CHILDREN’S SCREENWRITERS TO CONNECT WITH GLOBAL INDUSTRY AS AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S CONTENT SUMMIT CONTINUES TO BRING SECTOR TOGETHER

by FilmInk Staff

AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S CONTENT SUMMIT

MONDAY 24 AUGUST – THURSDAY 27 AUGUST 2026

With an ongoing commitment to connect and champion the children’s and family screen content industry, this year’s Australian Children’s Content Summit will bring some of Australia’s leading creative voices together with the global screen industry, creating new opportunities for writers to connect directly with producers, broadcasters, platforms and international partners.

As Bronze Partners of Australia’s only dedicated summit for children’s and family screen content, the Australian Writers’ Guild will support 10 AWGIE Award-winning and nominated writers to attend the 2026 Australian Children’s Content Summit, joined by the Australian Writers’ Guild National Executive Council member and Australian Writers’ Guild Authorship Collecting Society Chairperson, Sam Meikle.

The attendance and participation of the 10 Australian writers who were selected in recognition of their exceptional achievements and contribution to Australian screen storytelling is being supported by the Australian Writers’ Guild’s Scripted Ink initiative. A not-for-profit initiative established in partnership with the Australian Writers’ Guild, Scripted Ink is funded by internationally renowned screenwriter and producer Shane Brennan who is dedicated to identifying, developing and promoting outstanding Australian screenwriting talent.

Representing some of Australia’s most recognised screenwriting talent, the selected writers span animation, live action and creator led storytelling and include Tim Bain (Kangaroo Beach), Thomas Duncan-Watt (Space Nova), Guy Edmonds (Spooky Files) and Charlotte Rose Hamlyn (Kangaroo Beach).

Day one of this year’s Summit places a strong focus on connection with the Writers & Producers speed networking session providing a dedicated forum for writers to meet directly with producers and begin building partnerships and projects.

Making their first trip to the Australian Children’s Content Summit, international guests FNX Television’s Station Manager Frank Blanquet, (Yucatec Maya) and Viva Pictures’ Vice President Acquisitions Mayank Jhalani will both travel from the United States to be a part of the four day summit.

Australian Writers’ Guild Director of Professional Development Susie Hamilton said, “The Australian Writers’ Guild, with the support of Scripted Ink, is delighted to be sending a delegation of AWGIE-winning children’s writers to this year’s Australian Children’s Content Summit. Centring writers in conversations with producers, broadcasters and industry partners is an invaluable opportunity and one of the many reasons this summit grows from strength to strength each year. It is a unique and much-needed forum for the children’s television industry.”

Writer, Creator and Showrunner Tim Bain said, “The Australian Children’s Content Summit is a brilliant opportunity for us kids telly writers and creators to get out from behind our desks at home, change into something slightly more formal than tracky dacks and meet a broad spectrum of industry professionals who may very well help us get our next show up and running. At my inaugural summit last year I chatted with the BBC about my new series Knee High Spies, which has since been sold to CBeebies by our distributor Australian Children’s Television Foundation. I met with Apple TV, which led to a deal developing a project for them. The speaking sessions are insightful and the serendipity of the networking events is priceless. There’s a friendly, welcoming vibe and everyone’s keen to say hi.”

SLR Productions CEO and Australian Children’s Content Summit Founder Suzanne Ryan said, “Australian writers are at the heart of great children’s and family storytelling, and we’re thrilled to welcome this incredible group of AWGIE recognised talent to this year’s Summit. This partnership with the Australian Writers’ Guild and support from Scripted Ink strengthens opportunities for Australian writers, creators and showrunners to connect directly with producers, broadcasters, platforms and international partners. These are the relationships that spark new ideas, ambitious collaborations and help Australian stories reach young audiences on screens around the world.”

Presented by SLR Productions, the 2026 summit will again see Australian Children’s Television Foundation return as Principal Partner and both Screen Australia and Screen NSW back as Major Government Partners, alongside Major Partners YouTube and Minderoo Foundation. Since launching in 2023, the Australian Children’s Content Summit has attracted more than 260 delegates from 12 countries annually, including senior executives from ABC, NITV, BBC, BBC Studios, CBC, PBS Kids, Apple TV+, Disney, Netflix, Sony, Paramount, ITV, Amazon Kids+ Originals, Warner Bros Discovery Kids, YouTube, Nine Network, Hello Sunshine, Sinking Ship Entertainment, Wildbrain and many more. It has generated development partnerships, project commissions, international collaborations, career pathways and strategic business relationships, firmly establishing the Australian Children’s Content Summit as Australia’s leading marketplace for children’s and family content.

Once again hosted by Dr. Emma Watkins, known for her ARIA award-winning musical children’s show ‘Emma Memma’ this year’s summit will feature speaker sessions, pitching opportunities, workshops, curated matchmaking, networking events and outdoor experiences, all set against New South Wales’ Coffs Coast backdrop.

Building on its success, this year’s summit offers delegates exceptional access to leading content professionals, including producers, creators, writers, directors, buyers, distributors, investors, screen agencies, policymakers and industry influencers.

The summit has firmly established itself as Australia’s premier platform for the children’s and family content industry to network, collaborate, share insights and build significant business relationships. The Australian Children’s Content Summit remains the only dedicated event of its kind in the country, proudly celebrating the power and potential of stories for local and international audiences.

AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S CONTENT SUMMIT DETAILS

DATES: Monday 24 August to Thursday 27 August 2026

LOCATION: Pacific Bay Resort, Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour

PRICE: Earlybird registration is now available until 1 June 2026 – $760

All tickets include lunches, refreshments, evening functions, and more.

TICKETS: http://www.australianchildrenscontentsummit.com

The 2026 Australian Children’s Content Summit is proudly supported by a wide network of partners across Government, industry and commercial sectors.

Presented by: SLR Productions

Principal Partner: Australian Children’s Television Foundation

Major Government Partners: Screen Australia and Screen NSW

Major Partners: YouTube

Gold Partners: Flying Bark Productions, ABC, Simpsons, Screenwest