Finalists and judges revealed for AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes in partnership with Screenworks

Finalists and judges revealed for AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes in partnership with Screenworks.

AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes has returned for 2025! The initiative, in partnership with Screenworks who this year celebrate 25 years of supporting regional creatives, is dedicated to advancing storytellers and stories from, and inspired by, Australia’s stunning regional areas. This unique program showcases the diversity of perspectives and talent from regional communities while providing opportunities for filmmakers to connect with industry professionals and advance their feature film scripts.

Applicants for 2025 were asked to submit an original film concept that features regional Australia as a central character and setting to the narrative. The finalists will now have the opportunity to work with a panel of mentors to develop their projects, with the recipient to receive funding and support to refine their script and take their concept to market. 

The 2025 mentors and judging panel are:

• Stuart Page – AACTA-nominated screenwriter (Total Control, The Doctor Blake Mysteries)

• Nicole Dade – Writer, story developer and script producer (The Drover’s Wife, Head South)

• Deb Cox – Producer, screenwriter, industry consultant (Eden, A Sunburnt Christmas)

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

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.

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager Ivan Vukusic said: “Congratulations to our 2025 Regional Landscapes finalists. It was a record year of applications, with an incredible range of interesting stories coming out of regional Australia once more. We look forward to helping each of our finalists develop their scripts, supporting materials and their pitch. 

We really enjoy this collaboration with Screenworks, and are proud to be sharing in their mission, now in its 25th year, to elevate regional filmmakers and stories. We look forward to unpacking these projects and talking all things story craft and story selling at the Regional to Global Conference in June.”

"Congratulations to the five finalists for the 2025 AACTA Pitch Regional Landscapes. It was a very difficult decision this year with a record number of applications to choose from, but I am delighted to see this year's finalists represent a broad range of Australian regional landscapes and stories. I look forward to seeing how the coming weeks of guidance and support help these finalists finesse their pitch which will be judged at Screenworks Regional to Global screen forum in Lennox Head June 18 - 20. It's always exciting to see the talent that this partnership with AACTA uncovers." Said Screenworks CEO, Lisa O’Meara.

The recipient of the 2025 AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes in partnership with Screenworks initiative will be provided:

• Support to develop their screenplay and industry pitch.

• $5,000 in prize money, consisting of a $1,000 cash prize and $4,000 towards development.

• Supported live script read at the AACTA Festival in February 2026.

• Industry connection opportunities through the Australian Writers’ Guild Pathways program.

• Professional script development sessions with a script editor/story consultant.

• Invaluable feedback and ongoing guidance from the esteemed judging panel.

• AACTA, Screenworks and Australian Writers’ Guild annual memberships.

• Two tickets to Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Forum.

• Exclusive one-on-one meetings with up to 2 industry professionals at Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Forum.

• Two tickets to the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony including discounted accommodation package.