Screenworks is calling for Australian regional filmmakers to apply for their inaugural initiative, The Athena Project. The project aims to address the gender imbalance in Australia’s film industry by increasing the number of regional women in lead creative roles. 

Tasmanian writer and director of international film festival Stranger With My Face, Briony Kidd said the project is a great opportunity for regional female filmmakers to network.

“With my film festival and things I have been involved with, when you get a group of filmmakers together and have them talk about their projects, and the difficulties they are experiencing, people are really supportive,” Ms Kidd said. 

“Independent filmmakers really want to help each other and see each other succeed because they know how hard it is.”

Successful applicants will attend a Screen Industry Career Forum and a two-day Residential Workshop in Byron Bay. 

Applicants can be individual writers or directors, or a writer and director team. 

There will be an applicant from each state and territory chosen to attend the workshop in November. They will take part in a program aimed at developing viable screen career plans, building industry connections and receiving support to create a long-term career future in the industry.  

Guest speakers will include writer and director of Women He’s Undressed and Mr Brilliant Career, Gillan Armstrong, director of scripted development at Matchbox Pictures Debbie Lee and creative industries career advisor Monica Davidson. 

Giving regional women, especially those in Tasmania, the opportunity to work alongside industry experts as well as like-minded individuals creates a powerful sense of community, Ms Kidd said. “It is just a hard industry, when you look at who is actually making feature films and only 16 per cent of them are women directors it is kind of discouraging I suppose.

“It is just really important to understand the context you are working in and if you realise that there is some kind of bias across the industry it just makes you less likely to kind of give up.”

Support for the initiative is still being formalised, but the Department of State Growth said Screen Tasmania will provide assistance to the emerging female filmmaker chosen to attend. 

“We hope that talent identified through The Athena Project will go on to long and fruitful careers in the screen industry, including creating stories that speak about, and to, women,” they said. 

Applications close on September 8. For more information visit screenworks.com.au/theathenaproject/.