Australian Film Television and Radio School

18/10/2026

Five AFTRS alumni have been recognised in the 2026 ARIA Awards nominations.

Congratulations to Joff Bush, Joe Twist and Jazz D’Arcy on their nomination for Best Children's Album, and to Caitlin Yeo and Amanda Brown, who have each been nominated for Best Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album.

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17/10/2026

Join us at the Capital Film Festival for a special AFTRS Masterclass with Genevieve Clay-Smith and Natalie Beak.

A conversation about accessibility, inclusion and the power of screen stories to create change.

Next Sunday 25 October. Register.
https://canberra.dendy.com.au/movie/cff26---aftrs-presents-masterclass/

17/10/2026

Congratulations to AFTRS alumni Liam Heyen and Madeleine Hetherton-Miau, the inaugural recipients of the SPA Producer Fellowship. The six-month program will support the accomplished producers through mentorship, industry connections and professional development opportunities designed to help grow their careers and international reach.

Read more.

Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has announced Liam Heyen and Madeleine Hetherton-Miau as the inaugural recipients of its Producer Fellowship.

16/10/2026

Five AFTRS films are heading to the Byron Bay Film Festival starting today, with two also nominated for Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year.

Congratulations to the teams behind Bringing His Spirit Home, Fracture, Interview with a Hero, Goodbye, Fishies and Nothing and the Sun. Special congratulations to the crews ofGoodbye Fishies and Nothing and the Sun on their Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year nominations.

Find more about the program.
https://www.bbff.com.au/

16/10/2026

Congratulations to the winners and 91 nominees at the inaugural Sonarr AU Awards, held at Machine Hall Sydney yesterday and supported by AFTRS. Founded by AFTRS alum and award-winning executive podcast producer and audio creator Pariya Taherzadeh, Sonarr brought together a brilliant showcase of Australia’s audio industry.

AFTRS was proud to be part of the evening, with Andrea Ho, Discipline Lead for Radio and Podcasting, highlighting audio as a revolutionary force in her speech, along with Natalie Pozdeev, Program Convenor of the Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, who presented three awards. Alexei Toliopoulos hosted the event.

Special congratulations to Marc Fennell, winner of the AFTRS Narrative Excellence Award, alongside fellow finalists Dr Chelinay Gates and Coequal.

It was fantastic to see AFTRS talent represented across the night, including AFTRS student Felicity Weaver, who took home the Student Creator Award, with fellow AFTRS student Cate McKenzie also recognised as a finalist.

AFTRS alum Sajarn Stow won the First Nations Creator Award, and current student Micah Kickett was also nominated. Congratulations as well to AFTRS alum Tom Denham, whose work on The Glam Gizmo won the Audio Drama Award.

Also studying the Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, Lindsey Vassallo was nominated for the Indie Creator Award, and Kwame Slusher attended in support of his FBI Radio-nominated show, All The Best, run by AFTRS alumni and students, which was a finalist in the Events for Audio category.

Felicity Ward and Yannick Lawry, both finalists in the Performance/Acting Excellence Award, teach voice-over at AFTRS short courses.

What an incredible night for audio! Congratulations again to all the winners and nominees.

15/10/2026

Congratulations to AFTRS alum Noora Niasari on being selected as one of only two recipients of the 2026 Academy Gold Fellowship for Women.

Noora graduated from AFTRS in 2011 (documentary) and has built an impressive international career, from her acclaimed short film Tâm to her award-winning debut feature Shayda, executive produced by Cate Blanchett and Australia’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Academy Awards.

The one-year fellowship will provide mentorship, professional support and unique networking opportunities through the Academy’s global talent development program.

Read more.
https://press.oscars.org/news/academy-announces-recipients-2026-gold-fellowship-women

14/10/2026

As they prepare to graduate, Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production students are gaining valuable insights into the screen industry through the AFTRS Industry Placements program, working alongside professionals and learning firsthand about career pathways across the sector.

This year, 33 students are undertaking placements across 24 of Australia’s leading broadcasting, production and post-production companies.

Through direct industry engagement, students gain valuable insight into the departments and roles they may pursue after graduation, while building professional networks and deepening their understanding of career pathways within the screen sector.

Read more.
https://www.aftrs.edu.au/news/2026/aftrs-industry-placements-connect-students-with-leading-screen-companies/

13/10/2026

Congratulations to all the AFTRS alumni nominated for the 2026 Ellie Awards, including AFTRS alumni recognised across a wide range of categories.

Danielle Boesenberg ASE and Bernadette Murray have each received nominations in two categories. Danielle is nominated for Caper Crew and Colin From Accounts, while Bernadette is recognised for her work on the documentary feature Silenced and current affairs program Foreign Correspondent, edited with Micah McGown.

Other AFTRS alumni finalists include Adrian Rostirolla ASE for Boss Cat, Rory Brennan for The Piano, Bryan Fisher for 7.30, Katrina Barker ASE for The Killings at Parrish Station, Julie-Anne De Ruvo ASE for Deadloch, Brad Hurt ASE for Shelly, Robert Kelly for The Floor, Peter Crombie ASE for The People vs Robodebt edited with Gretchen Peterson and Rachel Grierson-Johns, and Scott Walmsley who worked as additional editor for Whistle along with Matias Bolla and Johanna Scott.

We're also excited to see the work of the next generation of Australian editors for the AFTRS Awards. Congratulations to Eduardo Castro, Ryan Nash and Connor Piscicelli, finalists for the AFTRS Award for the Most Outstanding Emerging Editor – Early Career, and to Daniel McGarry Gallagher and Chimene Khoo from AFTRS, alongside Abel Connors from Swinburne University of Technology, who are finalists for the AFTRS Award for the Most Outstanding Emerging Editor – Student.

The Ellie Awards celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, with winners to be announced in Sydney on 5 December. Read more.
https://if.com.au/australian-screen-editors-reveals-nominees-for-20th-ellie-awards/

Australian Screen Editors

Australian Screen Editors has unveiled the nominees for December's Ellie Awards, with Rachel Grierson-Johns leading the field with four nods.

12/10/2026

Congratulations to AFTRS alum Penelope McDonald on winning the 2026 SPARK Short Film Initiative for The Long Drop. The comedy short premiered at the NT Screen and Cinematic Craft Summit, and the jury recognised it for its storytelling and performances.

The SPARK initiative supports emerging filmmakers through development, mentorship and production opportunities, with this year's participants also receiving guidance from AFTRS faculty.

Read more.

A HIGH NOTE FOR THE LONG DROP - WINNER OF THE 2026 SPARK SHORT FILM INITIATIVE

11/10/2026

Looking to establish, strengthen or grow your screen business?

Join Screen Business Essentials, a two-day online intensive presented by Screen Producers Australia in conjunction with AFTRS.

Designed for producers, the course brings together industry experts to explore the legal, financial and commercial fundamentals of screen production, from IP and rights through to financing, employment, production management and long-term business growth.

The course runs online this week, Thursday and Friday. Register.
https://www.screenproducers.org.au/events/details/?id=32642873-a85a-4f18-9304-f4f3a4bda067