2026 So Far: From Private Ideas to the Big Screen

We kicked off the year by tackling the most persistent question for emerging filmmakers: “I’ve written the script—where do I actually start?”

Over the course of our From Idea to Screen and From Script to Screen series, we answered that question together. We began with the fundamentals of momentum, exploring how to shoot with no budget, leverage crowdfunding with Ravi Chand, and navigate formal grant pathways. We pivoted to the practical mechanics of production and communication and broke down how to design achievable stories that balance creative ambition with real-world constraints, and how to clearly articulate those visions to collaborators and funders.

This foundational journey culminated in the 2026 MCBA Chinatown Script Pitch Competition. Watching emerging creators step up to the mic at the Chinese Museum to confidently present their short film concepts to industry veterans Marisa Nanakhorn Brown, Colin Cairnes, and Sam Voutas was a powerful proof of concept. James Wajura taking home the $500 grand prize demonstrated firsthand how a confident, ready-to-shoot pitch can activate a room and attract real-world collaborators.

As the year progressed, we scaled our focus from short-form development to feature production and distribution. We demystified the journey from a micro-crew guerrilla shoot to the international festival circuit during our Time and Tide Industry Masterclass with Vee Shi and Nicholson Ren. We also explored how to build independent momentum without waiting on a risk-averse industry, learning from writer-director Dale Crawford’s experience self-financing and releasing his thriller, Lilith. Alongside these deep dives, the YAFF x Screen Presence Asian Showcase celebrated the dynamic voices of our next generation, serving as a powerful reminder of how community helps emerging creatives get their fiercely personal projects over the line.

Now, to round out an incredible year of independent storytelling, we are stepping into the broadcast television space.

< The Upcoming Event >

SEPARATED AT BIRTH:

SCREENING + Q&A w/ NAZEEM HUSSAIN & CREW ATTACHMENTS  

Princess Pictures and Screen Presence invite you to a special screening of Separated at Birth, the brand-new ABC comedy created by and starring Nazeem Hussain. 

Paramedics Sameer (Nazeem Hussain) and Donna (Urzila Carlson) thrive under pressure but fail at adulting. When Sameer's wife leaves after their son's birth and Donna's new house becomes a money pit, can these two repair the mess they've made of their lives? 

Join us for our screening of Episode 4 followed by a Q&A session moderated by Producer Lisa Wang, with Nazeem Hussain, and our Separated at Birth VicScreen and Screen Australia crew attachments; Ra Chapman, Shaki Prasanna, Fatima El-Hassan, and Shonal Kumar. 

Event Details: 

🗓 When: Thursday 19 November 2026 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm 

📍Where: Chinese Museum 22 Cohen Place, Melbourne VIC 3000
🎟 Click HERE for free tickets.

< The Previous Event >

1. Making a Short Film with (Almost) No Budget

How to start before you feel ready — using what you already have.

This session focused on removing the biggest barrier filmmakers feel — waiting for permission. Our speakers share how they made their first shorts using limited resources and community support.

2. Building Momentum Through Crowdfunding with Ravi Chand

Turning a private idea into a project other people can support.

This session explored crowdfunding as a momentum tool — not just raising money, but activating community, testing your idea publicly and building early supporters. We’ll cover how campaigns work, what makes people contribute, and how filmmakers manage the emotional and time demands of running one.

More about Ravi at warriortribefilms.com/ravi-chand

3. Navigating Short Film Funding Pathways

Understanding where funding fits, and how a short film opens doors.

This session broke down how filmmakers move from self-initiated work into formal funding. We’ll discuss grant pathways, what assessors actually look for, and how a short film can strategically lead toward future projects.

4. Writing Achievable Short Films

Designing a story you can actually produce, not just imagine.

Now the focus shifts from making anything to making something deliberate.

This session looked at writing short films that can actually be produced — designing scripts around accessible locations, manageable cast sizes and practical budgets without losing creative ambition.

5. It’s All in the Pitch

A good pitch isn’t just about performance. It’s about clarity.

Our recent session, It’s All in the Pitch, shifted the focus of pitching away from pure performance and onto clarity. Designed for writers, directors, and producers.

Joined by panellists Naomi Mulholland (Producer), Christopher Kam (Script Producer) and Brendan Wan (Writer, Presenter, Producer and winner of the 2025 MCBA Short Film Pitch Competition), the conversational session covered the mechanics of a successful presentation. The panel broke down what makes industry guests lean in or switch off, how to sharpen the core idea beneath a pitch, and exactly what filmmakers need to prepare before stepping into the room.

6. 2026 MCBA Chinatown Script Pitch Competition

Taking the concept from the page to the stage for real-world feedback. This live competition challenged emerging creators to pitch original short film concepts set in Melbourne's Chinatown directly to our industry panel: Marisa Nanakhorn Brown, Colin Cairnes, and Sam Voutas. The event celebrated fresh, diverse storytelling while giving filmmakers a high-stakes platform to test their ideas publicly and field real-time feedback. Ultimately, James Wajura took home the $500 grand prize, demonstrating how a confident, ready-to-shoot pitch can activate the room and attract future collaborators.

7. Time and Tide Industry Masterclass

Demystifying the journey from a guerrilla shoot in China to the international festival circuit. This exclusive masterclass brought director Vee Shi and producer Nicholson Ren to the Chinese Museum to unpack the evolution of their award-winning feature, Time and Tide. The session provided a practical breakdown of hybrid documentary craft, detailing how the team pivoted from a sci-fi concept to an intimate family portrait using a micro-crew. Ultimately, the evening proved that with resourcefulness and strategic self-distribution, fiercely independent stories can command a global stage.

8. YAFF x Screen Presence Asian Showcase

Celebrating the bold, dynamic voices of the next generation of Asian-Australian storytellers. This special collaboration with the Young Australian Film Festival presented a dedicated showcase of incredible, diverse short films. The evening featured a curated lineup of micro-budget projects—spanning quirky animation to experimental horror—that deeply explored intimate themes of queer identity, family dynamics, and belonging. Ultimately, the lively Q&A highlighted the immense power of community in helping emerging creatives get their fiercely personal projects over the line.

9. Making a Self-Funded Feature with Dale Crawford

How to take a micro-budget film from script to global release — on your own terms. This session focused on building your own momentum rather than waiting on a risk-averse industry. Writer-director Dale Crawford shared how he self-financed, shot, and distributed his award-winning thriller Lilith by putting his lowest-budget concept first, subverting genre tropes, and keeping execution simple.