$50,000 AACTA Reg Grundy Award Returns

Have an idea for Australia's next great Entertainment or Factual TV show? AACTA Reg Grundy Award is your chance to win $50,000 to bring it to life.

The AACTA Reg Grundy Award is back for its sixth year, offering a $50,000 prize to the individual or team with the best pitch for a new unscripted television format. The largest prize of its kind in the world, the Reg Grundy Award is presented by the Australian Academy in partnership with Grundy Media to champion bold new ideas and fast-track the development of original screen entertainment.

Australian unscripted formats continue to make waves internationally. Sydney-based Northern Pictures recently won two Creative Arts Emmys for season three of Love on the Spectrum, bringing its total to seven Primetime Emmy Awards, the most ever won by an Australian company.

This year’s judging panel features some of the industry’s most accomplished format creators and executives. Joining our returning judges is Wes Dening, the Head of Global Formats for Eureka Productions and Executive Producer on a variety of US, Australian and international entertainment series including The Floor, Kpopped, The Quiz with Balls!, Holey Moley and Australian Idol.

“Reg Grundy had an extraordinary drive to create and adapt hit formats that continue to be watched by audiences around the world and his entrepreneurial spirit and creativity continues to inspire. It’s an honour to help uncover Australia’s next breakthrough format and champion a new wave of talent with the same passion and determination that Reg embodied."  – Wes Dening, Head of Global Formats, Eureka Productions

Returning to the judging panel is Paul Hardy (Alone, Beauty and The Geek), Steve Oemcke (Wheel Of Fortune, Talk to the Animals), and Marion Farrelly (Big Brother, X Factor) all who bring decades of international production expertise. They are joined by media leader Ian Hogg, former Fremantle Regional CEO for Australia Asia Pacific, and U.S.-based executive Sharon Wheeler who helped develop and adapt Grundy International Series for American audiences.

This initiative honours Reg Grundy, a pioneer of television whose entrepreneurial vision reshaped the industry. His creations and adaptations include Sale of the Century, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, The Price is Right and Perfect Match, as well as long-running dramas Sons & Daughters, Prisoner and Neighbours, the latter becoming Australia’s longest-running drama and a launchpad for international stars including Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie and Liam Hemsworth. 

 Round 1 submissions are now open. Entrants must provide:

• Show title

• Logline (1–2 sentences: <100 words)

• A written synopsis of up to 1000 words

Applications close 5.00pm AEDT, Monday 3 November 2025.

The winner will be announced at the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony, alongside Australia’s top honours in film, television and storytelling.

For full eligibility requirements and entry details, please click here.