Western Australian producers Brooke Collard and Shari Hutchison receive Screenwest $100,000 Producer Talent Accelerator

Screenwest is delighted to announce Western Australian producers Brooke Collard and Shari Hutchison are the successful recipients of its Producer Talent Accelerator initiative, each receiving $100,000 to put towards professional development and their slate of projects.

Screenwest’s Producer Talent Accelerator is a year-long skills development program designed to accelerate the careers of early to mid-career Western Australian producers.

The program will fast-track Brooke and Shari’s careers by connecting them with the marketplace, expanding their screen industry contacts and accelerating the development of their slate.

Across the next twelve months, Brooke and Shari will each invest $80,000 towards their professional development, enabling them to attend key markets, network and work with some of Australia’s most coveted production companies and industry leaders. They will also invest $20,000 in project development.

Brooke Collard is a Ballardong/Whadjuk Noongar woman, and proud mother of a toddler. As a producer and writer, Brooke is passionate about creating opportunities for authentic representation for those who have been marginalised in media, such as stories of First Nations people and LGBTQIA+.

“Last year I took a break from the industry, instead focusing inwards and called it my ‘incubation’ period, this time allowed me valuable insights in wanting to create more LGBTQIA+ stories and specifically support First Nations women into the film industry. With the support of the Producer Talent Accelerator, I will be able to follow these stories that are often under-represented, and be able to thrive from a regional town where we are so often isolated from the rest of the industry,” said Brooke Collard.

Shari Hutchison is a proud Nyikina woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia and a dedicated documentary filmmaker. Shari specialises in crafting meaningful narratives that explore culture, identity, and resilience. Through her production company, Kirri Media, her award-winning films have screened internationally, amplifying diverse voices, especially those from Indigenous communities.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be a recipient of Screenwest’s Producer Talent Accelerator! I’ve been working in film for almost a decade with the goal of producing long-form content for broadcast. This is an incredible opportunity to develop my slate, expand my producing experience, and collaborate with some of the industry’s most talented practitioners. I’m eager to build on my skills and position myself as a well-rounded producer, ready to bring impactful long-form stories to audiences,” said Shari Hutchison.

“We are thrilled to support Brooke and Shari through the Producer Talent Accelerator initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to investing in Western Australian screen talent. We look forward to seeing the incredible projects you will develop. Congratulations!,” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.

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