Mullumbimby author Jesse Blackadder and Byron Bay filmmaker Hattie Dalton are among a group of 12 women working in film to benefit from a new project being pioneered by Screenworks.
Jesse is currently adapting her junior novel Paruku The Desert Brumby to a feature film with Bangalow Pictures, and Hattie won a BAFTA in 2005 for writing and directing her comedy short film The Banker, starring Michael Sheen.
They will be joined by other Australian women luminaries working in the field, including: award-winning animated film writer/director Justine Wallace (Barkers Creek VIC), Nyul Nyul/Yawuru woman and experienced writer/director Jub Clerc (Quedjinup WA) and Co-winner of the Northern Territory Book of the Year 2016, Clare Atkins (Darwin NT).
Known as The Athena Project, the program aims to help participants ‘interrogate and finesse their career plans and workshop industry and career opportunities,’ according to Screenworks.
The selected participants will spend two and a half days in an intensive residential program during which time they will receive advice from some of the most remarkable woman in the Australian screen industry, including Gillian Armstrong (Women He’s Undressed, My Brilliant Career) Felicity Packard (Janet King), Debbie Lee (Barracuda) and Cate McQuillen (dirtgirlworld).
Ahead of that will be the Athena Career Forum, which will launch the program and is open to the public. It will feature Gillian Armstrong as the key speaker.
‘The forum is an opportunity for everyone to benefit from the valuable information and extensive advice that the guest speakers will provide. It will also be an incredible opportunity to network with some of Australia’s leading female filmmakers,’ Screenworks says
The forum will take place 5pm – 9pm on Tuesday 8 November at the Byron at Byron Resort.
Tickets are available now from www.screenworks.com.au.