21 September 2026

Shared Ground: an Indigenous co-production initiative across three nations

The Indigenous Screen Office in Canada, the New Zealand Film Commission and Screen Australia’s First Nations Department have announced Shared Ground, a new initiative connecting Indigenous filmmakers across the three countries.

Built on the idea that meaningful collaboration starts with relationships, Shared Ground will bring a cohort of Indigenous writers, writer/directors and creative producers together for three immersive labs from early 2027, one hosted in each country. It is the first time the three agencies have partnered in this way.

Leaders from all three organisations described an approach that puts Indigenous relationships, cultural perspectives and creative leadership at the centre, so that co-productions are informed by each other’s cultural frameworks and stories can travel further.

Why it matters

International co-production works best when it starts with trust and shared values rather than financing alone. Shared Ground is a thoughtful model for cross-border collaboration that the wider industry can learn from.

Source: Screen Australia