residency
RESIDENCY is our flagship program, offering a 3-month residency to CALD, BIPOC and First Nations filmmakers to create screen projects.
CINESPACE RESIDENCY program offers creative teams exclusive access to essential screen resources including a studio workspace, production equipment, post production facilities and industry support and networks.
CINESPACE is looking for people and productions that support our mission of greater cultural diversity in stories, cast and crew. Residencies occur in Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring periods and, are selected by a judging panel of CINESPACE, industry and community members.
Sponsored by
TAKING A BREAK!
As we move into 2025, the Cinespace RESIDENCY will be taking a break to evaluate and redevelop our program, based on feedback from our participants.
We thank our community for your support, and look forward to being back in JULY 2025.
Keep your eyes on our socials for exciting news in the new year!
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Exclusive access to a private studio space in Footscray.
Full Production Camera Kit (Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K).
Lighting, grip and sound equipment.
Mac Studio edit suite with Davinci Resolve.
Support from the VCA School of Film and Television.
Camera Cards by Angelbird and Batteries by IDX.
50% off additional equipment hire at VA Hire.
1-hour consultations with a range of industry experts (film lawyer, casting agent, publicist, career mentors, script consultant, sound engineer and more).
Other vouchers and discounts.
For a full list of inclusions click here.
Do you have a short screen project that promotes cultural diversity and is production ready?
apply in 3 steps
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You must meet these criteria:
Applicant must be 18 or older.
The key creative team needs to be a majority of Victorian residents (75%).
Must be early career screen practitioners/team.
DOP must have experience with higher end cameras.
Applicant must be the copyright holder.
The project must be production ready.
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You must submit these materials:
Script (for short-form project)
Key creatives or story must be CALD, BIPOC or First Nations.
A 3-minute video pitch explaining why you, why now.
Creative team´s bios and previous credits, if any.
A DOP´s bio and previous credits, if any.
Any other documents to support your application (treatment, storyboard, etc.).
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If you are new to FilmFreeway, follow these steps:
Create a FilmFreeway account
In the ´MyProjects´ page, upload the script (or treatment) for your short form project
Select the ´Script´ option under Project Type while uploading script/treatment.
Submit for consideration by the indicated deadline date.
Read and accept Terms and Conditions.
Not sure if you should apply?
Check out past winning projects below
PAST RESIDENTS
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Salma's season
Writer/Director: Kauthar Abdulalim
Producers: Sher-Li Tan, Lucy Maclaren & Kauthar Abdulalim
Cinematographer: Waqar Ali
A middle-aged, Australian-Pakistani mother revisits her buried passion - tennis.
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Lady Priest
Director: Eva Justine Torkkola
Writer/Producers: Natalia Bornay & Emily Davis
Cinematographer: Vanessa Cox
Set at the dining table of a Lebanese Sunday lunch, this film is a snapshot of Nadine's life and her wacky family dynamics -
Pairing
Writer: Diane Vu
Director: Matt Burns
Producer: Pius Kung
CInematographer: Ryan Gasparini
Pairing is an aromantic comedy about a young woman who goes on a date with her childhood idol, the last remaining member of the children’s band, The Giggles.
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THE SUN SETS AND ONCE AGAIN THE EARTH IS UPRIGHT
Writer/Director: Chi Tran
Producer: Julie Ha
Cinematographer: Tavis Pinnington
39-year-old Meilani spends her days by the river, grieving the loss of her mother. Over the course of three days, she crosses paths with two strangers, whose words and spirits accompany her on a journey. -
A Fox and a sun
Writer/Director: Liubov Korpusova
Producer: Liubov Korpusova
Production Designer: Varvara Sova
A Fox and a Sun is an animated short exploring the idea that anything can become your friend if you give it attention. Using stop motion, the film explores storytelling through physical action and bringing to life a soft and warm sensory experience. -
kal angam-kai: stories from west papua
Lead Artists: Yasbelle Kerkow, Cyndi Makabory
Producer: Yasbelle Kerkow, Florence Tupuola
Cinematographer: Ashleigh Hammond
A short documentary about exiled West Papuan Elders living in Naarm as told through the eyes of diasporan young people growing up politicised in a country that continues to remain silent about Human Rights abuses taking place in their homeland.
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Housekeepers
Writer/Director: Kaede Miyamura
Producer: Evangeline Parks, Anna Warwick, Kaede Miyamura
CInematographer: Zhang Yifan
Housekeepers follows 12-year-old Japanese Australian Irina who finds herself in her non-English speaking mother's world where she must grapple with toying with her mother's trust while protecting her from the truth.
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HuI Jia
Writer/Director: Alex Nesic
Producer: Alex Nesic & Madison Murphy
Cinematographer: Jack McTaggart
On a day that holds hidden significance, an aging restaurant owner tends to her business as she reflects on an old letter sent to her father back in her homeland. -
Green Tree Frog
Writer/Director/Producer: Madison Murphy
Associate Producer: Alex Nesic
Cinematographer: Adam Sutardy
When 10-year old Maggie’s mother decides to sell her father’s green tree frog, Maggie decides to sabotage the sale by scaring off the potential buyers
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Boom Bap!
Writer/Director: Caleb Ribates
Producers: Barış Ulusoy, Daneë Grieef
CInematographer: Tavis Pinnington
On a hot Australian summer night, a local cypher invites breakers around the neighborhood. Malekai battles his best friend, Hung, in hopes to grab the respect of his peers. When the competition gets out of hand, Malekai feels he has more to prove than his talent as a dancer.
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