Bus Stop Films
Bus Stop Films is a disability-led Australian non-profit social enterprise founded in 2009, delivering inclusive filmmaking education, employment services, and film production across 15 nationwide locations for people with disability, employers, and the screen industry.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersCarlton, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Bus Stop Films does
Bus Stop Films is a disability-led, non-profit social enterprise founded in 2009 and headquartered in South Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. The organization delivers inclusive filmmaking education and employment services across 15 locations in all Australian states and territories, engaging more than 250 participants weekly. Its core offerings include the 40-week rolling Accessible Filmmaking Program (priced at approximately $10,500 AUD per year), the 20-week PLACES peer-led program ($7,000), the online Lumina VFX/post-production program with paid internships (in partnership with Spectrum Films), the 20-week Accessible Acting Program (with Actors Centre Australia), the Inclusion in Action industry training workshops, the free Inclusive Filmmaking Toolkit, the Bus Stop Employment service supporting d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creatives, and the Inclusive Producer Attachment Program. The organization also produces short films (85+ catalogue, 110+ awards, 55M+ audience) and, in 2026, released its first feature film, 'Boss Cat', distributed by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.
The business model is a hybrid of program fees (often NDIS-funded), individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and Australian Government grants from bodies including Create NSW, Screen NSW, Sound NSW, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Department of Social Services. Distribution is multi-channel: direct program delivery at training academy sites, an owned Shift72 streaming platform ('Binge the Bus'), and partnerships with Stan, SBS On Demand, Madman Entertainment (theatrical), and international film festivals. Customers fall into three primary segments: (1) people with intellectual disability or Autism seeking film training and pathways; (2) d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creatives seeking screen-industry employment; and (3) film and media employers seeking inclusive-recruitment and disability-confidence services. The organization is led by CEO Tracey Corbin Matchett OAM, governed by a board chaired by Peter Tonagh (Chairman of Nine Entertainment), and is a certified social enterprise through People and Planet First. Technology is an 'inclusive filmmaking methodology' co-designed with the disability community, with no public-facing API or software product offering.
Bus Stop Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bus Stop Films
- Legal name
- Bus Stop Films Ltd
- Website
- https://busstopfilms.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bus Stop Films is a disability-led Australian non-profit social enterprise founded in 2009, delivering inclusive filmmaking education, employment services, and film production across 15 nationwide locations for people with disability, employers, and the screen industry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bus Stop Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Inclusive Filmmaking Education & Training
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description) (EDALAGAC)
Keywords
Where Bus Stop Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carlton
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices16 records
Markets served
Bus Stop Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Program Fees: Fee-for-service programs including Accessible Filmmaking Program ($10,500/year), PLACES ($7,000), and Bus Stop Employment membership and assessment services
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations supporting scholarships and employment pathways for participants
- Government Grants: Funding from Australian Government, Create NSW, Screen NSW, Sound NSW, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for programs and initiatives
- Inclusion in Action Training: Fee-based workshops delivered to employers and productions seeking disability confidence training
- Film Production and Distribution: Feature and short film production with distribution partnerships including Madman Entertainment
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Accessible Filmmaking Program - Full Year |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | PLACES Program |
| Subscription | Annual | Bus Stop Employment - New Candidate |
| Subscription | Annual | Bus Stop Employment - Renewal |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Employment Training Modules |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bus Stop Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bus Stop Films is a disability-led non-profit social enterprise that delivers inclusive filmmaking training programs, vocational skills development, and employment services for people with disability and marginalised communities across Australia. It operates an Accessible Filmmaking Program and supporting advanced programs (PLACES, Lumina, Accessible Acting), produces short and feature films inclusively, and runs an inclusive recruitment service (Bus Stop Employment) alongside industry training workshops (Inclusion in Action) for screen employers. The organisation operates across 15 national locations, supported by donations, NDIS participant fees, corporate partnerships, and government grants.
Product overview
Bus Stop Films is a disability-led non-profit social enterprise and certified social enterprise (People and Planet First) operating since 2009. The organization delivers inclusive filmmaking through a portfolio of interconnected programs: the Accessible Filmmaking Program (40-week rolling program) provides foundational film training at 15 nationwide locations; PLACES (20-week peer-led program) offers advanced streams in directing, screenwriting, and camera/lighting; Lumina provides online VFX/post-production training with paid internships; and the Accessible Acting Program (with Actors Centre Australia) trains actors with disability. The Inclusion in Action workshop series and free Inclusive Filmmaking Toolkit provide industry training on inclusive practices. The Inclusive Producer Attachment Program offers emerging producers hands-on experience, while Bus Stop Employment provides inclusive recruitment services and skills development for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people seeking screen industry careers. The organization's film catalogue exceeds 85 titles with 110+ awards and 55M+ cumulative viewers, anchored by their first feature film 'Boss Cat' (world's first inclusively made feature film, releasing December 2026).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Accessible Filmmaking Program A 40-week rolling filmmaking program offering exclusive workshops, excursions, screen industry workplace opportunities, and collaborative film project work for adults 17+ with mild to moderate intellectual disability or Autism. Participants build confidence, social connections, and independence while learning from industry professionals with disability support worker assistance. Delivered across 15 locations nationwide.
- PLACES Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 250+ participants engaged weekly across 15 national locations
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bus Stop Films
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bus Stop Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Bus Stop Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Madman EntertainmentcoreMajor distribution partner for Boss Cat feature film in Australia and New Zealand. Responsible for theatrical release and marketing support for the world's first inclusively made feature film.
