Australians in Film, Screen Aus unveil 2026 Talent Gateway, Global Producer Exchange cohort

Top (L-R): Ryan van Dijk, Zoe Pepper, Ra Chapman; bottom (L-R): Nicholas Colla, Nick Waterman, Meg Washington

Australians in Film (AiF) in alliance with Screen Australia have selected the 2026 group of screen producers and creatives taking part in the competitive Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange initiatives.

Operating since 2021, the international placement programmes are designed to strengthen the professional capabilities of Australian creators and amplify their access to global market opportunities.

“For five years, AiF has proudly partnered with Screen Australia to open global pathways for Australia’s most exciting screen talent, both emerging and established. We are thrilled again to be working with Screen Australia and to welcome the 2026 cohort,” said AiF executive director, Peter Ritchie.

The Global Producers Exchange aims to escalate skills, knowledge, access and relationships for Australian producers to succeed in the global market and assist in attracting investment and market partnerships for Australian scripted content.

Eight producers have been selected for the Global Producers Exchange including Louise Smith, founder of Film Depot; Nicholas Colla of LateNite Films; both co-founders of Mad Ones, Liam Heyen and Cyna Strachan; Magnetic Stories producing head Melissa Kelly; indie Chilean- Australian producer Liliana Munoz, founder of production house  Máximo; and both co-founders of Speech&Drama, Nick Waterman and Meg Washington.

Meanwhile the Talent Gateway initiative supports Australian writer/directors with demonstrated recent international success, assisting in fostering industry access and strategic relationships needed to compete and collaborate in the global market.

The selected cohort includes filmmaker Jo-Anne Brechin; writer/actor and filmmaker Ra Chapman; writer and script producer Alberto Di Troia; creators, writers and collaborators Alexei Mizin and Ryan van Dijk; writer and director Zoe Pepper; and Vic Zerbst and Jenna Owen, both comedy actors, writers and directors.

Screen Australia COO Grainne Brunsdon said: “The 2026 cohort reflect the exceptional calibre, ambition, creative range and distinctive voices that are defining the future of Australian screen storytelling. Through these initiatives, Australian screen practitioners are able to foster international pathways, establish meaningful creative relationships and continue championing local stories on the world stage.”

The initiative is also supported by funding agencies Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screenwest and VicScreen, in addition to industry partners the Australian Directors’ Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild, Screen Canberra, Screen Producers Australia, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, South Australian Film Corporation and Screenworks.