HOLDING SPACE

developing capacity.

empowering independent filmmaking.

building pathways to industry.

HOLDING SPACE is a program designed to give emerging and grassroots community filmmakers an understanding of the skills and resources required to package and pitch their projects to approach the Australian media marketplace. As well as developing the necessary networks and contacts to represent the stories of their communities on screen.

Through our partnership with Business Victoria we hope to give micro businesses, producers, and creators from multicultural communities access to some of the necessary resources and guidance in building a screen business.

RESIDENCY applications for our 2025 round will be exclusively available to teams with a Producer who have participated in a minimum of one Conversation event and been selected for the Bootcamp.

Developed with the support of Business Victoria’s Multicultural Business Chambers & Trader Groups (MBCTG) program. Make sure to check our their extensive tools and templates for operating your business - available online.

pr0gram stages

The Holding Space program will operate in THREE STAGES:

STAGE ONE (JUNE, 2025)

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

A series of community conversations with experienced industry producers, with contributions from our program partners Business Victoria.

You must attend a minimum of one community conversation to register for BOOTCAMP.

STAGE TWO (JULY 5TH, 2025)

BOOTCAMP

4 x 1hr webinars targeted at providing the necessary understanding of screen business basics and packaging and pitching for screen based work. This will also include an information session delivered by Cinespace specific to the requirements of the RESIDENCY application process.

STAGE THREE (AUGUST, 2025)

RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS

Prepare and submit your RESIDENCY application. This program serves as an opportunity to have real world experience in packaging and pitching work to screen bodies, with the successful applicant receiving a 4 month short film production residency at our space in Footscray, VIC.

COMMUNITY

CONVERSATIONS

Kauthar Abdulalim

Blacksand Pictures - Company director

June 13, 6pm

Venue: DukkANA

Join us in speaking with one of Cinespace’s greatest success stories and a participant of our first Story Development program.

Kauthar Abdulalim will be sharing her journey taking the first baby steps as a creative and producer in film production, to building a slate and securing state financing, as well as establishing international co-productions. A resounding example of the rewards of hard work and determination in a traditionally conservative industry.

James Hewison

Atelier + Friends - Freelance

NEW DATE: JULY 4, 6PM

Venue: The Kelvin Club

Join us in speaking with creative multi-hyphenate and creative taste maker James Hewison. Responsible for launching MIFF’s highly successful Accelerator Lab, and an Executive Producer on Justin Kurzel’s highly regarded feature film Nitram.

We will be discussing being tuned into the creative ecosystem around you, finding opportunities in unlikely places, and fostering collective consciousness through art and collaboration.

Lisa Wang

Black Sheep Films, Screen Presence-Executive Producer

june 26, 6pm

Venue: The Chinese Museum

Join us in speaking with experienced producer and program facilitator Lisa Wang; Who also operates Screen Presence, a cultural and industry group dedicated to enhancing the representation of Asian Australians in the screen industry. 

We will be discussing working your way up the ladder from below to above the line in film and tv production, creating community among diasporic filmmakers, and keeping the lights on while working in the industry and raising a family.


Bootcamp

Through this one day series of webinars, we want to ensure everyone has equal access to the information and resources needed to package their projects for the creative marketplace, and get them made.

Our BOOTCAMP will focus on three key areas:

To ensure you and your team have an understanding of the base aspects of establishing and operating any screen project or enterprise.

SCREEN BUSINESS BASICS

1

2 x 1 Hour Webinars, July 5th 2025

  • Sole traders, partnerships and companies. What’s right for you?

  • Funding sources, and auspicing

  • Bookkeeping

  • Marketing and communications

  • Contracts, employees, and the law

Getting your project made takes more than just a good idea. We want to share some core principles of packaging your creative ideas to try and get the resources you need to make your work and share it with audiences.

2

PACKAGING & PITCHING

2 x 1 Hour Webinars, July 5th 2025

  • Packaging your creative

  • Building your team

  • Budgeting and timelines

  • Pitching work to the marketplace

  • Finding your audience

RESIDENCY APPLICATION

Following a brief break the Cinespace RESIDENCY program will be re launching in Spring 2025. For this year we will only be receiving applications from participants of our BOOTCAMP sessions. In this session you will receive all of the necessary information on how you can apply, what resources you will receive, and how to best prepare your work to succeed.

3

Information Session, July 5th 2025

  • Eligibility requirements

  • What’s included

  • Application criteria

  • Questions about the program

CINESPACE RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS OPEN SPRING 2025

For details on the Residency Program, how to apply, and to check out past residents visit the Residency page.