Ones To Watch Alumni
Alumni
Since 2013, our Ones To Watch program has been highlighting the talent of rising producers and providing unique mentorship and industry guidance to accelerate the careers of the next generation of Australia's screen practitioners.
Since its induction, the program has celebrated the diversity of Australian filmmakers, with our 170 alumni coming from every state and territory in the nation and utilising a variety of platforms and formats to tell their stories and share their unique viewpoints.
We have been proud to offer a number of development opportunities during the program's history, including the Foxtel Studio Kickstart (2013 - 2014), the SBS Kickstart (2015), SBS First Look Grant (2016 - 2020) and Screen Australia supported Ones To Watch Screen Placement (2013 - present) and have enjoyed watching the projects supported by these initiatives progress over the years.
2024
- Alexandra Doering - Mentor: Ian Collie, Easy Tiger Productions
- Amy Parry (Awarded Ones To Watch Screen Placement) - Mentor: Jo Porter, Curio Pictures
- Gillian Crosby - Mentor: Tanya Phegan, Guesswork TV
- Jodie Kirkbride - Mentor: Brett Popplewell, Fremantle Australia
- Lisa Albert - Mentors: Jennifer Peedom and Jo-Anne McGowan, Stranger Than Fiction
- Michael Hudson - Mentors: David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, Bunya Productions
- Monique Mulcahy - Mentor: Hugh Baldwin, Flying Bark Productions
- Nara Wilson - Mentor: Suzanne Ryan, SLR Productions
- Stephanie Cole - Mentors: Melinda Wearne and David Ogilvy, Beyond Productions
- Tessa Mansfield-Hung - Mentor: Lisa Shaunessy, Arcadia
- Tobias Willis - Mentor: Alastair MacKinnon, Matchbox Pictures
2023
- Rita Artmann – Mentor: Lauren Brown, Ludo Studio
- Navid Bahadori – Mentor: Kylie Washington, BBC Studios Australia
- Lilla Berry – Mentors: David Jowsey & Greer Simpkin, Bunya Productions
- Rae Choi – Mentor: Rebecca Summerton, Closer Productions
- Shontell Ketchell – Mentors: Bain Stewart & Leah Purcell, Oombarra Productions
- Scarlett Koehne – Mentor: Rob Gibson, Easy Tiger Productions
- Cecilia Low – Mentor: Rebecca Barry, Media Stockade
- Joseph Meldrum – Mentor: Schuyler Weiss, BAZMARK
- Jessica Murphy – Mentor: Dan Lake, Orange Entertainment Co.
- Georgia Noe – Mentor: Vincent Sheenan, Origma 45
- Kara Pisconeri – Mentor: Lisa Shaunessy, Independent
- Amanda Spagnolo – Mentor: Pennie Brown, Princess Pictures
2022
- Christopher Amos - Mentor: Tony Ayres, Tony Ayres Productions
- Chanel Bowen - Mentor: Rosemary Blight, Goalpost Pictures
- Bethany Bruce - Mentor: Virginia Whitwell, GoodThing Productions
- Jason Chong - Mentor: Micah Hewson, ITV
- Hanna Griffiths - Mentors: Angie Fielder & Polly Staniford, Aquarius Films
- Emma Roberts (Awarded Ones To Watch Screen Placement) - Mentor: Nathan Anderson, New Canvas
- Tim Russell - Mentor: Jo Porter, Curio Pictures
- Luke Saliba - Mentor: Rick Kalowski, Whoa Bandit Productions
- Sierra Schrader - Mentor: Michael McMahon, Big & Little Films
- Cyna Strachan - Mentor: Alastair MacKinnon, Matchbox Pictures
- Aven Yap - Mentor: Joanna Werner, Northern Pictures
