Last month, our 2023 Graduates returned to the AFTRS main theatre to showcase their range of creative voices and multifaceted talents honed while forging their career path at AFTRS.
Industry guests and graduates attended a curated screening, showcasing works by the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production and Master of Arts Screen graduates followed by an in-person networking session, where graduates had the opportunity to meet Industry members and form connections.
AFTRS Academic Board Chair, Professor Mark Rose, traditionally linked to the Gunditjmara Nation of western Victoria, addressed attendees with the wisdom and perspective of a 40-year career in education, enriching the celebration of our Graduates’ achievements.
Professor Mark Rose: “[Students] choose AFTRS because this is the place where rivers meet and spirits meet.”
Professor Mark Rose: “For 50 years rivers of stories have met here. People have shared their knowledge and their experience, crafted narrative as an artist’s palette and created stories that have gone out and really define who we are as a people. These graduates have entered into that spirit and tradition.”
The screening presented a plethora of talent that delivered powerful storytelling moments to the audience, showcasing a diverse array of voices and technical skills, from outstanding cinematography to immersive sound design and involving editing, presenting the standard to which our screen Graduates enter the industry.
AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production graduates are emerging specialists with multiskilled capabilities and able to work on different roles in production, with 90% of the recent graduates employed within the first year of graduation, working in a range of productions from Mystery Road to The Great Australian Bake Off, showcasing the versatility and readiness of AFTRS graduates for the industry.
Our Master of Arts Screen graduates are specialised practitioners with an immersive exploration into creative screen practice to apply advanced discipline-specific skills to an exciting, ever-changing screen industry. Working on various productions, from Elvis to We Are Still Here, in all the creative departments.
After the screening, the network session took over in the AFTRS foyer, with computers set up with a database of ready-to-watch AFTRS film productions for graduates willing to share more of their work with industry attendants.
Amid this bustling atmosphere, Sarah Young, a current student of our Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, put her own emerging skills to use capturing reflections from graduates and industry:
The Graduate Showcase was part of a significant moment at AFTRS as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and look forward to the bright future of Australian screen and story worlds.