What does it mean to make a film that is truly inclusive? Not just in who appears on screen, but in who holds the camera, writes the script, and makes the decisions?

Inclusive by Design is the inaugural masterclass from the Australian Women's Film Festival, bringing together some of Australia's most important voices in screen to explore inclusion as a creative force rather than a compliance exercise. This is a conversation about gender representation, disability-led filmmaking, First Nations storytelling, and what Australian cinema looks like when everyone gets a seat at the table they helped build.

The masterclass will be held at AFTRS, one of the world's leading screen arts and television schools and a fitting home for a conversation about the future of Australian filmmaking.

The Panel

Moderated by AWFF Co-Founder Tahyna Tozzi, the panel brings together leaders from across the Australian screen industry:

Nell Greenwood - Chief Executive Officer, AFTRS

Nina Oyama - Writer, comedian, and screen performer

Lianne Mackessy - Screen industry leader

Dianna La Grassa - Chief Operating Officer and Resident Producer, Bus Stop Films

Rachel Perkins - Director of First Nations Strategy, Screen Australia

Together they represent the full breadth of inclusion in Australian filmmaking from gender equity and disability-led production to First Nations storytelling and institutional leadership.

What to expect

This is not a panel about ticking boxes. It is a practical, honest, and wide-ranging conversation about what changes when inclusion is built into the DNA of a film from day one, in the casting, the script, the production design, and the creative team behind the camera. Emerging and established filmmakers alike will leave with new frameworks, new perspectives, and a clearer sense of what the next generation of Australian storytelling looks like.

The masterclass will run for two hours with time for audience questions.

Event Details

Date: Thursday 24 September 2026

Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Venue: AFTRS, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, Sydney

Tickets: Free, registration required