Screen Producers Australia names Ones To Watch cohort for 2026/27

# What was announced

# Who's in the cohort

• Maggie Looke (VIC)
• Saksham Sharma (NSW)
• Sebastian Chan (ACT)
• Tak Nakano (NSW)
• Tresa Ponnor (NSW)

• Andy Huang (VIC)
• Carlos Manrique Clavijo (SA)
• Devina McPherson (WA)
• Michael Long (WA)
• Rizcel Gagawanan (NSW)

# What the program provides

Participants are eligible to apply for the Ones To Watch Screen Placement, which is supported by Screen Australia. That placement provides a $20,000 contribution toward an international industry placement for successful applicants.

# Breadth of practice in this cohort

The stated focus of the 2026/27 cohort covers a wide range of screen practice: scripted and factual content, feature film, documentary, animation, comedy, digital work and creator-led production. The group includes producers and filmmakers working on internationally oriented projects as well as practitioners growing audiences through digital platforms and retaining creator-owned intellectual property.

# Program track record

Since its inception, Ones To Watch has supported more than 180 early-career screen practitioners. Alumni of the program have moved into commissioning roles, set up production businesses, completed international placements and produced Australian screen projects that received acclaim.

# Next steps and timeline

Industry mentors for the 2026/27 cohort will be announced later in the year. The cohort's practical industry access is concentrated around Screen Forever in May 2027, where SPA will organise pitching and meeting opportunities. Participants may separately apply for the Screen Placement supported by Screen Australia.

# Why this matters for early-career practitioners

The program packages mentorship, industry introductions and a route to international placement funding. For emerging creators and producers, those elements aim to accelerate access to buyers, partners and international networks while providing targeted guidance on projects and business development.

# Bottom line

SPA's Ones To Watch 2026/27 introduces distinct Creators and Producers pathways and selects ten practitioners across Australia working in diverse formats. The program combines mentorship, event access and a funded pathway to international placement to support the next stage of participants' careers.