Supporting Filmmakers in Australia’s Northern Territory

Australia has long been a global filmmaking hub, both for attracting international productions and developing new talent in front of and behind the camera. Nonetheless, the majority of the filmmaking occurs in population centers like Sydney, while in the more remote and sparsely populated areas such as the Northern Territory (NT), opportunities to learn the craft have been few and far between. To help rectify that disparity, the SPARK Short Film Initiative provides up-and-coming artists from Australia's Northern Territory professional-grade equipment, expert mentorship, and adequate funding to bring their stories to life with moving pictures.

The SPARK Short Film Initiative started in 2016 as part of the Darwin International Film Festival in its namesake city, Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. Over the years, the initiative has led to the successful funding and production of more than 17 short films, and in 2023, Screen Territory, the NT government's film-industry liaison, took over as caretaker and administrator. The initiative's thorough application process concludes with three filmmaking teams each receiving AU$30,000 in funding to shoot a 10-minute short based on an annual theme, along with technical consultation and a budget of AU$10,000 from Panavision to rent lenses and other camera equipment.

Panavision first became involved with SPARK after Nic Godoy, Panavision Australia's Sales and Marketing Manager, taught an optics workshop for Screen Territory and the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) in Darwin in 2022. Screen Territory had been searching for a way to bolster the SPARK program and approached Godoy about Panavision joining as a potential sponsor, an opportunity the company enthusiastically embraced. "Having worked with Nic and his team on delivering the masterclass, we knew that Panavision wasn't just a perfect technical partner but also had all the requisite qualities to mentor and work with these up-and-coming filmmakers and to push them to achieve their best," says Jennie Hughes, Director of Screen Territory.

Panavision's Nic Godoy (far right) with SPARK Short Film Initiative participants during the Darwin International Film Festival. (Photo by Nicholas Gouldhurst.)

Screen Territory views initiatives such as SPARK as essential for building and sustaining the Northern Territory’s film industry, which has seen rapid growth in recent years and has become a go-to location for shows like Netflix’s Territory, Amazon’s Deadloch, and the upcoming StudioCanal feature film Kangaroo. Panavision’s collaboration with Screen Territory and the SPARK program assures producers that they can hire below-the-line crew trained in how to best use the gear. “It’s vital that filmmakers have the opportunity to practice craft skills on relevant, industry-standard equipment — and doubly vital in a remote locale such as the Northern Territory,” Hughes says.

The investment in a robust and ambitious SPARK Initiative is already paying dividends for those involved. Major festivals have selected films produced through the initiative, with the latest edition of SXSW Sydney choosing two SPARK shorts to be screened for their circuit. "The event is quickly becoming a prestige element of the NT's screen-industry framework for emerging practitioners," Hughes explains. "Panavision's involvement in the initiative has undoubtedly contributed to this increased level of quality, as evident in Caro Macdonald's winning of a Silver Award at the Australian Cinematographers Society's NT Awards in 2024 for her work on Bear.”

The initiative has also injected newly trained talent into the employment pool, making local production more feasible on a technical level. This has in turn expanded producer-crew connections and offered jobs to NT locals on bigger-budget shows and features. Moreover, the SPARK shorts have propelled above-the-line careers, with two of the three 2024 SPARK directors securing Director's Attachments on top-tier productions shot in the Northern Territory. "The result is that SPARK is beginning to foster careers and serves not only as a calling card for the key creatives but also assists in building professional networks within the region," Hughes says. "Further, it encourages those involved in the short films to have an ongoing relationship with Panavision and to lift their craft ambitions as they continue into making future projects."

"The SPARK Short Film Initiative is vital for Northern Territory filmmakers, offering them opportunities to elevate their work and amplify their voices within the industry," Godoy adds. "It serves as both a stepping stone and an accelerator for their careers. Without Screen Territory initiatives of this scale, creating impactful local development pathways would be much more challenging."

A frame from Bear, featuring cinematography by Caro Macdonald.

As Hughes noted, Caro Macdonald served as director of photography for the 2024 SPARK recipient Bear, teaming with writer-director-producer Rebecca Parker and producer Sarah Price for the short. "It's been an incredible opportunity for me to hone my skills as a narrative cinematographer with access to Panavision equipment, including exquisite prime lenses, as well as two generous DOP mentors," she shares. "Rebecca and I were able to test and develop a narrative film language together, and we were able to create opportunities for a group of enthusiastic emerging-to-skilled local practitioners, with a focus on diversity as well as on the process being as important as product, on working together and learning from one another."

Alongside Bear, the 2024 SPARK program also supported writer-director-producer Samantha Alexis Laughton for the short Fence and writer-director Damon van der Schuit and producer-actor Emma Smith for Live From the Alice. "This is an absolutely essential program in the NT," Macdonald says. "It is well documented that there have to be stepping-stone opportunities for filmmakers, and this is a one-of-a-kind program for talented NT practitioners to form a crew and make a short film.

On location with the crew of Fence.

"Short films are an essential storytelling format in their own right, and this initiative allows local filmmakers to hone their craft in the digestible nature of short form, with smaller budgets, shorter shoots, tight storytelling cadence and so on," she continues. "This initiative also goes a long way towards fostering working relationships amongst NT filmmakers, giving local crew the opportunity to work almost exclusively with NT crew, and forging skills and relationships that will continue on to future productions."

The acclaim awarded to the shorts that have come out of the SPARK program further validates the efforts of everyone involved, including program supporters like Panavision. "SPARK is a key avenue for enabling NT creatives and technicians to express their visions through film, and looking ahead, we aim to continue supporting Northern Territory filmmakers and fostering their careers," says Godoy. "Panavision is committed to providing educational support, career development, and assistance in employment opportunities that help integrate local talent into high-end drama productions filmed in the NT. We hope these efforts contribute to building a thriving and sustainable film industry in the Northern Territory."

This direct support of local talent excites Screen Territory and foretells of greater things to come for the industry in the Northern Territory. "As the old saying goes, 'do it in camera' - and this naturally leads us to collaborating with and seeking out the professional expertise of a company like Panavision," says Hughes. "We're thrilled to have such a prestigious equipment partner and look forward to building on this relationship."

Behind the scenes of Live From the Alice.