The Mercury is the pathway to establishing a screen career. It is an Adelaide-based, filmmaker run, not-for-profit organisation that provides support to the emerging screen sector through industry development programs, workshops, production funding, on-site filmmaking facilities including Sound Lab, Edit Suite and Colour Grade Studio, as well as equipment hire.

Supported by the SAFC, The Mercury provides more than $100,000 in project funding through the Quicksilver Production Funding Initiative. In addition to the funding, Quicksilver provides early career filmmakers with industry intel and development workshops, mentoring, production templates, insurance, and project support from script to screen.

The Mercury also delivers a suite of programs to develop screen careers above and below the line, including:

• Launch Lab workshops and masterclasses series

• Script Consultation in the Shane Brennan Writer’s Room supported by the Australian Writers Guild

• Script Club (Book Club for scripts!)

• Industry consultation and professional development programs

In addition, The Mercury is a community focussed, boutique 2-screen cinema with specialist curated program from across the country and around the world. Regular programming includes the much-loved Adelaide Cinematheque.

The Mercury offers a subscription-based membership, with access to workshops, funding, filmmaking facilities and equipment hire, as well as all regular cinema programming, for $25/per month. It offers complimentary supported subscriptions for people from underrepresented groups and those experiencing economic hardship.

The last of its kind in Australia, The Mercury is a beloved screen culture organisation, dedicated to helping the next generation of local screen talent.

Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) is one of Australia’s leading film festivals. Not only a celebration of cinema, AFF is a dynamic advocate for the film industry. Adelaide Film Festival runs a range of initiatives in and out of festival time that support emerging filmmakers and demonstrate the power of film.

AFF Youth

AFF Youth is ​​a rewarding opportunity for South Australian school students and young people to create, produce and share their films on the big screen as part of the internationally acclaimed Adelaide Film Festival.

Young people looking for guidance on making their first film can follow AFF Youth’s ‘How To Make A Film Series’, covering:

• Story and script development
• Creating a shot list
• Camera technique
• The dos and don’ts of filmmaking
• Editing

AFF Expand Lab

AFF Expand Lab is a collaborative development initiative where filmmakers, artists and screen-based practitioners come together to create bold new moving image works. The initiative brings together 30 Australian visual artists, video artists, filmmakers, writers, XR and VR creatives to learn from each other, work with renowned mentors, and develop new projects for Australian audiences and beyond.

Volunteer

Excited about cinema? Volunteer with Adelaide Film Festival! AFF has a range of roles available from administration, to front of house, and production. Volunteering is a great way to make friends, gain industry experience and learn new skills. You must be 18+ to volunteer at AFF and will receive training as part of the role.

Subscribe to AFF News

For festival updates and industry opportunities, subscribe to AFF News.

Channel 44 is Adelaide’s community broadcaster, bringing you local TV on free-to-air across Adelaide and everywhere on our streaming service CTV+ on iOS and Android.

C44 is a non-profit, purpose-driven team working with partners in the education, culture and screen sectors to:

• Facilitate the production of diverse local content for broadcast and streaming
• Assist similarly for-purpose organisations to engage communities through screen content
• Provide the skills and pathways that enable emerging and aspiring local creators to produce content and gain industry experience.

Workshops

Learn how to make high-quality, engaging video and audio content for TV, social media, streaming and more. 

Get hands on in workshops led by practicing industry professionals and learn the fundamentals of shooting and editing video, multi-camera productions, livestreaming and podcast production.

Internships

For emerging creators and aspiring media professionals, getting a foot in the door in the industry can be really difficult. Interning with C44 provides on-the-job experience, mentoring from experienced professionals, and work to put in your portfolio.

Volunteers are integral to C44 and they contribute in a range of roles, from crewing productions to scheduling broadcast programs to creating social media content. 

Be the first to find out about roles at C44 by subscribing to their newsletter.

University Student Placements

C44 partners with UniSA and Flinders University to provide placements for lots of students each year in a range of roles. If you’re a uni student, talk to your course coordinator about placements in the next study period.

CrewHQ is Australia’s one-stop shop for film and TV freelancers. Founded by Emmy Award-winning South Australian producer Kirsty Stark, CrewHQ makes it easier for producers, Production Managers and Heads of Department to find crew from around the country.