- Debbie Zhou - Mentor: Rachel Gardner, Curio Pictures
2021
- Jo Austin - Mentors: Angie Fielder & Polly Staniford, Aquarius Films
- Brooke Collard - Mentor: Ian Darling, Shark Island
- Julia Corcoran - Mentor: Liz Watts, Spirit Pictures
- William Duan - Mentor: Michael McMahon, Big and Little Films
- Liam Heyen - Mentor: Tony Ayres, Tony Ayres Productions
- David Holroyd - Mentors: Nathan Mayfield & Tracey Robertson, Hoodlum Entertainment
- Georgia Humphreys - Mentor: Carly Heaton, Fremantle Australia
- Jessica Magro (Awarded Ones To Watch Screen Placement) - Mentors: Helen Bowden & Tess Novak, Lingo Pictures
- Hannah Ngo - Mentor: Chris Oliver-Taylor, Fremantle Australia
- Molly O'Connor - Mentor: Rebecca Summerton, Closer Productions
- Kate Separovich - Mentor: Mike Cowap, Princess Pictures
- Sara Taghaode - Mentor: Nick Murray, CJZ
2020
- Chris Luscri - Mentor: Lizzette Atkins, Unicorn Films
- Clare Sladden - Mentor: Carly Heaton, Fremantle Australia
- Danielle Redford - Mentor: Angie Fielder & Polly Staniford, Aquarius Films
- Hayley Adams - Mentor: Meg O'Connell, Unless Pictures (Awarded SBS First Look Grant)
- Joanna Beveridge - Mentor: Jo Werner, Werner Film Productions
- Joshua Longhurst - Mentor: Alastair McKinnon, Matchbox Pictures
- Liz Tomkins - Mentor: Catherine Nebauer, Northern Pictures
- Ljudan Michaelis-Thorpe (Awarded Ones To Watch Screen Placement) - Mentor: Karla Burt, 720 Creative
- MahVeen Shahraki - Mentor: Tracey Vieira, Hoodlum Entertainment
- Peter Daly - Mentor: Jenny O'Shea, Beyond Productions
- Philip Tarl Denson - Mentor: Michael Pontin, See Pictures
- Ruby Schmidt - Mentor: Ian Collie, Easy Tiger Productions
2019
- Belinda Dean - Mentor: Sophia Zachariou, Bunya Productions
- Courtney Collins - Mentor: Deb Cox & Fiona Eager, Every Cloud Productions
- Emilia Jolakoska - Mentor: Samantha Jennings & Kristina Ceyton, Causeway Films
- Hayley Johnson - Mentor: Tracey Vieira, Hoodlum Entertainment
- Lizzie Cater - Mentor: Rob Gibson, Easy Tiger Productions
- Mary Duong - Mentor: Amanda Higgs, Matchbox Pictures
- Matthew Webb - Mentor: Paul Currie, Cosmos Pictures
- Nicole Delprado - Mentor: Catherine Nebauer, Northern Pictures
- Jim Wright - Mentor: Chris Oliver-Taylor, Fremantle
- Jo de Fina - Mentor: Nick Batzias, GoodThing Productions
- Paul Moran - Mentor: Mike Cowap, Princess Pictures
- Rachel Higgins - Mentor: Andrew Mackie, Transmission Films (Awarded Ones To Watch Screen Internship Grant)
- Rebecca Elliot - Mentor: Charlotte Wheaton, GoodThing Productions
- Riley Nottingham - Mentor: Ben Ulm, ITV Studios Australia
- Taryne Laffar - Mentor: Lois Randall, Magpie Pictures (Awarded SBS First Look Grant)
- Vonne Patiag - Mentor: Michael McMahon, Matchbox Pictures
2018
- Andre Lima - Mentor: Tim Mcgahan, Blacklab
- Bridget May - Mentor: Ben Ulm, ITV Studios Australia
- Brooke Silcox - Mentor: Rebecca Barry, Media Stockade
- Carl Firth - Mentor: Noel Manzano, Hoodlum
- Cody Greenwood - Mentor: Sam Griffin, Essential Media
- Dan Trotter - Mentor: Jon Casimir, Legacy Media
- Dominic Crisci - Mentor: Antony I. Ginnane, F G Film Productions (Australia)
