by FilmInk Staff
Acclaimed NSW-based filmmaker Fadia Abboud has been awarded the 2026 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award, in recognition of her contribution to the Australian screen industry throughout her career.
Fadia is a Western Sydney filmmaker, with over 20 years’ experience in the Australian screen industry, working across celebrated Australian projects including Five Bedrooms, Here Out West, House Of Gods and Four Years Later.
The award was presented to Fadia by Executive Director of Screen NSW, Kylie Munnich, at the Closing Night Gala of the 73rd Sydney Film Festival, at the State Theatre.
The $10,000 cash prize, which was first established in 2016, is presented annually by Screen NSW, under the auspice of Sydney UNESCO City of Film, to trailblazing NSW-based screen practitioners, whose work stands for innovation, imagination and high impact.
Previous award recipients of the award include Libby Villa and Wayne Pashley (2025), Debbie Lee (2024), Chris Godfrey (2023), Caitlin Yeo (2022), Karina Holden (2021), Blackfella Films (2019), Warwick Thornton (2018), Leah Purcell (2017) and Lynette Wallworth (2016).
Screen NSW Executive Director Kylie Munnich said: “Screen NSW is pleased to present the 2026 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award to Fadia Abboud, recognising her trailblazing work across an exciting mix of Australian film and television.
“Across her career, Fadia has worked on projects that champion the diverse communities of Western Sydney, and communities right across Australia, reflecting the lives of many people who might not often see themselves on screen. Her work spotlights outstanding voices and stories, and I’m sure she will continue to inspire the next generation of filmmakers for many years to come.”
2026 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award recipient Fadia Abboud said: “I am deeply honoured to accept this award, thank you Screen NSW and UNESCO.
“It took a while to go from being a Lebanese girl in Parramatta making short films to directing television and film. I want to thank all the producers and directors who opened the doors I was knocking on and pulled me into this world and let me hang around their sets to watch and learn, and sometimes play. Without these kinds of attachments, I wouldn’t have advanced my career.
“It’s incredibly encouraging to be recognised for the work I’ve done so far, especially because I still feel like I have a long way to go. I do love storytelling because it gives me the opportunity to celebrate the communities, cultures and voices that shaped me, and I’m grateful that I get to do that for a living.”
About Fadia Abboud
Fadia Abboud is a filmmaker born and bred in Parramatta to Lebanese migrants. She began her career facilitating video workshops for Western Sydney communities and later served as the Director of the Arab Film Festival Australia for ten years.
Early funding from Screen NSW enabled her to make the documentary I Remember 1948 which was acquired by SBS. Other prizes from Queerscreen allowed her to make Big Trouble Little Fish – a short film exploring the Cronulla Race Riots. Fadia independently produced the web series I Luv U But, a queer Arab drama about marriages of convenience, filming the first series in just three days with friends and no funding. The web series went on to secure Screen Australia support for the second series.
After several short films and a directing attachment on Here Come The Habibs, Fadia co-directed an episode for the second series. Her first solo directing credit came with Australian Gangster, launching her television career where she went on to direct episodes of Les Norton, Five Bedrooms, After The Verdict, Barons, Year Of and Four Years Later.
Fadia directed all episodes of House Of Gods for ABC, produced by Matchbox Pictures/NBCU. House Of Gods had its international premiere in competition at Series Mania 2024 where one of the leads, Kamel El Basha, won the award for Best Actor (International).
For her work on House Of Gods and Five Bedrooms, Fadia received Australian Directors’ Guild Award nominations. Fadia directed two segments of the anthology feature Here Out West, which opened the Sydney Film Festival in 2021.
Fadia has previously sat on the Advisory Board for Screen NSW and is currently a board member of the Australian Screen Directors Authorship Collection Society (ASDACS).
