Eighth round of Screen Australia’s Skip Ahead Initiative launched

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia have opened applications for the eighth instalment of the Skip Ahead initiative, helping online storytellers to expand their creative ambition and production value.

Up to $150,000 each will be provided to a maximum of six YouTube projects, both scripted and documentary are encouraged to apply. A first in the Skip Ahead initiative, creatives with projects on the short-form platform YouTube Shorts will also be eligible to apply.

Providing funding and career advice to online storytellers since 2014, Skip Ahead has supported 33 teams, providing over $4.2million to develop skills and build careers. Alumni of the program include some of the most successful groups in Australian creative industries, such as Superwof, Aunty Donna, Beau Miles, Chloe Morello and more.

Screen Australia’s head of online, Lee Naimo said, “Skip Ahead has proved a powerful launchpad for Australian online creators to expand their vision and the scale of their content, and take their stories to wide-scale global audiences.

"We can’t wait to uncover the next crop of local creators this year. We are looking for a solid mix of scripted and documentary projects and we encourage applicants to push the boundaries – this is a fantastic space to be bold and try new things.”

Ed Miles director, of YouTube Australia & New Zealand, said, “We are consistently impressed by the unique and powerful projects produced by Skip Ahead alumni and we are proud that this initiative can provide an important step in the careers of many Australian storytellers.

Applications are open to content creators who have either a current YouTube channel with a substantial existing subscriber base and/or content that has achieved a minimum of 1 million views.

On top of receiving production funding for their project, successful applicants will also participate in a workshop to be held in Sydney (February 2023). Applications close at 5 pm Thursday 13 October 2023. Apply here.

See Also: Funding announced for nine Screen Australia projects