Australia’s Film Lab: New Voices initiative has unveiled the three emerging filmmaking teams in contention for a lucrative production award.
Chosen from 28 applications, the selection includes writers-directors Bryce Kraehenbuehl and Alex Salkicevic and producer Jasmine Leech with horror thriller The Pest; writer-director Gilbert Kemp Attrill and producers Anthony Frith and Alexandra Short with sci fi thriller Portals; and writer-director Gemma Salomon and producer Lisa Bishop with near-future thriller CCTV.
The initiative is co-funded by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) and Screen Australia. The programme gives the three teams development assistance and mentoring to transform their film concepts into a script conceived and designed to be made for $700,000 (A$1m).
After 12 months, one will be selected to receive $420,000 (A$600,000) in production funding with extra support from the Producer Offset, a 40% rebate on the budget. The selected film can also receive a premiere at the 2028 Adelaide Film Festival.
“It’s about supporting unique voices” said Leanne Saunders, acting CEO at the SAFC.
Unlike most Australian films significantly funded by government, distributors or sales agents were not needed to be eligible. “Taking off the marketplace requirement means the filmmakers are unmediated in what they want to say to their peers,” said Saunders.
Saunders also pointed out budget does not have a bearing on success or failure. “It’s a low-risk way to fail,” she said of the lab films. “It could be a punt that’s so exceptional that it will stand out. Unleashing creativity gives a film its best chance of getting into international festivals. An A-list festival is the primary target but there’s so much stacked against that.”
The initiative has previously supported Matt Vesely’s Monolith, which received its international premiere at SXSW 2023, and Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese’s animation Lesbian Space Princess, winner of the Teddy award for queer cinema at the 2025 Berlinale.
The latest feature is psychological thriller The Debt, directed by Johanis Lyons-Reid, written by Berry and Piri Eddy, and produced by Lilla Berry. It is in post-production ahead of its premiere at AFF in October.
Film Lab: New Voices 2026
The Pest
Horror/thriller. When a repulsive, lonely con artist is forced to pay his debts, he ignores the parasite that is slowly causing his inevitable decay. Writers/directors Bryce Kraehenbuehl and Alex Salkicevic. Producer Jasmine Leech.
Portals
Sci fi/thriller. An isolated young man is drawn into sexual obsession and danger when he is seduced by a handsome stranger who claims to need his help to get back to another world. Writer/director Gilbert Kemp Attrill. Producers Anthony Frith and Alexandra Short.
CCTV
Thriller. In an inhibitive future, building management personnel investigate a suspected murder by illegally spying on residents through CCTV, and doorbell and dashboard cameras. Swift punishment by the corporate owners sparks violent retribution. Writer/director Gemma Salomon. Producer Lisa Bishop.
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