2026 So Far: From Private Ideas to the Pitch Room

We kicked off the year by tackling the question we hear most often: “I’ve written the script—where do I actually start?”

Over our From Idea to Screen and From Script to Screen series, we found the answers together. Across six dedicated events, packed rooms of new faces and seasoned practitioners explored how to turn private ideas into tangible realities. We started with the fundamentals of momentum—shooting with no budget, leveraging crowdfunding, and navigating grant pathways.

Once the community was activated, we pivoted to the practical mechanics of production and communication. We 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 six-part journey culminated last week with the 2026 MCBA Chinatown Script Pitch Competition. Seeing 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 the perfect proof of concept. It proved that mastering clarity and communication is how projects move forward.

< The Upcoming Event >

YAFF x Screen Presence Asian Showcase

Now in its 3rd year, the Young Australian Film Festival (YAFF) is dedicated to empowering the next generation of storytellers. As part of their 2026 festival season, YAFF is collaborating with Screen Presence to present a dedicated showcase of incredible short films made by young Asian filmmakers from across Australia. 

We always advocate for emerging creatives who are actively producing and sharing their work. A huge congratulations to the directors selected for this year's lineup! 

Join us for this special screening, followed by an audience Q&A and informal industry networking. 

Featuring:Forget-Me-Not, The Red Packet, Steady, As She Goes, Fishboy, Change We Hold Onto, Buffalo Grass, Scar, RHIN, The Decision, Bagua, and SLATE. 

🗓 When: Thursday, 17 September 2026 | 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM  

📍Where: The Chinese Museum, Level 1/22 Cohen Place, Melbourne VIC 3000  
🎟 Tickets:https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1632625

Proudly sponsored by the the Museum of Chinese Australian History, and Black Sheep Films.

< 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.