- Grace Rein - Mentor: Bridget Callow-Wright, Midwinter Films
- Jessica Carrera - Mentor: Jo Werner, Werner Film Productions
- Kate Fox - Mentor: Jenny O’Shea, Beyond Productions
- Laura Clelland - Mentor: Stephen Luby, Ruby Entertainment
- Lester Francois - Mentor: Helen Pankhurst, Matchbox Pictures
- Mat Govoni - Mentor: Tony Ayres, Tony Ayres Productions (Awarded SBS First Look Grant)
- Nicolette Minster - Mentor: Jenni Tosi, Princess Pictures
- Rachael Wegener - Mentor: Chris Oliver-Taylor, Fremantle (Awarded Screen Internship)
- Ryan Verbruggen - Mentor: Rory Callaghan, Screentime
- Taylor Litton-Strain - Mentor: Greer Simpkin, Bunya Productions
- Tom Phillips - Mentor: Kris Wyld, Clandestine Pty Ltd
- Tsu Shan Chambers - Mentor: Angie Fielder & Polly Staniford, Aquarious Films
- Olivia Olley - Mentor: Jo Porter, Fremantle
2017
- Abi Tabone – Mentor: John Edwards & Dan Edwards, Rough Diamond Entertainment
- Ann Megalla – Mentor: Vincent Sheehan, Porchlight Films (Awarded Screen Internship)
- Ben Whimpey – Mentor: David Redman, Redman Entertainment
- Drew Macdonald – Mentor: Imogen Banks, Endemol Shine Australia
- Georinga Isles – Mentor: Toni Malone, CJZ
- Hawanatu Bangura – Mentor: Carmel Travers, Pop Family Entertainment
- Joel Kohn – Mentor: Kristian Moliere, Triptych Pictures (Awarded SBS First Look Grant)
- Jonathon Dutton – Mentor: Kate Croser, KOJO Entertainment
- Joshua Gilbert – Mentor: Mark Ruse, Ruby Entertainment
- Kate Paul – Mentor: Caroline Spencer, Fremantle
- Michael O’Neill – Mentor: Paul Walton, Princess Pictures
- Nicole Miller – Mentor: Stuart Menzies, December Media
- Paul Andersen – Mentor: Jason Stephens, Lingo Pictures
- Rebecca Ingram – Mentor: Deb Cox & Fiona Eagger, Every Cloud Productions
- Ross Howden – Mentor: Janelle Landers, WBMC
- Sal Balharrie – Mentor: Rory Callaghan, Screentime
- Tess Meyer – Mentor: Vicki Madden, Sweet Potato Films
- Tina A.Wake – Mentor: Virginia Whitwell, Madman Entertainment
- Tom Slater – Mentor: Jon Casimir
2016
- Aaron Fa’aoso - Mentor: Nathan Mayfield, Hoodlum
- Anita Ondine - Mentor: Kylie Mascord, Ambience Entertainment
- Briege Whitehead - Mentor: Ed Punchard & Julia Redwood, Prospero Productions
- Chris Hocking - Mentor: Andrea Denholm, Princess Pictures
- Darius Devas - Mentor: Nathan Anderson, Start VR
- Elle Croxford - Mentor: Vicki Madden, Sweet Potato Films
- Lauren Elliott - Mentor: Chloe Rickard, Jungle Entertainment
- Liliana Muñoz - Mentor: Mark Lazarus, Arclight Films
- Lina Silva - Mentor: Carmel Travers, Essential Media and Entertainment
- Lou Quill - Mentor: Alan Erson, Essential Media and Entertainment
- Maria Tran - Mentor: Toni Malone, CJZ
- Marissa Mcdowell - Mentor: Marcus Gillezeau, Firelight Productions
- Niall Doran - Mentor: Madeleine Hetherton, Media Stockade
- Nicholas Colla - Mentor: Mark Ruse, Ruby Entertainment
- Ramona Telecican - Mentor: Amanda Higgs
- Rob Innes - Mentor: Barbara Stephen, Flying Bark Productions
- Sandra Pires - Mentor: Jennifer Wilson, The Project Factory
- Tanith Glynn-Maloney - Mentor: Kylie Washington, Matchbox Pictures
