Boomerang Announced as the 2025 AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes Recipient, Celebrating Regional Storytelling and Bold New Voices

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), in partnership with Screenworks, has named Boomerang by Jonathon Saunders and Nathin Art Butler as the 2025 recipient of AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes—a national initiative supporting regional screen creatives. The announcement was made as part of the AACTA Regional Landscapes panel at Screenwork’s Regional to Global Summit at Lennox Head, featuring mentor judges Jonathan Page, Deb Cox and Nicole Dade.

Selected from a highly competitive field of emerging voices, the Boomerang team impressed the judging panel with a strong pitch and an adventurous, stereotype flipping story that’s rooted in personal experience. Centring on a screen-addicted Indigenous Australian boy who must survive the brutal desert after a plane crash - Boomerang offers a contemporary twist on the survival genre that intersects culture and country.

Jonathan Page (Bonsai Pictures), had this to say of the initiative, “I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed assessing the projects and liaising with the teams. I was very impressed at the high level of work across all the submissions, and we had very positive things to say about all the projects. It was very close but I wanted to say special congratulations to the winning team behind Boomerang”

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager Ivan Vukusic added “I’d recommend the industry take note of all 5 projects this year, each of which have a very confident understanding of their audience. Boomerang has real potential to cut through to family audiences in a big way, and I commend Jono and Nathin on the impressive way they finessed and improved this project throughout the process”.

Backed by AACTA, Screenworks and the Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG), the recipients will receive support, investment and guidance throughout the scripting process, including a live script read during the 2026 AACTA Festival on the Gold Coast as well as:

• $5,000 in development funds
• Structured script development and industry guidance
• A supported live script reading at the 2026 AACTA Festival
• Access to the AWG Pathways Program and ongoing mentorship from industry leaders
• One-on-one industry meetings at Screenworks’ Regional to Global Screen Forum
• AACTA, Screenworks and Australian Writers’ Guild annual memberships.
• Tickets to both the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony and the Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Summit

Speaking about their experience throughout the AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes process, 2025 recipient Jonathon Saunders reflected “This win was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one! It also confirmed that we're on the right path and this story has legs. Boomerang offers a great twist on the classic Australian survival film and something new audiences haven't seen before while showcasing Australia's beautiful, wild landscape. This win shows that the tyranny of distance is no obstacle when it comes to great stories.”

Nathin Art Butler added “Winning the Regional Landscape Initiative feels like the land itself whispering, keep going. It’s more than a pat on the back, it’s a spark that sets Boomerang alight. For me, it’s a return to my roots, a nod to the wild country and wise voices that raised me. This honour carries weight, weather, and the will to rise - a sign to keep the flame of filmmaking alive.”

Now in its sixth year, AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes continues to showcase the strength and originality of regional storytellers. The initiative has become a vital development pathway for regionally based creatives, offering industry access and meaningful support.

“It was impressive to see that the finalists this year covered so many rich and diverse stories across a broad range of genres which were all set in regional landscapes. Congratulations to all the finalists who benefited from the development opportunity this program offers. A special congratulations to the team who won with ‘Boomerang’. I look forward to seeing how they leverage their win to work towards bringing their story to fruition.” said Chief Executive Officer at Screenworks, Lisa O'Meara.

The top 5 finalists for AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes were:

Boomerang - Jonathon Saunders, Nathin Art Butler: When a plane crash leaves a screen-addicted Australian Indigenous boy stranded, he must learn to adapt to the wild and deadly Australian desert or perish.

Bury Your Dead - Paul Liddle: After losing his Grandma and his job at the cemetery in the same week, Charlie decides to start a cemetery of his own, on his newly inherited property.

Caught in the Act - Tim Walker: A crime reenactment television show travels to a rural town in order to recreate one of Australia’s most notorious cold cases. But when the lead actor is killed whilst filming, their recreation must solve the unsolvable case in order to prove their innocence.

Grannie Girls - Isabella Lewis: When two inner-city girls in their 20s become influenced by a TikTok to move to rural QLD for a cheaper, aesthetic beach life, they’re met with a rental market that forces them into a retirement village. Now it’s time they pull two neighbouring grannies out of retirement and into their wild adventures.

Minors - Christopher Nelius, Grace Malouf: The 'Wolf Pack', a scrappy gang of 10-year olds, hatch a wild plan to save their friend's house, but when a stunt in an abandoned mineshaft goes sideways, they stumble into something truly otherworldly. As the kids fight to find a way out, their clueless parents must band together for a rescue mission none of them are equipped for.

For more information about AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes, click here.

For more information about the recipients, see below.

About Jonathon Saunders

Jonathon Saunders is a Darwin-based Indigenous writer from the Woppaburra people, belonging to the Kanomie clan of Keppel Island. With a focus on storytelling that connects his heritage to modern narratives, Jonathon’s work explores themes of identity, culture, and the human experience. He is particularly known for his ability to blend traditional Indigenous narratives with contemporary visual storytelling techniques.

Jonathon is the creator of the award-winning mini-series Zero-Point Season Zero and has worked as a writer for various high-profile clients, including Zuru Toys, Jetstar, ReachOut Australia, and Studio Gilay. With over a decade of experience in the Indigenous Arts Industry, Jonathon has assisted numerous Indigenous artists across Australia.

About Nathin Art Butler

Nathin Art Butler grew up on a remote cattle station in the rugged wilds of northern Queensland. At just 17, he was accepted into the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and by 21, he had relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his career as a writer and actor.

Nathin’s career has spanned over 300 episodes of television, including the Emmy Award-winning General Hospital, Hawaii Five-0, NCIS: Los Angeles, Rock Island Mysteries, Blippi Wonders, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Westworld, Casual, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Winners and Losers, The Pacific, Rain Shadow, and The Cut. His portfolio also features collaborations on major films such as Baz Luhrmann’s Australia and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, alongside independent films like Black Gold, The American King, and Drone Wars.

Nathin is the Founder and Company Director of Far North Productions, a film and television company based in Queensland and LA.