Women in Film & Television Australia (WIFT Australia)

What Women in Film & Television Australia (WIFT Australia) does

WIFT Australia (Women in Film and Television Australia) is the national peak advocacy body for gender equity in the Australian screen industry, operating as a not-for-profit membership organization serving women and gender-diverse practitioners working across film, television, streaming, and online content production. The organization traces its heritage to the broader international WIFT movement (40+ years) and runs nine state and territory chapters that provide a national infrastructure for member engagement, advocacy, and industry support. Membership tiers are priced at A$30-A$80 per year for individuals, with corporate, sponsored, and First Nations tiers in place or under development.\n\nIts core product surface combines professional development, international market access, peer support, and research. ElevateUs anchors the professional development and mentorship offering, ScreenMate provides structured peer support, ReFrame Australia is a gender-equity research and reporting initiative, and a suite of Catalyst programs delivers curated Australian delegations and networking access at major international film markets including Cannes, Content London (launched November 2025), and the European Film Market at Berlin (EFM Catalyst 2026). The Post Code Doesn't Matter program, launched June 2025, addresses specific barriers facing regional and rural practitioners. Programs are delivered via in-person events, online resources, international missions, and chapter-level activity across the nine state/territory chapters.\n\nWIFT Australia monetizes through a hybrid model: individual membership fees, corporate and sponsored memberships, government grants from Screen Australia, Screenwest, Create NSW, and Austrade (EMDG), and corporate partnerships such as the Minderoo Pictures collaboration. The organization is volunteer-governed with a small paid operational staff (approximately 16 per firmographic data) and pursues program-based funding cycles aligned to grant rounds. Go-to-market is member-led and event-led rather than sales-led, with brand and peak-body status serving as the primary demand-generation asset.

Name

Women in Film & Television Australia (WIFT Australia)

Legal name

Women in Film and Television Australia Limited

Website

https://wiftaustralia.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WIFT Australia is a national not-for-profit peak body that advocates for gender equity in the Australian screen industry, serving women and gender-diverse practitioners through membership, professional development, state chapters, and international market access programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pendle Hill

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees ranging from $30-$80 per year depending on membership type (Professional, Student, Concession, Supporter). Membership automatically renews after 12 months.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted through PayPal. The organisation relies on donor generosity to continue advocacy work.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors can support the organisation. There are also Sponsored Memberships allowing organisations and individuals to purchase memberships to be gifted to others.
4. Government Grants: WIFT Australia receives funding from government bodies including Screen Australia, Screenwest, Create NSW, and Austrade's EMDG program for international market development initiatives.
5. Event Fees: Some programs charge nominal fees. For example, WA Creative Development Workshop is free for members or $20 for non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

WIFT Australia is a not-for-profit membership-based national advocacy organisation for gender equity in the Australian screen industry. It sells tiered annual memberships (Professional, Student, Concession, Supporter, free First Nations) and delivers programs including the ElevateUs mentorship, CinefestOZ Writers Retreat, Content London Catalyst, EFM Catalyst, Post Code Doesn't Matter, ScreenMate bystander training, and ReFrame Australia certification.

Product overview

WIFT Australia is a membership-based national advocacy organization for gender equality in the Australian screen industry, offering a tiered membership structure (Professional at $80/year, Student, Concession, and Supporter at $40/year, plus free First Nations Membership) providing access to over $450 in member benefits. The portfolio includes flagship programs: ElevateUs (3-month mentorship), CinefestOZ Writers Retreat, Content London Catalyst, and EFM Catalyst for international market access; Post Code Doesn't Matter for regional creatives; ScreenMate bystander training; and ReFrame Australia gender equity certification. State chapters (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA) provide localized networking alongside a Shop for merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ElevateUs: A 3-month mentorship program focused on supporting the careers of women and gender-diverse screen industry professionals, originally launched as MentorHer.
• ReFrame Australia
• Post Code Doesn't Matter
• ScreenMate