- Yingna Lu - Mentor: Donna Andrews, Sticky Pictures (Awarded Screen Internship)
2015
- Alex Barnes - Mentor: Sue Milliken, Samson Productions
- Alex Kelly - Mentor: Julia Overton, Jotz Productions (Awarded SBS Kickstart)
- Ana Tiwary - Mentor: Marcus Gillezeau, Firelight Productions
- Bridget Callow-Wright - Mentor: Vincent Sheehan, Porchlight Films (Awarded Screen Internship, Pictured)
- Christian Doran - Mentor: Michael Robertson, Prodigy Movies
- Christina Radburn - Mentor: Ian Collie & Rachel Turk, Essential Media and Entertainment
- Cindy Li - Mentor: David Redman, Redman Entertainments
- Dustin Clare - Mentor: Debbie Lee, Matchbox Pictures
- Ivy Mak - Mentor: Andrea Denholm, Princess Pictures
- Jaclyn Hewer - Mentor: Laura Waters, Princess Pictures
- Lauren Brunswick - Mentor: Mark Lazarus, Arclight Films
- Phyllis Foundis - Mentor: Anita Jacoby, ITV Studios Australia
- Rosie Lourde - Mentor: Amanda Higgs
- Timothy Parish - Mentor: Lucy Mclaren, Renegade Films
2014
- Alice Ross - Mentor: Melissa Kelly, Factor 30 Films
- Amanda Reedy - Mentor: Paul Walton, Princess Pictures
- Bec Dakin - Mentor: Kate Croser, Hedone Productions
- Dominique Hurley - Mentor: David Redman, Instinct Entertainment
- Jennifer Jones - Mentor: Tony Ayres, Matchbox Pictures
- Jessica Leslie - Mentor: Ian Collie, Essential Media and Entertainment (Awarded Studio Kickstart, Pictured)
- Kristy O’Brien - Mentor: Alan Erson, Essential Media and Entertainment (Awarded Screen Internship)
- Kyls Burtland - Mentor: Andrea Denholm, Princess Pictures
- Lisa Hoppe - Mentor: Lucy Maclaren, Renegade Films
- Meg Carlsen - Mentor: Rosemary Blight, Goalpost Pictures
- Rushan Dissanayake - Mentor: Peter Herbert, Beyond Screen Production
- Sarah-Jane Mcallen - Mentor: David Lightfoot, Ultrafilms
- Sonny Vrebac - Mentor: Guy Gadney, The Project Factory
- Stuart Parkyn - Mentor: Kristian Moliere, Triptych Pictures
- Tamasin Simpkin - Mentor: Amanda Higgs
- Tanya Dombkins - Mentor: Miriam Stein, Hatch Entertainment
- Tara Riddell - Mentor: Sue Armstrong, Tree (Australia)
2013
- Behren Schulz - Mentor: Antony I. Ginnane, IFM Films
- Brian Cobb - Mentor: Kate Croser, Hedone Productions
- Christine Williams - Mentor: Sue Taylor, Taylor Media
- Dan Lake - Mentor: Lucy Maclaren, Renegade Films
- Emma Morris - Mentor: Jennifer Wilson, The Project Factory
- Ester Harding - Mentor: David Redman, Instinct Entertainment
- Greg Logan - Mentor: Janeen Faithfull, Southern Star Entertainment
- Jo Dyer - Mentor: Kylie Du Fresne, Goalpost Pictures
- Julian V Costanzo - Mentor: Debbie Lee, Matchbox Pictures
- Juliet Lamont - Mentor: Janelle Landers, WBMC
- Kate Pappas - Mentor: Tony Wright, December Media
- Kristen Souvlis - Mentor: Donna Andrews, Sticky Pictures
- Kylie Bryant - Mentor: Jen Peedom, Jungleboys
- Lara Radulovich - Mentor: Ian Collie, Essential Media and Entertainment (Awarded Screen Internship)
- Lisa Shaunessy - Mentor: David Lightfoot, Ultra Films (Awarded Studio Kickstart)
- Mike Kang - Mentor: Nicole Minchin, High Wire Films
- Pennie Brown - Mentor: Amanda Higgs, Jahm Productions
- Tenille Kennedy - Mentor: Joanna Werner, Werner Film Productions