Netflix ANZ – The Next Brilliant Career

Applicants must:

• Be a NSW resident
• Be an Australian citizen
• Be over 18 years of age
• Identify as a woman or non-binary
• Not be enrolled as a full-time student
• Be an emerging screenwriter with at least one (1) reportable writer credit and no more than three (3) reportable writer credits*
• Submit only one application
• Be available to attend the Pitch Day on 6 October 2026 in Sydney, NSW.

Applicants that do not meet all eligibility criteria cannot apply.

*Credits must be on a commercially released short film, feature film or television series that has screened at a recognised film festival and/or received support from a state or federal screen agency.

Applications must be prepared and submitted via Screen NSW’s secure application portal, SmartyGrants. 

Applications submitted using any other method will not be accepted.

Applicants must respond to all questions in the application form, provide all supporting materials, and submit their application by Tuesday 18 August 2026, 11:59pm AEST.

Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Applicants should download and review Netflix’s terms and conditions for the program prior to applying.

Applicants must complete all required fields in the application form and provide the following materials:

• Contact details, including full name, email address and phone number
• Confirmation and evidence of program eligibility
• A professional biography outlining experience, aspirations and screen industry credits (up to 150 words)
• Details and supporting materials of an original scripted series concept, including:
  • Working title
  • Genre
  • Logline (up to 30 words)
  • Description of the intended audience (up to 200 words)
  • A statement explaining the project’s cultural relevance and the applicant's personal connection to the work (up to 300 words)
  • A one-page synopsis of the story
  • A five-page screenwriting sample from the project.

Applicants may submit one application only, and all submitted work must be original and owned by the applicant. 

Please note that this program is only open to individuals and applications from groups or project teams will not be accepted.

Once an application has been submitted you will receive an email from SmartyGrants confirming submission. Applications cannot be edited once it has been submitted, so please review applications carefully before submitting.

Screen NSW will review all submitted applications to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and submission requirements for the program.

Screen NSW will compile a list of eligible applications which will proceed to formal assessment by an independent expert assessor panel.

Applicants that have been assessed as ineligible by Screen NSW will be notified via email within 14 days of this outcome.

Eligible applications will be assessed by an independent expert assessor panel appointed and managed by the AWG in consultation with Netflix.

The assessor panel will assess all applications against the following selection criteria:

• Strength and originality of the writer's voice
• Clarity and appeal of the central premise
• Potential for the concept to sustain a series or feature film format
• Understanding of genre, tone, pacing, story structure and character
• Authentic Australian perspective, setting or storytelling voice
• Clear identification of the intended audience
• Demonstrated awareness of the contemporary screen marketplace
• Contribution to diversity through themes, characters, representation or creative perspective.

The assessor panel will shortlist up to 5 applications from each state and territory, which will be provided to Netflix for final participant selection.

Netflix will review all shortlisted applications and select one successful participant from each state and territory.

Netflix's decisions regarding participant selection are final.

Selected participants will receive:

Pitch Day Opportunity

• An invitation to attend a Pitch Day with Netflix ANZ executives in Sydney, NSW on 6 October 2026
• Participants will present their original concept directly to members of Netflix ANZ’s content team and receive live verbal feedback on their project.

Travel Support

Where required, Netflix will provide participants with:

• Return economy travel to Sydney (air or rail)
• Up to 2 nights' accommodation in Sydney.

Participants are responsible for any additional expenses for participating in the program, including meals, transfers, insurance and incidentals.

Post-Pitch Feedback

Following Pitch Day, participants may refine and resubmit their original concept to Netflix by 6 November 2026.

Netflix will provide written feedback on eligible resubmissions by 1 December 2026.

Participation in the program does not guarantee development, commissioning, funding or any ongoing relationship with Netflix, but it offers a rare opportunity to have an original idea heard, and developed, by a major streamer.