Products and services

• Professional Membership Annual $80 membership reserved for women and gender-diverse individuals working full time in the Australian screen industry, providing full voting rights and member benefits.
• Student Membership Annual $40 membership for female and gender-diverse individuals enrolled full time at a tertiary or training institution in the screen industry; does not include voting rights.
• Concession Membership Annual $40 membership for female or gender-diverse screen professionals holding a valid Government-issued concession or Health Care Card.
• Supporter Membership Annual $40 membership available to any gender supporting WIFT Australia; does not include voting rights or Facebook group access.
• First Nations Membership Free 12-month membership for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and gender-diverse individuals working in or aspiring to join film, television, and digital media.
• ElevateUs Mentorship Program Three-month mentorship program supporting women and gender-diverse screen industry professionals with one-on-ones, monthly check-ins, support resources, and a 12-month WIFT Australia membership for non-members.
• CinefestOZ Writers Retreat Annual creative residency for up to four emerging or established female and gender-diverse screenwriters to progress a scripted drama project with mentorship and industry networking at CinefestOZ Film Festival.
• Content London Catalyst Professional development initiative supporting early to mid-career producers to expand international networks and market experience through attendance at Content London.
• EFM Catalyst 2026 Program offering access to the European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlin International Film Festival, providing financing, sales, and co-production opportunities with mentorship and market preparation.
• Post Code Doesn't Matter National initiative supporting female and gender-diverse screen creatives in regional, rural, and remote areas through in-person workshops, screenings, and community engagement to dismantle geographic barriers.
• ScreenMate Bystander Program Educational workshop teaching community members to recognise abuse and harmful behaviours and have the confidence to speak out and offer help in the screen industry.
• ReFrame Australia Certification program in partnership with IMDbPro that awards the ReFrame Stamp to feature film projects demonstrating commitment to gender equity through inclusive hiring and reporting practices.
• MIFF 37° South Producer Delegation Program supporting emerging women and gender-diverse filmmakers to develop skills, networks, and industry knowledge through participation in MIFF 37° South activities, mentorship, and market preparation training.
• WA Creative Development Workshop Workshop addressing creative development for scripted projects, providing strategies and processes for embedding world-leading creative development best practices for Western Australian practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• $450 in member benefits for $80 annual membership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minderoo PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2025Partnership with Minderoo Pictures expanded the CinefestOZ-hosted Writers Retreat, enabling engagement of Executive Producer Shay Spencer as retreat mentor. Minderoo also funds a three-month post-retreat milestone review for participants. Additionally supports Content London Catalyst Program.
• Stage 32coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundbreaking partnership with Stage 32, world-leading social network and educational platform for filmmakers. Launch event at SXSW Sydney attracted 230 attendees. Includes member benefits: 50% off Stage32 Education (webinars and classes excluding labs).
• IMDbPro (ReFrame Stamp)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerReFrame Stamp awarded in partnership with IMDbPro. Mark of distinction for feature film projects demonstrating gender equity through inclusive hiring. Australian program administered by WIFT Australia and Screen Australia's Gender Matters Taskforce.
• CinefestOZ Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership hosting WIFT Australia x CinefestOZ Writers Retreat in Busselton, Western Australia. Festival provides venue and access to Industry Program for retreat participants. Partnership enables development of scripted drama projects.
• Vision Splendid Outback Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for inaugural Post Code Doesn't Matter event in Winton, Queensland. Screening of Not Russian Anywhere followed by Q&A as part of the festival.
• Compton SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompton School partnered with WIFT Australia to offer six free places for WIFT members at 'Stepping UP: Navigating your creative career' workshop featuring Imogen Banks, Katie Shortland, Tony Briggs, and Tony Ayres.
• Griffith UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScreenMATE Bystander Program based on Griffith University's successful MATE Bystander Program. Educational workshop teaching community members to recognise abuse and harmful behaviours and speak out.
• Picking Scabs (See-Saw Films/Jungle Entertainment joint venture)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Producer Shay Spencer from Picking Scabs (joint venture between See-Saw Films and Samantha Strauss) serves as mentor for CinefestOZ Writers Retreat. Picking Scabs produces hit series Apple Cider Vinegar.
• WIFT InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIFT Australia is part of WIFT International network operating across six continents with more than 20,000 members. Provides access to biennial conferences, quarterly newsletters, festival networking receptions (Berlin, Cannes, MIPCOM, Sundance), and Visiting Members Program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Screen Producers Australia: Australian peak body representing the broader screen production industry (not gender-specific); comparable as an industry advocacy peer operating in the same Australian policy and grants ecosystem as WIFT Australia.
• Australian Directors Guild: Australian membership organisation for screen directors; comparable as an industry peer in the same Australian screen ecosystem but focused on directors across all genders rather than the gender-equity lens that defines WIFT Australia.

Emerging players

• Film Fatales: Adjacent peer organisation focused on supporting women and non-binary feature film directors through community-building events and curated networking, sharing WIFT Australia's mission but with a narrower feature-director focus rather than full industry coverage.
• Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media: Research and advocacy organisation focused on gender representation in media; comparable as an advocacy peer tackling gender inequality in screen content but operating primarily through research and the See Jane campaign rather than membership programs.
• Women Make Movies: Non-profit distributor and production organisation supporting women filmmakers globally; comparable in mission (advancing women in film) but operates a different model (distribution + education rather than membership + advocacy).

Regional players

• Melbourne Women in Film Festival: Australia-based peer organisation chaired by WIFT Australia Chair Leanne Tonkes; focuses on women in film through a festival platform rather than the national membership-and-advocacy model, providing an adjacent touchpoint in the Australian women-in-screen ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Women in Film & Television UK: Direct peer as another national WIFT chapter operating under similar structure, with comparable member benefits, mentorship programs, and advocacy focus on gender equity within the British screen industry.
• Women in Film & Television Canada: Direct peer as a Canadian sister chapter with identical organisational model—membership tiers, networking events, mentorship, and industry advocacy for women in film and television.
• Women in Film & Television International: Direct peer as the global parent network spanning 20,000+ members across six continents; WIFT Australia is a national chapter within this network and shares the same membership-driven advocacy model for women in screen industries.
• Women In Film Los Angeles: Direct peer as the founding U.S. chapter of the global WIFT network and originator of the ReFrame Stamp partnership that WIFT Australia now administers in partnership with Screen Australia. Same core mission of advancing gender equity in the screen industry through membership, mentorship, and advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wiftaus
• Facebookfacebook.com/wiftaus
• Instagraminstagram.com/wiftvic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiftaustralia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women in Film & Television Australia (WIFT Australia)