Melissa Hayward
Documentary Executive
As Documentary Executive, Melissa is responsible for managing the day-to-day funding of Screenwest’s documentary funding programs and initiatives, working across both development and production.
A screen industry professional with over 20 years of experience in the scripted and factual sectors, her extensive work in broadcast documentary has spanned research, development, story producing, archive producing, writing, directing, and field producing for ABC, SBS, Discovery Channel and National Geographic.
Melissa produced the critically acclaimed feature documentary Hotel Coolgardie (2016), which screened internationally at prestigious festivals including Slamdance, Hot Docs and Sydney Film Festival. In 2023, the film was adapted into the AACTA-nominated feature The Royal Hotel, directed and co-written by Kitty Green and starring Julia Garner.
Melissa is passionate about supporting Western Australia’s dynamic documentary filmmaking community to create and share compelling, entertaining and conversation-starting stories with local and global audiences.