It was a full house at AFTRS on Tuesday 11 March when industry, staff and students came together for the annual AFTRS Showcase: Screen Industry Night.
The event — an evening dedicated to celebrating our newest graduates’ outstanding work while fostering connections with practitioners in the screen industry – was attended by more than 100 people, including representatives from Screen Australia, ABC, Stan, as well as a range of production companies, streamers and broadcasters.
The showcase started with the screening of six films from our Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production and Master of Arts Screen graduands, highlighting the depth of talent and creativity nurtured at AFTRS. The selected films represented just a fraction of the incredible work by our 120 graduating students who have produced more than 100 films this year.
The audience filled the main theatre, reacting with laughs, tears and gasps to a rich mosaic of stories, ranging from explorations about the essential role of storytelling in healing through the lens of a Cambodian heart, to a visual and musical ensemble of the power of group protest, and to the complexities of love and duty when faced with unfathomable decisions. Each film demonstrated a unique perspective, storytelling and craft. All the graduation and capstone films produced by AFTRS’ 2024 graduands have now been made available for industry viewing online.
The screening was introduced by AFTRS CEO Dr Nell Greenwood, AFTRS Council Chair Rachel Perkins and AFTRS Student Member of Council Jude Palmer Rowlands.
Nell thanked industry guests for attending the event and remarked on how the yearly celebration of graduating students was always an impressive moment, with the films bringing together the breadth and depth of talent, from writers, directors and producers to every essential crew role to bring these stories to the screen.
“Keep an eye for the amazing sound editing and production design, cinematography, music composition and sound that you’re also going to hear tonight,” she said, noting the essential collaborative nature of filmmaking.
Rachel agreed, and pointed out that beyond talent, what set AFTRS graduates apart was their resilience and determination.
“Many of our students have faced significant challenges to pursue their studies, whether relocating, juggling multiple jobs, or making financial sacrifices,” she said, noting students’ commitment to the craft in every project they undertook.
Industry partners attending the showcase had the unique opportunity to engage with graduands after the screening, to discuss the films as well as opportunities for future collaborations and potential career pathways.
Ella Carter, a Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting graduand and producer at Triple J, joined us to chat with graduates and industry about the screening and what they’re looking forward to.
Screen Industry Night is part of the AFTRS Showcase that takes place from March to May, with a series of in-person events representing the range of creative ambition and skills of our students across our courses – Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Master of Arts Screen, Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, and Master of Arts Screen: Business. It is the perfect opportunity for our valued industry partners to meet our graduates, connect with emerging talent and find the skillsets they may need in their organisations or on productions.
Upcoming events:
- AFTRS Showcase: Radio & Podcasting – Networking Event at AFTRS, April 29
- AFTRS Showcase: Business – Networking and Breakfast at Screen Forever, May 8
A bridge between emerging talent and established industry professionals and a celebration of creativity, commitment to craft and excellence in audio and screen, the AFTRS showcase provided a unique opportunity for industry to engage with Australia’s next generation of storytellers, ensuring that fresh voices and new perspectives continue to shape screen and audio.
