Screenworks (Australia)

What Screenworks (Australia) does

Screenworks (legally Northern Rivers Screenworks Inc) is an Australian not-for-profit incorporated association founded in 2000 and headquartered in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It is an industry development organization that creates and delivers training, networking, career pathway, and crew placement programs for screen industry practitioners — writers, directors, producers, crew, and emerging talent — living and working across regional, rural, and remote Australia. Its product portfolio spans flagship events (Regional to Global annual forum in Lennox Head NSW), career development programs (Career Pathway Programs, Regional Crew Pathways, Screen Composing Mentorship, Seeding Storytellers, AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes), resource directories (Northern Rivers Crew Database and Locations Database via Reel Scout), and membership services delivered through the GlueUp platform.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its technical footprint consists of integrations with GlueUp for membership/event management and Reel Scout for crew and location directories. Screenworks generates revenue through four streams: annual membership fees from 800+ practitioners, government grants from Screen NSW, Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, and Screen Tasmania, event ticket revenue (Regional to Global tickets at $250-$450 ex-GST), and donations. Strategic delivery is anchored by multi-year partnerships with Netflix, AFTRS, AACTA, Australian Writers' Guild, Australian Directors Guild, Screen Producers Australia, Australians in Film, and APRA AMCOS, plus local government supporters. Operationally it runs with a very small team under CEO Lisa Rose (effective 1 July 2026), succeeding Lisa O'Meara, with Rodney Cambridge as Interim CEO during transition.

Name

Screenworks (Australia)

Legal name

Northern Rivers Screenworks Inc

Website

https://screenworks.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Screenworks is an Australian not-for-profit industry body founded in 2000 that delivers training, networking, and career development programs for 800+ regional screen practitioners across Australia through events, mentorship, crew placement, and partnerships with government agencies and Netflix.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Screen Industry Training & Development Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Crew & Labor Services (Production Staff, Unions, Payroll) (MPADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET) (BPADAKAD), Role-Based Onboarding (Job-Specific Ramp) (EDABAOAB)

Keywords

• Screen industry training
• Film crew development
• Regional screen network
• Industry body services
• Screen career pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

East Ballina

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Screenworks generates revenue through annual membership fees, offering benefits including discounts on AFTRS courses, travel, insurances, entertainment, access to member-only community, monthly Production List, and crew directory listing.
2. Government funding and grants: As a not-for-profit registered charity, Screenworks receives funding from government bodies including Screen NSW, Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, and other state/territory screen agencies to deliver programs and initiatives.
3. Event revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales for events such as Regional to Global forum, workshops, and professional development programs. Early bird tickets at $250 (members) / $380 (non-members) and full price at $300/$450.
4. Donations: Screenworks accepts donations from supporters to fund ongoing operations and programs for regional screen industry development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Screenworks is a not-for-profit industry body that delivers training, networking, and career development programs for regional Australian screen practitioners. Its core offerings include the annual Regional to Global forum, Career Pathway Programs for writers/directors/producers, Regional Crew Pathways training with paid placements, the Skyworks Connect bi-monthly member networking program, and directories for crew and locations. It also operates an annual membership service providing discounted training, event access, and industry connections.

