Presented in partnership with Sydney Film Festival, This Industry Is Not For Me gives insight into the screen industry inner working.
Sometimes the screen industry feels like a private members’ club – all about who you know. In this conversation moderated by filmmaker Skye Leon, practitioners and educators from all backgrounds talk about what the industry is really like, the barriers to entry, and how training can help kick the door down.
They share advice on what they wish they’d known starting out, what opportunities exist for under-represented groups, and what it’s like starting straight out of high school vs transitioning into the screen industry from another career.
Special Guests
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Ellen Hodgson – PANELIST
Ellen Hodgson is an Anishinaabe / Apsaalooke filmmaker who grew up on Ngunnawal Country and currently resides on Wurundjeri Country. She is a producer and the Community Outreach Engagement Manager within the First Nations and Outreach team at AFTRS.
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Jayden Rathsam Hua – PANELIST
Jayden Rathsam Hua is a Chinese-Australian director, writer and producer. An alumnus of the MIFF Accelerator Lab and TIFF Filmmaker Lab, Jayden co-founded the Australian genre-focused production company Cosmic Scream. His horror short Sushi Noh has won multiple awards, including ‘Best Screenplay for an Australian Short’ at Flickerfest 2023, and was released digitally on YouTube’s Short of the Week and as a Vimeo Staff Pick.
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Sofya Gollan – PANELIST
Sofya Gollan is an AACTA-nominated filmmaker, actor and playwright. Sofya presented Play School, normalising disability onscreen, and has spent decades advocating for diversity and disability inclusion. She has also worked as an executive, a story developer and as an Access Coordinator, working to support Deaf/Disabled & Nuerodivergent (DDN) creatives.
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Skye Leon – MODERATOR
Skye Leon is a Lardil Yangkaal and Worimi filmmaker with a background as a youth and community worker. Skye interned with the ABC’s Children’s department (AFTRS Graduate Program 2021) and spent a year as a staff writer for Jungle Entertainment (2022 SBS Emerging Writer’s Incubator). Her short films Sunnies and To Be Silent screened at Sydney Film Festival and Flickerfest.
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The event will be interpreted by 2 Auslan Interpreters Katie Eales and Dani Fried.
Accessible entry to Sydney Lower Town Hall is available via Druitt Street, directional signage is located around the building. For assistance please call 02 9265 9178.