• Creative Merit – Originality, creativity, and strength of vision
• Development Plan – Clear goals for the project’s progression
• Intended Audience – Understanding of the target viewers and market potential
• Professional History – Past work and commitment to developing their craft

We are looking for bold, distinctive projects that demonstrate originality, creativity, and a powerful cinematic vision.

Funding and Support

The selected project will receive AU$30,000 in funding, comprising:

• AU$25,000 for the writer to develop a draft and polish the script
• AU$5,000 for a script editor to support the refinement of the work

Sanctuary Pictures will oversee the initiative, supporting the writer through the development process and optioning the script. With continued progress, Sanctuary Pictures will produce the film. Umbrella Entertainment will manage distribution across Australia and New Zealand.

For useful tools and resources to assist with creating your entry requirements, visit the Screen Australia website here.

The wake In Fright Initiative is open to all Australians. We strongly encourage submissions from under-represented voices, including:

• Women
• First Nations people
• Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals
• Deaf and disabled practitioners
• LGBTQIA+ community members
• Australians living in regional and remote areas in Australia

Established in 2008, the Wake in Fright Trust is an independent, not-for-profit collective that aims to honour and preserve the Wake in Fright feature film. The trust invests all received royalties from the film’s release back into the Australian film industry.

This initiative is also supported by; 

Umbrella Entertainment is a leading independent Australasian distributor committed to amplifying diverse voices and delivering compelling cinema to audiences across Australia and New Zealand. Their expertise spans theatrical releases, home entertainment, TV broadcasting, and digital platforms, showcasing world-class films that inspire, entertain, and resonate with wide-ranging audiences.

Sanctuary Pictures is a film production company dedicated to developing and producing bold, original Australasian content for global audiences. With a focus on distinctive storytelling and genre-driven cinema, Sanctuary Pictures champions emerging and under-represented voices, nurturing talent from script to screen.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is a not-for-profit organisation, aimed at promoting, encouraging, and celebrating screen excellence in Australia. The Australian Academy is Australia’s only independent, member-based, national screen organisation that represents all differing screen crafts, from directors to producers, actors, writers, musicians, and a vast number of members in below-the-line roles.

For over 60 years, the AACTA Awards (formerly the AFI Awards) have recognised and celebrated Australia's highest achievements in film, television, short form, and digital content. The AACTA Awards are Australia’s most prestigious screen ceremony, embracing a diverse range of screen productions and recognising some of the biggest and brightest names in the industry. AACTA is committed to supporting and encouraging the next generation of industry talent through a variety of development initiatives aimed at providing opportunities and support for up-and-coming creatives.