Announcing the Wake in Fright Development Initiative

Wake in Write: $30,000 Worth of Funding and Development Support on Offer for Australian Filmmakers in Wake in Fright Development Initiative

The Wake in Fright Trust, Umbrella Entertainment, Sanctuary Pictures, and AACTA have joined forces to launch the Wake in Fright Development Initiative — a groundbreaking national film development program offering $30,000 of funding and hands-on development support to bring the winning script to life. This marks a new partnership with AACTA, who joined the initiative this year to elevate the opportunity and bring it to emerging creatives nationwide.

With entries opening on 1st July, 2025, this initiative seeks to uncover bold and original storytelling in the thriller and horror genres, with a strong focus on amplifying under-represented voices. Open to all Australian writers, the Wake in Fright Development Initiative actively encourages submissions from women, First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals, deaf and disabled practitioners, LGBTQIA+ creatives, and those living in regional and remote areas.

"As a craft-first initiative, we want to provide opportunities for Australian writers to share unique perspectives on the Australian experience through film,” said Sanctuary Pictures Producer, Ari Harrison “Genres like horror and thriller have a special ability to convey powerful, resonant stories, and we see this initiative as a way to support and develop exciting new talent.”

Ivan Vukusic, Awards and Industry Development Manager at AACTA added “Wake in Fright changed the game when it was released, and it marked the start of a movement that has seen Australia establish an undeniable global reputation for producing innovative independent horror. From genre defining films like Wolf Creek and the Saw franchise, the global cult hit The Babadook, and through to the current wave of groundbreaking films captivating audiences and critics like Talk To Me, Late Night with the Devil, The Moogai and Together, horror and elevated genre should rightly be considered one of our strongest filmmaking suits - if not the strongest. We’re confident this initiative will discover new voices and stories that will add to the rich cannon of Australian horror enthralling audiences here and overseas”.

“This initiative is about honouring the legacy of Wake in Fright not just by looking back, but by looking forward — backing the next wave of filmmakers who are willing to challenge, unsettle, and redefine what Australian cinema can be,” said Michael Neary, a spokesperson for the Wake in Fright Trust. “The Trust is proud to support work that embraces risk, originality, and a true sense of place.”

The selected project will receive AU$30,000 in funding from the Wake in Fright Trust and AACTA, with Sanctuary Pictures providing ongoing and dedicated development support, with the goal of progressing the film into production. Australia has a rich history of iconic horror films, from the relentless terror of Razorback to the psychological intensity of Wolf Creek and The Babadook. Umbrella Entertainment, renowned for preserving and distributing Australian genre classics, continues to champion bold and spine-chilling cinema — will oversee distribution across Australia and New Zealand.

The projects will be assessed by a lineup of impressive judges including, Annick Mahnert (Director of Programming at Fantastic Fest; Programmer Sitges Film Festival; Executive Director Frontieres), Jonah Rabb (agent at WME, CAA Media Finance and Searchlight Pictures), and Mitch Stanley (Producer and CEO of No Coincidence Media).

The inaugural recipients of the Wake in Fright funding are Andrew Dillon and Jon Bell (Cleverman, The Warriors) for the highly anticipated remake of the 1984 Australian cult horror film, Razorback. To be produced by Sanctuary Pictures, the film will be directed by the acclaimed Spierig Brothers (Daybreakers, Predestination, Winchester). This reimagining of Russell Mulcahy’s outback thriller signals a bold return to Australian genre filmmaking, with support from the initiative ensuring its development.

By fostering emerging voices in the industry and supporting bold, cinematic storytelling, the Wake in Fright Development Initiative aims to strengthen Australia’s legacy of thrilling, boundary-pushing films.

Entries close at 5.00pm AEDT Tuesday 12th August 2025. For more information and to apply, visit aacta.org.