Western Australian producers Brooke Collard and Shari Hutchison are the recipients of Screenwest's Producer Talent Accelerator initiative, each receiving $100,000 to put towards professional and project development, the organisation announced on Monday.
Screenwest's Producer Talent Accelerator is a year-long skills development program designed to accelerate the careers of early to mid-career Western Australian producers.
The program will fast-track Ms Collard and Ms Hutchison's careers by "connecting them with the marketplace, expanding their screen industry contacts and accelerating the development of their slate", Screenwest said.
Across the next twelve months, the producers will each invest $80,000 towards their professional development, enabling them to attend key markets, network and work with some of Australia's most coveted production companies and industry leaders. They will also invest $20,000 in project development.
Ms Collard is a Ballardong/Whadjuk Noongar woman, and proud mother of a toddler. As a producer and writer, she is passionate about creating opportunities for authentic representation for those who have been marginalised in media, such as stories of First Nations people and LGBTQIA+.
"Last year I took a break from the industry, instead focusing inwards and called it my 'incubation' period, this time allowed me valuable insights in wanting to create more LGBTQIA+ stories and specifically support First Nations women into the film industry," she said.
"With the support of the Producer Talent Accelerator, I will be able to follow these stories that are often under-represented, and be able to thrive from a regional town where we are so often isolated from the rest of the industry."
Ms Hutchison is a proud Nyikina woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia and a dedicated documentary filmmaker. She specialises in crafting meaningful narratives that explore culture, identity, and resilience. Through her production company, Kirri Media, her award-winning films have screened internationally, amplifying diverse voices, especially those from Indigenous communities.
"I couldn't be more excited to be a recipient of Screenwest's Producer Talent Accelerator. I've been working in film for almost a decade with the goal of producing long-form content for broadcast," she said.
"This is an incredible opportunity to develop my slate, expand my producing experience, and collaborate with some of the industry's most talented practitioners. I'm eager to build on my skills and position myself as a well-rounded producer, ready to bring impactful long-form stories to audiences."
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said the organisation is "thrilled to support Brooke and Shari through the Producer Talent Accelerator initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to investing in Western Australian screen talent".
"We look forward to seeing the incredible projects you will develop," she said.
