Fulcrum Media Finance business affairs executive and WIFT NSW vice-president Sara Gajic has been nominated for NSW Young Woman of the Year.
In the wake of recent allegations of sexual harassment across both local and international screen sectors, Women in Film and Television (WIFT) NSW has joined forces with a range of industry bodies to deliver a free forum designed to address the issue and bring about change.
"I am no less a mother because I hire carers to look after my children when I am unable to do so myself, and I am no less a film director or writer because I have children."
After almost four years with Women in Film & Television (WIFT), Megan Riakos, the driving force behind the nationalisation of the organisation in 2018, will depart the board this month to focus on her slate of projects as an independent producer with Hemlock & Cedar Films.
Almost three quarters of parents and carers who responded to a recent survey conducted by Raising Films Australia reported that their caring responsibilities have had a negative impact on their career in the screen industry. Of those, 86 per cent were women, many of whom were freelancers on incomes below the Australian median. As a result, many people hide the fact they have kids/are a carer, or take on more than a full-time load to survive. Others simply leave the industry altogether.
Screen Australia is currently developing a code of conduct on sexual harassment and has plans for it to be linked to funding, chief operating officer Fiona Cameron has announced.
Filmmaker Megan Riakos is convinced there is a large number of untapped horror shorts by female directors - enough to curate an anthology feature film to distribute in Australia and internationally.
The state branches of Women in Film & Television (WIFT) are set to form an alliance under a national banner, WIFT Australia, in a move designed amplify advocacy efforts towards gender parity in the Australian screen industry.