Applications Open for PROOF

Applications Open for PROOF: AACTA and Gold Coast Film Festival Launch Audience-First Feature Development Initiative

Applications open today for PROOF, a strategic new development initiative from AACTA and the Gold Coast Film Festival, supported by Screen Queensland, Invest Gold Coast, Sony, Panavision and The Post Lounge.

PROOF is a year-long, end-to-end program designed to embed audience development at the centre of filmmaking. Following their announcement at the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival, three creative teams will each receive production funding and support valued at $65,000 to produce a 10 minute proof of concept short film. The teams will take part in exclusive masterclasses on building an online fan base and creating strategic, impactful digital marketing campaigns, and will have the opportunity to work alongside an experienced EP throughout the production of their short film.

“Embedded at key stages across the AACTA Festival and the Gold Coast Film Festival, PROOF creates a powerful platform for Queensland creatives to connect with audiences and decision-makers alike. With exhibition and distribution leaders on our selection committee bringing vital commercial insight and the early development of a fan base central to it all, these projects will have cinema audiences front of mind. We cannot wait to see these films take centre stage at the 2027 AACTA Festival!” said Ivan Vukusic, Awards and Industry Development Manager at AACTA.

Luke Wheatley, CEO of Gold Coast Film Festival said “The Gold Coast Film Festival has a proven track record in platforming and promoting emerging filmmakers. We are delighted to support the 'Proof' initiative, a project that furthers our commitment to Queensland's next generation of screen talent.”

The initiative is a targeted opportunity for Queensland-based filmmakers and reinforces the state’s growing reputation as a hub for ambitious, globally resonant and commercially minded Australian storytelling.

Julie Eckersley, Executive Director, Screen Content at Screen Queensland said “PROOF represents a bold and strategic step forward for authentic Queensland storytelling, upskilling our filmmakers to engage audiences from day one. Supporting local stories and talent is at the heart of what we do at Screen Queensland and this initiative will help launch feature films with strong commercial potential. As global demand for homegrown content grows, audience-focused initiatives like PROOF play a vital role in platforming Queensland screen stories for success.”

PROOF challenges traditional development models by putting audience strategy front and centre. Selected teams will develop their creative vision while receiving guidance to craft digital marketing campaigns that maximise reach, ensuring projects are both bold and market-ready from day one.

Said judge Claire Gandy, General Manager of Film and Content at Event Cinemas “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.

Nurturing local filmmaking talent is critical to the long-term health of our cinema ecosystem. Australia has no shortage of creative voices, but what has often been missing is a structured bridge between early-stage development and genuine theatrical momentum. PROOF directly addresses that gap by backing proof-of-concept shorts designed specifically to scale into commercially viable features, while embedding audience design and community-building into the DNA of each project.

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”.

Other judges on the Selection Committee include Greg Denning (Head of Sales and Acquisitions and Development at Studiocanal), Kristian Connelly (CEO, Cinema Nova), Tanya Ellen (Head of Content, Screen Queensland), Michael Selwyn (ex Vice President Paramount Pictures, Gold Coast Film Festival board member), Luke Wheatley (CEO, Gold Coast Film Festival) and AACTA’s Ivan Vukusic.

Applicants are invited to submit a feature film concept, including a screenplay for a proof-of-concept short with a runtime of less than 10 minutes. PROOF is focused on proposed feature projects budgeted between $3–5 million, with a strong and clear understanding of its audience.

Each selected team will receive production funding, in-kind production and post-production support, tailored mentorship and unprecedented access to industry decision-makers all within a framework designed to strengthen audience engagement and accelerate the project’s pathway to full-scale feature production.

Nick Rowe, Community and Partnerships Manager at Sony said "Sony Australia is thrilled to once more partner with the Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts on the PROOF initiative. Sony's Cinema Line range of cameras are at the forefront of technology and creativity, empowering film makers with industry-leading tools so they can focus on storytelling. Sony is looking forward to seeing this initiative contribute to the feature film development slate for Australia and the opportunity it will provide filmmakers to build their audience from the earliest stages"

“At Panavision, we are proud to partner and support the AACTA PROOF initiative, helping emerging filmmakers bring bold new stories to life. Our commitment extends beyond motion picture equipment. We are dedicated to empowering creative talent, fostering industry connections and providing mentorship and tools that help filmmakers achieve successful careers.” said Nic Godoy, Panavision Australia National Marketing Manager.

By placing audience at the centre of development, PROOF represents a forward-looking investment in sustainable Australian feature filmmaking and ensures bold creative ideas are matched with clear pathways to market and meaningful audience connection.

PROOF Applications close at 9am AEST on 13 April 2026. For more information head to https://www.aacta.org/aacta-development-initiatives/proof/. The three successful projects will be announced at the Closing Night of the Gold Coast Film Festival on Sunday 3 May, 2026. The Gold Coast Film Festival runs from 22 April to 3 May.