OUR STORY
Founded in May 2001, Australians in Film is a Los Angeles based non-profit film, television, and digital content foundation whose mission is to increase the quality and growth of Australian creativity globally by opening doors in Hollywood for its members and partners, via professional development programs, screenings, networking and industry sessions, either in person or online.
OUR BOARD
Our board of screen industry leaders generously donate their time and experience to steer our organizations mission and goals.
Emma Cooper
Chair
Founder & Producer Broadtalk
Samantha Lang
Deputy Chair
Producer - I Am That
Zareh Nalbandian
Treasurer
Founder, CEO & Producer Animal Logic Entertainment
Toby Borg
Head of Global Client Strategy CAA
Nakkiah Lui
Creator/Actress/Publisher
Jiao Chen
VP of Creative Development
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Simonne Overend
Producer
Karen Robson
Partner - Pryor Cashman LLP
Peter Scarf
Founder Managing Director Wyuna
Penny Smallacombe
Producer
Richard Weinberg
Managing Director Terrace Tower Group
OUR BOARD OF ADVISORS
Tony Ayres
Showrunner & Filmaker (TAP Productions)
Laura Brown
Producer, Host & Creative Consultant (LB Media)
Bec Smith
Literary Manager (Anonymous Content)
Bruna Papandrea
Producer & Founder (Made UP Stories)
Charmaine Bingwa
(Actress)
Emile Sherman
Producer & Co-founder (See-Saw Films)
OUR STAFF
Peter Ritchie
Executive Director
Isabel Pappani
Director Membership Programs
Rachel Harvey
Events, Partnerships and Operations Consultant
Laura Baxter
Brand & Marketing Consultant
Krista Carpenter
Industry Development Consultant
Andrés Vergara
Program and Office Coordinator
For our members, AiF hosts a number of screenings, online and in person networking events, and industry sessions.
AiF runs Untapped, Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange. These three programs, presented by Screen Australia, and supported by Screen NSW, VicScreen. Screen Queensland and South Australian Film Corporation, are available to anyone currently residing in Australia.
AiF also runs and manages the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship, which over the past 13 years have helped launched the international careers of a number of Australian actors. It is available to any Australian actor, 18 years or older.
AiF is based at Charlie’s, a shared workspace in The Writers Building at The Lot Studios in West Hollywood. Charlie’s is a bespoke hub for business, collaboration and networking for the Australian screen community in Los Angeles. It is funded by Screen NSW, VicScreen and South Australian Film Corporation. If you want to use the space, you need to contact our partners above.
Many AiF members are active voting members of groups such as: Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences; Screen Actors Guild; Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Director’s Guild of America.
AiF’s board of directors includes prominent industry executives and creatives.
AiF has the support of Screen Australia, Screen NSW, VicScreen, South Australian Film Corporation, as well as leading companies such as Ausfilm, Animal Logic and Raynor & Associates. AiF has more than 1500 members, mixing actors and filmmakers with key American industry members.