Screen NSW will support two filmmaking teams as they develop their screen projects into short films, proof of concepts or low budget features as part of its latest Short to Feature Fast Track intake.
This program was established in 2023 and aims to support emerging to mid-level New South Wales-based screen practitioners. It provides creative teams with up to $75,000 to produce a short or proof of concept, while also supporting script development for low budget feature films.
While the program does not provide funding for project completion, the intent is to provide a basis for teams to attract further funding, whether from Screen NSW, Screen Australia or other established organisations.
Screen NSW Fast Track teams – quick links
The 2026 Short to Feature Fast Track cohort
Two projects have been selected for Screen NSW Short to Feature Fast Track funding. In the coming months, both teams will apply their grants to further develop their short films, to advance them to the next stage.
This process will also be aided by their Screen NSW-selected executive producers, Vincent Sheehan from Origma 45 (Fisk, Shayda) and Nick Batzias from Good Thing Productions (The Engagement, Nitram).
Here are the synopses of the two successful projects.
Hostiles
Short film: ‘A staged hostage exercise spirals when a group of rival media personalities push the simulation too far, forcing them to reconstruct the incident in real time, as competing versions of the truth begin to take hold.’
Feature film: ‘During a hostile environment training course for journalists and internet personalities, one of the participants is critically injured in a simulation pushed too far, and when the group is locked in a room to agree on an official account, they must decide whether to protect their careers or admit that each of them helped cause it.’
Hostiles is developed by David Ma (Producer), Rebecca Metcalf (Writer/Director) and Vincent Sheehan (Executive Producer.)
Meat Raffle
Short film and feature film: ‘When Karli Boody returns to her drought ravaged hometown of Dirt Springs, she wins the local meat raffle, only to discover she’s the sacrificial lamb. Marked for human sacrifice to bring the rain, Karli must fight to survive as she uncovers a ruthless, cult-like family running the town and begins to suspect her mother’s death was part of their twisted traditions.’
Meat Raffle is developed by Jack Dodds (Co-Writer), Abby Gallaway (Co-Writer/Co-Director), Hannah-Rae Meegan (Co-Writer/Producer), Monique Terry (Co-Writer/Co-Director) and Nick Batzias (Executive Producer).
Short to Feature Fast Track success stories
The Short to Feature Fast Track program has already elevated an array of screen projects, with some going on to gain recognition at worldwide film festivals.
Program alumni Souvenir, produced by Yingna Lu and written and directed by Renée Marie Petropoulos, recently won the Narrative Shorts Competition at SXSW 2026.
Fellow alumni The Worm, directed by Tom Noakes, written by Will Goodfellow and produced by Adrian Pinto and Lucy Gaffy, was recently selected for Sundance Film Festival 2026.
Screen NSW Executive Director Kylie Munnich says: ‘The Short to Feature Fast Track program continues to support new and exciting voices in NSW, taking selected filmmaking teams to the next level in their careers.
‘Short films are a fantastic way for filmmakers to hone their skills and can also act as a calling card for securing market interest and further financing. This program works to not only support these filmmakers [as they] experiment and develop their creative skills, but also by expanding their professional networks, ensuring they are set for success.’
