Miriam Katsambis, Natalie Miller and Sue Maslin.
Applications are now open for the $20,000 Natalie Miller Fellowship, which aims to support the next generation of female leaders in the screen industry.
The fellowship is open to all women working in the Australian screen industry, and is designed to be used for professional development through educational programs such as internships, attachments or secondments.
Last year’s recipient was Miriam Katsambis, legal counsel eOne Australia/New Zealand.
Reflecting on receiving the grant said, she said: “To be the first lawyer to be awarded the NMF was a tremendous shock, but also such a golden opportunity. The application process was deeply reflective for me; I actually changed my professional development proposal as a result of drafting the document because I had never really taken the time for introspection. I realised that my passion for connecting audiences with dynamic and diverse stories, and interest in the growing demand for screen content in the Asia region, weren’t necessarily aligned with further legal training.
“With NMF support, I was selected to participate in the 2019 Asialink Business Leaders Program – a unique opportunity usually reserved for outstanding, upper-level managers from corporate Australia – which has inspired me to approach cross-cultural work through a more commercial, entrepreneurial and innovative lens. I can’t wait for the next phase which will involve time in Hong Kong, engaging with the market there, and communicating that knowledge back to the local industry so we can broaden our engagement with that region.”
Other previous fellows include Rachel Okine (vice president of acquisitions STX international), Harriet Pike (head of production & development, WildBear Entertainment), Rebecca Hammond (post production manager, Beyond Productions), Courtney Botfield (film distribution and marketing consultant/producer), Sasha Close (film programming manager, Wallis Cinemas) and Kristy Matheson (director, film programs ACMI)
The Natalie Miller Fellowship is funded via donations made to the Natalie Miller Fellowship Endowment Fund and through the support of sponsors including Film Victoria, Village Roadshow, Andyinc and the Myer Foundation.
“The Natalie Miller Fellowship continues to support female leaders who are ready to take their careers and our industry to the next level. Our alumni including Rachel Okine, Sasha Close, Miriam Katsambis and Kristy Matheson are making a big impact. Kristy (Director of Film Programs, ACMI) is innovating in the exhibitions space to bring premium, female-driven content to our screens and we are delighted to partner with ACMI to celebrate Agnès Varda, one of the greats, at the upcoming screening and networking event in Melbourne,” said Sue Maslin, NMF president.
All applications for the 2019 Natalie Miller Fellowship must be received by Friday 23 August.
For guidelines and to apply visit the website: www.nataliemillerfellowship.com