Emerging crew members with at least two credits on professional feature film or television productions, or who have worked regularly on a paid basis in the film, television, advertising or related industries over the past six months are eligible to create a free or premium account.

CrewHQ also offers resources for all freelancers, covering topics like building a professional network, getting hired, negotiation and more.

Located in the Adelaide CBD, Game Plus is a collaborative workspace for game developers and related specialist technology start-ups, providing a hub for digital entrepreneurs to co-locate, share resources, knowledge and opportunities. Newcomers have the opportunity to access Game Plus services for free by applying for the Game Plus Support Program.

Carclew is South Australia’s home of youth arts and creativity. It connects all children and young people to a world of creative possibilities, as artists, learners and audiences.  As Australia’s largest multi-artform cultural institution dedicated to children and young people, Carclew is a vital part of Australia’s youth arts sector.

Carclew’s programs consist of workshops, events, arts projects, funding programs, and skill development opportunities, which:

• Provide funding, scholarships and mentoring opportunities for South Australian artists aged 26 and under.
• Provide funding for youth arts organisations working with children and young people.
• Connect artists with South Australian schools, teachers and students.
• Help young South Australians connect with arts industry professionals.
• Provide South Australian artists with affordable rehearsal, performance and exhibition spaces.
• Profile and celebrating young South Australian artists.
• Connect children and young people to the arts across South Australia.

Helpmann Academy provides opportunities for South Australia’s community of creative practitioners at the very start of their careers.

Helpmann partners with South Australia’s universities to provide students and graduates (up to five years from official conferral date) with professional development opportunities including grants and awards, fellowships, mentorships, masterclasses, workshops, advisory services and artist residencies. For more information about who Helpmann supports, visit their website.

Country Arts SA’s vision is for artists and communities of regional South Australia to thrive through engagement with the arts, and be recognised as essential contributors to the nation’s cultural voice.

Country Arts SA offers grants that support arts and cultural activities in regional South Australia that are sustainable, have long term cultural, economic and social benefits, develop partnerships and cultural networks and provide skills development opportunities.

They also run initiatives for artists through residency, professional development and workshop programs that aim to nurture and extend creative arts practice and raise the profile of creative practitioners.

Adelaide Fringe is a world-renowned, annual arts festival that celebrates culture, place and artists from across the globe.

The Fringe often has funding opportunities and support programs for emerging creatives across various artistic disciplines.

The SAFC has two schemes supporting practical, on-set skills development and training through paid industry attachments.

The Professional Crew Attachment scheme is for early and mid-career crew in below-the-line roles to upskill. The Targeted Diversity Attachment scheme is for practitioners from groups under-represented in industry to gain their first on-set experience.

The SAFC issues callouts for Attachments on a project-by-project basis on our Professional Opportunities page and via our fortnightly newsletter.

This skills and training program matches up-and-coming local crew with SA Heads of Department (HODs) for professional mentoring and training across various areas of screen production.

Working on Productions

SAFC supported productions often issue call-outs for SA screen professionals to work on productions, including extras. SAFC supported productions also regularly offer paid Attachment opportunities for specific crew roles. These are advertised on a project-by-project basis on our Professional Opportunities page.

The SAFC’s SA Crew and Services Directory is a resource for Producers and Heads of Department looking to hire South Australian crew. If you are a credited Crew Member, Production Company or Support Service Provider in South Australia and can serve as a resource for the South Australian screen industry you can register yourself in the directory for free. Conditions apply.

If you’re an actor, model or performer looking to become an extra or get cast in a production – check out the relevant section on our FAQ page

Please note that the SAFC is not involved in the hiring of talent or extras for productions. For further information, check out our FAQ page.

Working at the SAFC

Find out about job vacancies at the SAFC.

Other jobs in the screen industry

The below websites provide jobs listings for the screen industry in Australia:

• Grapevine Jobs – grapevinejobs.com.au

• Screenhub – screenhub.com.au/job

Connect over a cuppa

The SAFC holds quarterly coffee networking mornings for the SA screen sector at Adelaide Studios. These free, drop-in style events allow those in the industry and newcomers to catch up with colleagues and create new connections over a cuppa.

All members of the SA screen sector, and those wanting to learn more about it, are invited to join SAFC CEO Kate Croser along with SAFC staff and Adelaide Studios tenant businesses at these fun, free networking mornings. Subscribe to the SAFC newsletter to stay in the loop about upcoming dates.