Screenwest announces Elevate 2025 recipients
Five Western Australian filmmaking teams have received production funding to produce their scripted short film projects through the Elevate initiative.
Screenwest is pleased to announce five Western Australian filmmaking teams have been selected to produce their scripted short film projects through the Elevate initiative.
Elevate invests in the professional skills development of WA’s most talented early-to-mid career creatives. The core objectives of the initiative are to uncover distinctive WA voices and projects, support the career progression of WA key creatives and support the development of a project that acts as a calling card for their next career milestone.
The five projects will be executive produced by Clint Logan from Leederville-based production and post studio, Sandbox. Clint brings over 30 years of experience in film and television, with a background in post-production and visual effects.
Sandbox continues to play a steady role in Western Australia’s screen industry across both commercial and long-form projects with recent credits including post-production and finishing on Invisible Boys, Shipwreck Hunters Australia, He Ain’t Heavy and Birthright.
“This year’s Elevate submissions uncovered an exciting mix of fresh talent and stories about people on the brink of change. The five successful projects highlight where humour, heart and humanity meet in the search for clarity, connection and courage. Congratulations to this year’s filmmakers, we can’t wait to see the finished films,” said Tenille Kennedy, Screenwest Head of Scripted: Content and Talent.
Image: The latest Elevate cohort at Fridays Studio in West Perth. L-R: Jack Connell, Jed Cowper, Executive Producer Clint Logan, Tabbetha Marshall, Jamiee Peasley, Chantelle Lucas, Elsie Shaw, Honny Palayukan, David Vincent Smith and Jessica Londono. Photographer: Liang Xu.
The five filmmaking teams are:
THE BEGINNING
Logline: The Beginning follows bride-to-be Mina on the night of her Mehndi, where she finds herself caught between duty and doubt.
Writer/Director: Chantelle Lucas
Producer: Tabbetha Marshall
Production Company: Pearler Studios
“We’ve worked on The Beginning since 2021 as a labour of love and appreciation for Chantelle’s South Asian heritage and women’s autonomy. The Beginnings development saw years of growth and to now see it come to life through Elevate has been a surreal experience which has already started to launch our film careers,” said Chantelle Lucas and Tabbetha Marshall.
YOUR TURN
Logline: On the brink of graduation, 17-year-old Josie is thrust into hyper-real visions of her future by a magical game of spin the bottle, forcing her to confront what – and who – she truly wants.
Writer/Director: Theresa Roberts
Producer: Jed Cowper
“We’re energised by our fellow creatives. We can’t wait to see where this initiative takes our entire cohort, beyond these very precious stories,” said Jed Cowper and Theresa Roberts.
HOLE IN ONE
Logline: Two 80-year-old golf rivals dedicate the remainder of their lives to sink a hole in one before time sinks one of them. (It’s funny)
Writer/Director: Jack Connell
Producer: Jaimee Peasley
Production Company: Patch Productions (Australia) Pty Ltd
“I’m incredibly grateful to Screenwest for supporting Hole in One through Elevate. This initiative doesn’t just help us tell an amazing story — it strengthens the future of the WA screen industry. By pairing emerging crew with experienced mentors in a safe and supportive environment, we’re investing in long-term sustainability and skills development. It’s exciting to be part of building an industry where local talent can grow, collaborate, and thrive,” said Jaimee Peasley.
“Landing Elevate gives us the chance to swing big with a Screenwest-supported film that puts us on the map. We’re setting out to create a film that makes audiences laugh, cry, fall in love with golf and proves we’re ready for the long-form stage. Jaimee and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Jack Connell.
VIOLETA EN AUSTRALIA
Logline: After moving from Colombia to Australia, a lonely seven-year-old girl begins to disappear inside her own home, and only when her games drift toward danger does her mother finally look at her, and truly see her.
Writer/Director: Jessica Londono
Producers: Honny Palayukan & David Vincent Smith
Production Companies: Sambal Films and Smith & London
“Elevate arrives at a decisive point in my trajectory as a writer and director. After E-Mum’s recognition at CinefestOZ and its expansion towards a feature, this program represents momentum - the kind that shapes careers rather than simply supporting projects. With Violeta en Australia, I am pushing further into intimate, character-driven drama, sharpening a cinematic language that is becoming distinctly my own,” said Jessica Londono.
DAMN (working title)
Logline: Seen through split-screen, DAMN (working title) follows two young exes in their early 20s, juggling co-parenting and learning how to grow up with their child in the middle.
Writer/Director: Matt Sav
Writers: Patrick Hogan & Jack Arbuckle
Producer: Elsie Shaw
Production Company: Matt Sav Pty Ltd
“As a career-first for the core creative team, this will be our first narrative short film and we are truly excited to bring this ambitious and heartfelt story to life. We look forward to the challenge of utilising split screen to explore the intimate complexities of single parenthood and connect with our audience’s hearts and minds,” said Matt Sav, Patrick Hogan, Jack Arbuckle and Elsie Shaw.