Natalie Miller.
Entries for the 2016 Natalie Miller Fellowship open today, July 1.
Now in its fifth year, the grant doubles this year for the first time to $20,000.
Established in 2011, the Fellowship is open to all women working in the Australian screen industry and aims to provide financial assistance to pursue professional development in their fields through attachments, internships, secondments, travel and other means in order to reach their full leadership potential.
The grant is funded from donations made to the Natalie Miller Fellowship Endowment Fund and through the support of sponsors including Film Victoria, the Deluxe Heartbeat Fund, Andyinc, Myer Foundation and ICAA.
Fellowshop ambassador Kerry Gardner said that “Nurturing female leadership skills, from graduate level to Chairman of the Board, is vital for a healthy film and television industry in Australia. Let's lead the world in strong action in promoting men and women working side by side in our sector”.
Since 2012, four Fellowships have been awarded to Rachel Okine (Vice President, International Production and Acquisitions at StudioCanal in Paris), Harriet Pike (Head of Production and Development, WildBear Entertainment), Rebecca Hammond (Head of Localisation and Access Services, Deluxe Australia) and Courtney Botfield (Director, Goodship).
Courtney Botfield, recipient of the 2015 Natalie Miller Fellowship, said: “The Natalie Miller Fellowship is unique in its role of passionately promoting female leaders across the spectrum of the Australian screen sector, but also as a support network for women in the industry and the respect and recognition of the Fellowship is palpable. The Fellowship has afforded me not only invaluable new professional relationships and opportunities but, most importantly, the confidence and focus to purse my career goals and I encourage all aspiring women in the screen industry to apply.”
All applications for the Natalie Miller Fellowship must be received by August 26.
The recipient will be announced in mid-October at the 2016 Australian International Movie Convention on the Gold Coast.