South Australia’s low-budget feature film development initiative, Film Lab: New Voices, is calling for original and ambitious feature-length submissions for its third-round intake.

Co-funded by theSouth Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), Adelaide Film Festival and Screen Australia, Film Lab: New Voices offers three filmmaking teams the chance to develop their first low-budget feature through a 12-month development program. At the completion of the Lab, one team will be selected to receive $600,000 in screen production grant funding with their film to premiere the Adelaide Film Festival in 2026.

Applications will be assessed on the originality and creative ambition of the project, the marketability and potential audience, the diversity of the key creative team and the potential for the project to be realised within the proposed budget.

Film Lab: New Voices 3 is a low-budget lab and SAFC is helping potential applicants to prepare compelling applications by providing an online webinar on the SAFC website and promoting screenings of previous Film Lab films.

Three teams to be selected to undergo an intensive 12-month industry mentoring program to develop a feature film script to be produced within an allocated budget. Industry mentors with expertise in low-budget filmmaking will guide the three teams through a rigorous skills development program. One project will be selected to move into production and the final film will premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival 2025.

Applications are open to teams with feature-length projects of any genre that demonstrate a strong authorial voice, authentic storytelling and independent spirit. Applications will be assessed on the originality and creative ambition of the project, the marketability and potential audience, the diversity of the key creative team and the potential for the project to be realised within the proposed budget.