- WeirAnderson FilmscoreProduction partner for Boss Cat feature film with co-production investment and creative involvement in the inclusive filmmaking process.
- Taste CreativecorePartner in developing the Inclusive Filmmaking Toolkit and ongoing collaboration on inclusive production projects. Commercial production company with similar ethos.
- SignHow and SignHearminorPartnership to produce Set Signs module - additional Auslan for filmmakers module in the Inclusive Filmmaking Toolkit.
- Actors Centre AustraliacoreCollaboration partner for Accessible Acting Program - 20-week acting program for adults with disability co-designed with leading industry professionals.
- Spectrum FilmscoreIndustry renowned post production facility that partnered to create Lumina VFX training program with 12-week paid internship.
- Japan Down Syndrome SocietycoreCross-cultural collaboration partner for Chasing the Sun - inclusively made Australia-Japan film project celebrating relationships and community.
- Special Beauty JapancoreJapanese partner collaboration for Chasing the Sun cross-cultural filmmaking project.
- UN Women Unstereotype AlliancecorePartnership with UN Women's Unstereotype Alliance Japan Chapter for industry event during Expo 2025.
- Accessible Arts NSWcoreDisability advocacy organisation partnering to deliver Createability Internship Program, providing support and training for interns and host organisations.
- Australian Federation of Disability OrganisationscoreProud member of advocacy organisation supporting systemic change for people with disability.
- Screen Producers AustraliacoreProud member of industry body supporting and advocating for Australian screen producers.
- Unstereotype AlliancecoreProud member of alliance working to end harmful stereotypes in advertising and media.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bus Stop Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Shape Arts: UK-based disability-led arts organisation supporting d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists, including in film and screen. Comparable mission and disability-led creative-sector focus, operating in a different geography with separate funding ecosystem.
- RespectAbility: US-based non-profit advancing disability inclusion in media, entertainment and newsrooms. Comparable as a disability inclusion advocacy and talent organisation targeting the screen industry, but operating as a policy/talent intermediary rather than as a producer or training school.
Broad incumbents
- Screen Producers Australia: National industry body for Australian screen producers, of which Bus Stop Films is a member. Comparable as a representative body for production entities in the Australian screen sector, but operating as an industry association rather than a producer or training organisation.
- Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS): Australia's national screen and broadcast school, partner for Bus Stop Films' Sydney (Moore Park) training academy. Comparable as a film and broadcast training institution, but operates at much larger scale as a government-established tertiary provider without Bus Stop's disability-led specialisation.
- Participant (formerly Participant Media): US-based global film and media company producing socially-impactful content across features, documentaries and series. Comparable as a purpose-driven film producer that integrates social mission into commercial production, though at significantly larger scale and as a for-profit.
Direct peers
- Expression Australia: Australian deaf-led organisation providing Auslan access services, advocacy and community programs, including on-set and screen-industry access. Comparable as a disability-led organisation delivering both human services (Auslan interpreting) and creative-industry access for d/Deaf participants.
- Media Access Australia: Australian non-profit advocating for media accessibility (captioning, audio description) and training the screen industry on inclusive practice. Comparable mission focus on disability inclusion across film, TV and digital media, operating as a sector resource body.
- Accessible Arts NSW: NSW peak body for disability and the arts, listed as a co-delivery partner on the Createability Internship Program. Directly comparable as a disability-led arts organisation serving d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creatives in the same Australian screen and arts ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Sydney Film School: Independent Australian film school delivering practical filmmaking diplomas and short courses. Comparable as a private film-training provider in Australia, but without the disability-led specialisation or non-profit/social-enterprise positioning.
Others
- Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC): Australia's premier documentary industry event and industry body, overlapping with Bus Stop Films' documentary production and festival distribution activity. Comparable as a documentary-sector ecosystem player, but functioning as an industry convener rather than producer or trainer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bus Stop Films social profiles
Digital presenceBus Stop Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bus Stop Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Bus Stop Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bus Stop Films M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bus Stop Films
What does Bus Stop Films do?
Bus Stop Films is a disability-led non-profit social enterprise that delivers inclusive filmmaking training programs, vocational skills development, and employment services for people with disability and marginalised communities across Australia. It operates an Accessible Filmmaking Program and supporting advanced programs (PLACES, Lumina, Accessible Acting), produces short and feature films inclusively, and runs an inclusive recruitment service (Bus Stop Employment) alongside industry training workshops (Inclusion in Action) for screen employers. The organisation operates across 15 national locations, supported by donations, NDIS participant fees, corporate partnerships, and government grants.
Is Bus Stop Films a public or private company?
Bus Stop Films is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bus Stop Films founded?
Bus Stop Films was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bus Stop Films based?
Bus Stop Films is headquartered in Carlton, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Bus Stop Films make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, government Grants, inclusion in Action Training and film Production and Distribution.
Who are Bus Stop Films's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Shape Arts and RespectAbility. Broad incumbents are Screen Producers Australia, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and Participant (formerly Participant Media). Direct peers are Expression Australia, Media Access Australia and Accessible Arts NSW. Sydney Film School is listed as an emerging player. Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) is listed as an others.
Does Bus Stop Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bus Stop Films.
What industry is Bus Stop Films in?
Bus Stop Films's product category is Inclusive Filmmaking Education & Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech), with a secondary code of EDALAGAC, Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.