The Next Brilliant Career
Programme · 2026Prestige 70/100
Netflix ANZ, the Australian Writers' Guild and all eight screen agencies fly eight writers to Sydney to pitch. Free, and you keep every right.
Deadlines & fees
- Application deadlinePassed17 Aug 2026Australia/SydneyFree
Closed for this cycle
Applications closed on 18 August 2026 (Netflix gave 11.59pm; most state agency portals cut off at the end of 17 August). Selected writers are notified on 28 September, the Sydney pitch day is 6 October, resubmissions are due 6 November and final feedback arrives by 1 December 2026. Netflix has announced no second round.
Dates and fees checked against the official site 6 Sept 2026.
Key facts
- Formats
- Feature, TV Pilot
- Eligibility
- 18+Women & nonbinary
- Open to
- Australia
- Required materials
- Professional biography, up to 150 words · Working title · Logline, up to 30 words · Intended audience description, up to 200 words · Genre · Explanation of cultural relevance and personal connection to the story · One-page synopsis · Screenwriting sample, five pages total
Applicants must be 18 or over, an Australian resident, identify as a woman or non-binary, and hold between one and three reportable writer credits on a commercially released short film, film or television series longer than 10 minutes that screened at a recognised festival or was supported by a state or federal screen agency. Both ends of that range are enforced: no credits, or more than three, fails the criterion. Full-time students are not eligible. Applications must go to the agency for your own state or territory, and to one only. Group applications are not accepted. You must be available for the Sydney pitch day on 6 October 2026. The story must be demonstrably and authentically Australian through tone, character or setting.
Prizes
No cash prize, no development deal and no commission. Selected participants receive a pitch session with Netflix executives, in-room feedback, a resubmission round, one paragraph of final written feedback, return economy flights or train travel to Sydney and up to two nights' hotel. The terms state plainly that selection does not guarantee Netflix will develop the work, or guarantee funding or ongoing support of any kind. All rights in the submitted work remain with the writer: there is no option, no first refusal and no exclusivity period anywhere in the terms.
Judging
An independent assessor panel appointed and managed by the Australian Writers' Guild in consultation with Netflix shortlists up to five applicants per state and territory, and Netflix selects one from each. Panel members are not published. Netflix's decision is described as final and binding. Due to expected volume, no individual feedback is given to unsuccessful applicants. Judged on the strength of the concept, the potential for the narrative to sustain a series or feature, an understanding of the chosen genre, and authentically Australian tone, character or setting.
The PreList verdict
Netflix ANZ, the Australian Writers' Guild and all eight state and territory screen agencies put eight writers, one from each state and territory, in a room at Netflix's Sydney office on 6 October to pitch a concept. You get spoken feedback on the day, a chance to revise, and one paragraph of written feedback by 1 December. Flights and up to two nights' hotel are covered. The rights position is genuinely clean, and unusually so: every right in your work stays with you, and there is no option, no first refusal and no exclusivity anywhere in the terms.
The honest part: that is the entire deliverable. No money, no development deal, no commission, and the terms say so outright, that selection does not guarantee Netflix will develop the work or guarantee funding or ongoing support of any kind. Everyone who is not selected gets nothing at all, including no feedback. There is a standard studio submission release buried in there too, the clause confirming Netflix may already be developing something similar and that you have no recourse if it does. And the closing time is a genuine mess: Netflix says 11.59pm on 18 August, five of the six state portals say 12.00am on 18 August, which is a full day earlier, and Screen Canberra says 11pm.
Apply if you are an Australian woman or non-binary writer with between one and three credits and you want a Netflix executive's read on a concept without signing anything away to get it. It is free, and you apply through your own state or territory agency, one only. Whatever Netflix's page says, treat the deadline as end of day on 17 August: the agency portals are what actually enforce it, submitting a day early costs you nothing, and the alternative is finding out the hard way.
Dylian Salvatore, Founder of The PreList · Updated 6 Sept 2026
Frequently asked questions
When does it actually close?
Sources disagree, which is why this matters. Netflix says 11.59pm on 18 August. Five of the six state agency portals say 12.00am on 18 August, which is midnight at the start of that day and therefore effectively end of 17 August. Screen Canberra says 11pm. The portals enforce the cut-off, so submit by end of day on 17 August.
Do I give up any rights to my idea?
No. The terms state that all rights to a submitted work remain with the applicant and that participation transfers no title or rights to Netflix, the AWG or any screen agency. There is no option, first refusal or exclusivity period. There is a standard submission release confirming Netflix may independently develop similar material without recourse.
What do I actually get if selected?
A pitch to Netflix executives in Sydney on 6 October, spoken feedback in the room, one resubmission round, and one paragraph of written feedback by 1 December. Plus return flights or train travel and up to two nights in a hotel. No cash, no development deal, no commission.
Who can apply?
Australian residents aged 18 or over who identify as a woman or non-binary and hold between one and three writer credits on released work longer than 10 minutes. Both ends matter: no credits fails, and so do four or more. Full-time students are excluded, and you apply only through your own state or territory agency.
Is your script right for The Next Brilliant Career?
Upload your screenplay and The PreList scores how well it fits this programme: genre, format, eligibility and readiness, before you spend anything.
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