Victorian writer Alberto Di Troia is one of six screenwriters from across Australia to have been selected as inaugural participants in the Emerging Writers’ Incubator, an initiative from SBS in partnership with Screen Australia, Film Victoria and other state and territory agencies, with the assistance of the Australian Writers’ Guild.
The Emerging Writers’ Incubator is a nationwide program launched earlier this year to bring the industry together to support the ongoing development of underrepresented writing talent telling Australian fiction stories for the screen. The initiative provides significant work experience in drama production in leading Australian production companies for emerging writers from backgrounds and with lived experience currently underrepresented in the sector.
This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; people who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; those who are living with disability; are female or trans/gender diverse; identify as LGBTQIA+; and people located in regional and remote areas.
The six successful candidates chosen this year will each be employed for 12 months in one of six award-winning production companies around the country, acclaimed for their delivery of Australian drama.
The successful emerging writers selected for 2021, and the production companies they are working with, are:
VIC: Alberto Di Troia joins Tony Ayres Productions, supported by Film Victoria
ACT: Sebastian Chan joins Bunya Productions, supported by Screen Canberra
NSW: Lâle Teoman joins Goalpost Pictures, supported by Screen NSW
QLD: Nicholas Lin joins Ludo Studio, supported by Screen QLD
SA: Ansuya Nathan joins Closer Productions, supported by the South Australian Film Corporation
WA: Cassandra Nguyen joins Komixx Entertainment Australia, supported by Screenwest.
Over the next 12 months, they will each gain valuable work experience, further developing their skills, knowledge, and networks, while working across the production companies’ slate of drama productions. They will also be supported by the Australian Writers’ Guild, with access to creative and training workshops, to further develop their skills.
“The Emerging Writers’ Incubator is a really special and important initiative which SBS is incredibly proud to be working with our partners in the sector to deliver," shared Donna Chang, Commissioning Editor of SBS Scripted.
"There is an extraordinary pool of writing talent across Australia who have uniquely Australian stories to share, and through this program we’re excited to be supporting the development of the next generation of distinctive writing voices and contributing to a more inclusive industry."
“Thank you to the award-winning production companies who are also joining us in this initiative, and congratulations to all of the candidates who took part in interviews during the competitive selection process, especially the successful writers - we look forward to going on this journey with them," Chang said.
Susie Hamilton, Professional Development Manager at the Australian Writers’ Guild, said: “It’s been a privilege to work with SBS, Screen Australia and our other state-based partners on this important initiative. The standard of writing talent we have seen through the selection process has been nothing short of extraordinary. We know that the successful writers and the participating production companies are going to reap enormous benefits from this program.”
Successful Victorian candidate Alberto Di Troia is a writer, filmmaker and graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film & Television) and the Master of Writing for Performance at the VCA.
He is the co-founder of award-winning performance company Stage Mom, whose work includes his plays Love You Bitch (Theatre Works 2021) and Truly Madly Britney (Theatre Works 2019, Max Afford Playwrights Award shortlist 2018), as well as participatory, immersive pieces I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Cooking For (2019, Melbourne Fringe) and Love Me (Bar)Tender (2020, Darwin Festival). Alberto has also presented writing with Melbourne Theatre Company, Australian Theatre for Young People, ABC Radio National, and Critical Animals.
Prior to this, he worked in film editing and post-production, and in 2018/19 he ran the community filmmaking initiative, Into The Limelight. Most recently, Alberto was funded by Film Victoria to work as Script Coordinator on the Tony Ayres Productions series, Fires.
“Congratulations to Alberto Di Troia and all of the Victorians shortlisted from an incredibly strong field our most talented writers," said Caroline Pitcher, the CEO of Film Victoria.
"Tony Ayres Productions is one of Australia’s leading production companies with a proven track record for telling diverse screen stories and elevating new voices. We can’t wait to see Alberto’s career journey as part of this initiative and beyond.”
Co-funded by SBS, Screen Australia with participating state and territory screen agencies, the Emerging Writers’ Incubator will continue in 2022 and 2023, with six successful candidates partnered with production companies around Australia each year. Over three years, the initiative will support the careers of 18 emerging writers, further contributing to diversity in the pool of professional talent in the sector.