Reg Grundy Award 2024
THINK YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR AUSTRALIA'S NEXT UNSCRIPTED TV SHOW? ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $50,000!
The AACTA Reg Grundy Award returns for its fifth year, with a combined $50K prize on offer to the individual or team with the best pitch for a new and innovative unscripted format. With the largest prize of its kind in the world, the Australian Academy in partnership with Grundy Media, is dedicated to fostering new and creative thinking in screen entertainment and expediting the development of innovative and fresh productions.
Reg Grundy was peerless in the creation and adaptation of entertainment formats for local audiences in Australia and across the world. This Award is inspired by Grundy’s hard work, visionary achievements and entrepreneurial spirit. His towering success in creating, adapting and producing entertainment formats spans decades and includes SALE OF THE CENTURY, WHEEL OF FORTUNE, FAMILY FEUD, THE PRICE IS RIGHT and PERFECT MATCH. Grundy’s long-running dramas include SONS & DAUGHTERS, PRISONER and NEIGHBOURS, which has become the longest-running drama series in Australian television and a launching pad for many top stars. There isn’t a current Australian producer who hasn’t been inspired by Reg Grundy’s prolific legacy. The AACTA Reg Grundy Award aims to continue his legacy and find the next great Australian television show.
Think you have Australia’s next favourite show on your hands? Round 1 entries are now open and call for your show's title, a logline (1-2 sentence description), and a synopsis of up to one page in length. Submissions are due by 5 pm AEDT on, Monday January 6.
PAUL HARDY A BBC-trained professional, Paul began his career in the UK before freelancing in London, New York, and Los Angeles as a showrunner. He now consults for Endemol Americas, bringing his expertise to a wide range of global formats. His impressive credits include Alone, 7 Year Switch, Bride and Prejudice, Beauty and the Geek, and Living with the Enemy. Paul has also worked on international formats such as Come Dine With Me, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Popstars, Star Academy, Place in the Sun, and Watch What Happens Live.
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STEVE OEMCKE Steve Oemcke has worked in the content industry for more than 30 years, beginning as a journalist and news reporter, before going on to present and host countless TV programs including ratings juggernaut Talk To The Animals, and Australia’s longest running game show Wheel Of Fortune. Twenty years ago, Steve co-founded highly regarded independent Australian production company WTFN, alongside industry stalwart Daryl Talbot. Known for its out-of-the-box thinking, WTFN had originated more than 60 series in that time. The company prides itself on mentoring new talent, with a reputation as a breeding ground for some of Australia’s most talented young content creators.
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MARION FARRELLY Maz has been to more showbiz parties than Ryan Gosling’s jocks, down more red carpets than a Dyson vacuum, and worked with more A listers, than a Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon. She has created and been the boss, of some of most watched TV shows on earth, her content has amassed more than eight BILLION views, and she once broke X (Twitter). Deliberately. Maz has worked alongside everyone from Beyonce, to King Charles, President Donald Trump to Snoop Dogg, Ed Sheeran to Elton John, Troye Sivan to Buzz Aldrin, Arnie to Mel B, and now she uses the intel and smarts she has stolen, sorry, borrowed, from these world leaders, cultural icons, and international superstars, to help big global brands like Spotify, Meta, TikTok, Vayner Media, Ogilvy, to name a few, be way more influential and utterly interesting - not because she is - if you were stuck in an elevator with her, you’d long to plummet to your own certain demise.
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IAN HOGG Ian Hogg is an awarded Media Industry Leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist with a Global Career spanning four continents across 25 years. Most recently, he led Fremantle as the Regional CEO for Australia and Asia Pacific and sat on the Global Operating Board. He is a passionate believer in idea generation and execution, storytelling, creatives, creativity, disruption and the power of media to deliver a narrative that can make a real difference in an industry that cannot, and will never, stand still.
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SHARON WHEELER Sharon Wheeler is an Award-winning Senior Entertainment Executive, who has created more than 30 original series and Executive Produced over 2,000 hours of unscripted programming. Her shows have been licensed and produced in dozens of territories. As founder and President of Wheeler/Sussman Productions based in Los Angeles, her hit original formats include: MTV’s SINGLED OUT, Fox’s EXTREME-DATING, THE LAST RESORT, TRIVIAL PURSUIT: AMERICA PLAYS, JUDGE ALEX and REUNION TOUR. As part of Reg Grundy’s U.S. production operations, she helped develop and adapt Grundy International Series for American audiences, including PRISONER: CELL BLOCK H, IT’S A KNOCKOUT, SCRABBLE, MANN O’ MANN and QUESTIONS POUR UN CHAMPION. |
Friday, Dec 13 – Applications are open! Round one starts.
Submit the following to enter:
- Your show’s title
- A logline (up to 50 words)
- A video (up to 3 minutes) that includes a pitch of your idea and how winning the award would help further your project
- A synopsis (up 500 words)
See this video for some advice from Australia’s leading television entertainment professionals!
Monday 6 January – Round 1 entries close
Entries close 5.00pm AEDT on Monday, 6 January 2024
Wednesday 8 January – Top 5 first round finalists confirmed – Round 2 starts
The finalists will meet with our judges to gain invaluable feedback and advice on their projects, and how best to pitch it. With guidance from our judges, they’ll also prepare a pitch deck (up to 4 pages/slides) to provide further detail and references for their idea ahead of the final pitch.
Wednesday 23 January – A final meeting with our judging panel where each finalist will have the opportunity to deliver their refined pitch, and a deeper exploration of each project will be undertaken. One recipient will be confirmed and they will walk away with the $50,000 prize and a chance to see their idea become a reality.
7 February 2025– Recipient announced at the 2025 AACTA Awards
AACTA Reg Grundy Award recipient is announced to the world!
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Entry Fee $25 for AACTA Members $50 for non-members
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Rules & Supporting Documents Terms & Conditions