‘NT on Screen’ celebrates Territory screen productions

by FilmInk Staff

‘NT on Screen’ celebrates Territory screen productions

Bringing red carpet screenings, special events and the NT Screen Summit with leading Australian screen talent and decision-makers

Screen Territory is proud to present the 2025 ‘NT on Screen’ program, celebrating screen culture in the Northern Territory.

‘NT on Screen’ features three red carpet screening events for Screen Territory-supported productions made in the NT in the last year. Kangaroo will be premiered at red carpet events in Darwin and Alice Springs and Top End Bub will be premiered in Darwin at the iconic Deckchair cinema. NT on Screen also features a free two-day NT Screen Summit symposium packed with industry heavyweights, and a series of masterclass workshops.

Director of Screen Territory Jennie Hughes said, “Coming off the back of a 468% surge in direct NT spend from screen production over the last seven years, the ‘NT on Screen’ program is about bringing Territorians together to celebrate our stories and the talent that is shaping the NT’s growing reputation as a powerhouse of high-quality screen production.”

The NT Screen Summit provides unprecedented access for NT creatives to top decision-makers and commissioners across streaming services, production companies, distributors, funding agencies and story developers.

The free two-day industry symposium on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September showcases over 50 delegates, including CEO of Screen Australia, the Head of Originals at Prime Video and MGM Amazon Studios, CEO of Beyond Productions, CEO of Studiocanal ANZ, CEO of Ausfilm and the Head of Unscripted Originals at Foxtel.

Further major companies confirmed to attend include Madman Entertainment, Netflix, Ludo (Bluey), Goalpost Pictures, Good Thing Productions, Ronde Media, Brindle Films, Savage Films, Tamarind Tree Productions, Since 1788, Trackdown and the Screen Producers’ Association.

Meanwhile the powerhouse lineup continues with creatives including producer/actor Miranda Tapsell, director/actor Shari Sebbens, director Christiaan Van Vuuren (Top End Bub), producer Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai, Monkey Man), writers/producers Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan and actor Kate Box (Deadloch), AWGIE-award winning screenwriter and producer Greg Haddrick, producer and creator Ben Davies (Territory), director Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal), director/writers Maggie Miles & Trisha Morton-Thomas (Journey Home, David Gulpilil) along with the film’s producers Rachel Clements, Jida Gulpilil and Lloyd Garrawurra.

Representing the games sector, the Summit will host Game Consulting Founder Jon Cartwright, Hipster Whale’s Amelia Laughlan, Intarsia Interactive’s Cherie Davidson and Salty Games’ Nathan Groves.

The ‘NT on Screen’ program is a Screen Territory initiative, celebrating the outstanding achievements of Territorian filmmakers, cast and crew, sharing stories alongside the communities where they were created.

“The Northern Territory is fast becoming recognised as a place where world-class stories are made, and our special red carpet screenings are an opportunity for Territorians to see that first-hand. From a feature film produced with Alice Springs’ culture at its heart, to a globally released television series led by a proud Territorian, these projects highlight the depth of skill and creativity that exists in our community,” Ms Hughes said.

The red carpet Darwin preview of new Studiocanal feature Kangaroo on 17 September at Event Cinemas Palmerston will feature special guests including The Kangaroo Sanctuary’s Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, producer/actor Trisha Morton-Thomas, actor Ernie Dingo and young star Lily Whiteley, along with key creatives, award-winning cinematographer Kieran Fowler NZCS , VFX supervisor Jonathan Hairman, producer Rachel Clements and Studiocanal ANZ’s CEO Elizabeth Trotman and Head of Sales Greg Denning.

An exclusive red carpet screening of new Amazon Prime series Top End Bub on 19 September at Deckchair Cinema features star Miranda Tapsell, writer Joshua Tyler, directors Shari Sebbens and Christiaan Van Vuuren, producers Rosemary Blight, NT’s Libby Collins and Ben Grant, and Head of Australian Originals – Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, Sarah Christie.

Both productions will be the focus of NT Screen Summit panel sessions amongst a major spotlight on NT made productions, including:

o Beyond the Lens: How Screen and Tourism Amplify Screen Productions

o Love, Laughs, and Location: The Making of Top End Bub

o Bringing Kangaroo to Life: From Sanctuary to Screen

o Deadloch Unlocked: Storytelling, Comedy, and the NT Landscape

o From Country to Screen: The Making of Journey Home (presented by the Australian Film Television and Radio School), and

o Bold, Cheeky, Unforgettable: Crafting Thou Shalt Not Steal

The NT on Screen workshop program aims to foster professional development of the incredible talent existing in the Northern Territory, and includes:

o A ‘Directing Masterclass’ by acclaimed Australian director Kriv Stenders (NCIS: Sydney, Danger Close, The Correspondent, Red Dog) to build craft skills for emerging and mid-career Territorian directors and actors. 22-24 September 2025.

o ‘The Freelancer Life’ and ‘You Can Get In: How to Job Hunt for the Screen Industry” presented by Screen Careers on 18 September 2025.

o An ‘Audience Development Masterclass’ presented by award winning Haven’t You Done Well Productions aimed at fostering an understanding of audience-targeted games development and direct-to-audience screen content on 19 September 2025.

NT Screen Summit – Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 September at CDU Waterfront

NT on Screen screening events

Top End Bub – Friday 19 September, Deckchair Cinema

Kangaroo – Wednesday 17 September, Event Cinemas Palmerston

Tickets available via Darwin International Film Festival www.diff.net.au.

Kangaroo will also have a special cast and crew screening in Alice Springs on 31 August with special guests, director Kate Woods, star Lily Whitely, founder of the Alice Springs Kangaroo Sanctuary Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, CEO of Studiocanal ANZ Elizabeth Trotman and producers Rachel Clements and Trisha Morton-Thomas.

NT on Screen Workshops