Product overview

Screenworks is a not-for-profit industry organization that creates and delivers innovative training, networking, and professional development programs for screen industry creatives and crew across regional, rural, and remote Australia. The organization operates a portfolio-based model consisting of flagship events (Regional to Global), career development programs (Career Pathway Programs, Regional Crew Pathways, Screen Composing Mentorship), specialized initiatives (Seeding Storytellers, AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes), resource directories (Northern Rivers Crew Database, Locations Database), and membership services (Screenworks Connect, Recorded Webinars). The programs are designed to support practitioners at all career stages from emerging to established, with particular focus on building pathways into the mainstream screen industry and addressing below-the-line skill gaps in regional areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Screenworks Membership Annual membership service providing regional screen industry practitioners with access to members-only community, monthly Production List, crew directory listing, up to 20% off AFTRS short courses, discounts on travel, insurances, and entertainment, and professional development opportunities.
• Regional to Global Forum Australia's premier regional screen industry forum held annually in Lennox Head NSW, featuring panel discussions, intimate roundtables, one-on-one meetings, and dedicated networking events uniting the regional screen community with the broader industry.
• Career Pathway Programs Multi-pronged professional development initiative including Inside the Writers' Room, Director Pathway, and Regional Producer Elevator programs designed to boost careers of regional screen writers, directors, and producers.
• Regional Crew Pathways Program Below-the-line crew training initiative addressing regional skill gaps through AFTRS onboarding courses and paid placements on film and television productions, run in partnership with Netflix, AFTRS, and state screen agencies.
• New Kids on the Block Support program providing financial assistance and on-ground guidance to emerging regional screen practitioners to attend the Regional to Global forum, overcoming barriers associated with attending major industry events.
• Screen Composing Mentorship Career enhancement program pairing emerging regional screen composers with accomplished mentors, providing three one-hour mentoring sessions, in-person meetings, and $1,750 grants for travel and accommodation.
• Seeding Storytellers First Nations screenwriters training program delivered in partnership with Australian Writers' Guild, training participants as note-takers in writers' rooms through three day-long online workshops.
• AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes Feature film pitching competition in partnership with AACTA, calling for stories inspired by regional Australian landscapes with the regional setting as a central character. Winner receives $5,000 and development support.
• Northern Rivers Crew Database Free crew directory listing skilled screen industry professionals and emerging practitioners available for work in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, searchable via Reel Scout platform.
• Locations Database Searchable database of filming locations in the Northern Rivers region including tropical jungles, beaches, rural roads, villages, and production facilities, accessible via Reel Scout platform.
• Screenworks Connect Bi-monthly 45-minute online meet-up exclusively for members providing professional exchange where regional screen voices can connect, learn and grow.
• Regional Screen in LA Scholarship International scholarship program providing 4-week residency at Charlie's (Australians in Film's industry incubator in Los Angeles), personalised sessions with industry consultants, and introductions to Hollywood executives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 people participated in Regional Crew Pathways training with 15+ selected for paid placements, majority securing continuing crew work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Screen NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment screen agency providing major funding support for Screenworks programs including Regional to Global forum and Career Pathway Programs. Executive partner supporting regional NSW screen industry development.
• Screen AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government screen agency providing financing assistance and ongoing support for Screenworks operations and programs serving regional Australia.
• Screen QueenslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government screen agency partnering with Screenworks on Regional Crew Pathways program supporting Sunshine Coast and Queensland practitioners.
• Screen TasmaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government screen agency co-funding Regional Crew Pathways Tasmania program with Netflix and AFTRS for post-production training.
• AFTRS (Australian Film Television and Radio School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational film school delivering Post-Production Onboarding courses for Regional Crew Pathways trainees and providing exclusive sessions at Screen Forever Conference.
• Australian Writers' Guild (AWG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry guild partnering on Career Pathway Programs including Inside the Writers' Room, Seeding Storytellers, and providing AWG Pathways program access for participants.
• AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual academy partnership delivering AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes initiative offering $5,000 prize, development support, and industry connections for regional filmmakers.
• Australian Directors GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry guild partnering on Director Pathway Program providing mentorship and professional development for emerging regional directors.
• Screen Producers AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partnering on Regional Producer Elevator program providing career advice, SPA membership, and access to Screen Forever Conference.
• ScreenrightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent rights organization providing Secondary Royalties and Cultural Fund support, and sponsoring Regional to Global events.
• APRA AMCOScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic rights organization partnering on Screen Composing Mentorship program providing career support from accomplished screen composers.
• Northern PicturesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduction company hosting Inside the Writers' Room participant for Career Pathway Programs, providing writers' room observation experience.
• Jungle EntertainmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduction company hosting Inside the Writers' Room participant for Career Pathway Programs, providing writers' room observation experience.
• Easy TigerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduction company hosting Inside the Writers' Room participant for Career Pathway Programs, providing writers' room observation experience.
• Australians in Film (AiF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA-based industry organization delivering Regional Screen in LA Scholarship Program providing 4-week residency at Charlie's incubator in Los Angeles for regional screen practitioners.
• Media SuperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry superannuation fund sponsoring Regional to Global events and providing member discounts.
• Ballina Shire CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government council supporting Regional to Global forum and film industry development in Northern Rivers region.
• Business NSWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness organization partnering on Regional to Global forum as event supporter.
• The Post LoungeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPost-production facility in Tasmania hosting Regional Crew Pathways 2026 recipient Isabela Hart for five-month placement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Screen Australia: Federal government screen agency that funds Screenworks' programs and operates nationwide funding, development and talent initiatives that overlap with but extend well beyond Screenworks' regional remit.

Direct peers

• AFTRS (Australian Film Television and Radio School): Australia's national film school delivering short courses, post-production onboarding and Screen Forever conference sessions that directly overlap with Screenworks' training programs and crew development mission.
• AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts): Industry academy partnering with Screenworks on AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes and operating a parallel awards/development pipeline for Australian screen practitioners across regional and metropolitan markets.
• Screen Producers Australia: National industry association for screen producers that co-delivers the Regional Producer Elevator program with Screenworks and operates Screen Forever, addressing the same producer development and advocacy needs.
• Screen Queensland: Queensland state screen agency that co-funds Screenworks' Regional Crew Pathways and runs its own crew development, location attraction and production services comparable to Screenworks' regional focus.
• Australians in Film: LA-based industry organization that delivers the Regional Screen in LA Scholarship with Screenworks and runs comparable international industry connection programs for Australian screen practitioners.
• Australian Writers' Guild: Industry guild for screenwriters that partners with Screenworks on Inside the Writers' Room and Seeding Storytellers, serving overlapping regional writer audiences with similar professional development offerings.
• Australian Directors Guild: Industry guild for directors that co-delivers the Director Pathway Program with Screenworks and supports emerging regional directors through similar mentorship and professional development initiatives.

Regional players

• CinefestOZ: Regional Australian film festival in regional NSW/Queensland that, like Screenworks' Regional to Global forum, convenes industry professionals, runs pitch competitions and supports regional screen sector development.
• Film Victoria / VicScreen: Victorian state screen agency that runs crew training, location services and industry development programs analogous to Screenworks but focused on Victoria rather than NSW/regional Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-rivers-screenworks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Screenworks (Australia)