Art Screen Events’ Katrine Elliott announced as the 2024 Natalie Miller Fellowship recipient

The Natalie Miller Fellowship (NMF) is excited to announce Art Screen Events founder, Katrine Elliott, has received the 2024 Natalie Miller Fellowship. Elliott was announced as the recipient of the prestigious fellowship at Australian International Movie Convention (AIMC) on the Gold Coast at the Gala dinner on Thursday October 31, 2024.

Also announced at the Gala dinner, Universal Pictures has come on board as Principal Sponsor of the Fellowship. The studio will provide $15,000 cash per year for two years to support the not-for-profit’s mission to recognise and nurture the next generation of female leaders in the Australian screen community and inspire them to reach the very top of their fields.

Established in 2011 to recognise the unique contribution of screen industry pioneer Natalie Miller AO, the Fellowship is open to established women working in the Australian screen industry and aims to provide financial assistance of up to $20,000 to pursue professional development in their fields through attachments, internships, secondments, travel and other means in order to reach their full leadership potential.

Katrine Elliott has been immersed in the cinema industry for over 25 years, driven by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to showcasing independent films and unique events. For over 20 years, she was the general manager of Cmax Cinemas, where she curated a diverse selection of Hollywood blockbusters, indie titles and alternate content. Now, as the founder of Art Screen Events, Elliott presents local and international fine-art films, Australian films and documentaries, film festivals and special theatrical and concert events throughout Tasmania. Travelling across the state with portable cinema equipment, Elliott is committed to bringing films to life in non-traditional spaces. Elliott is on the board of Independent Cinemas Australia (ICA), is a member of the Screen Tasmania Expert Advisory Group and has experience programming for the Brisbane International Film Festival.

With the grant, Elliott will travel to the UK to study the best industry practices and share strategies to boost the success of the Australian cinema experience with the local industry through collaborations with organisations such as ICA, AIMC and the Australian Feature Film Forum. Elliott’s research will focus on innovative strategies that go beyond traditional advertising to entice audiences and create dynamic cinema experiences, with a focus on grassroots efforts and cinema offerings for audiences in regional and remote areas.

On receiving the grant, Elliott said: “I’m absolutely honoured to be named the 2024 recipient of the Natalie Miller Fellowship. This prestigious Fellowship is a significant opportunity for me to further my passion for independent films and alternative content and expand my knowledge by learning best practices from international exhibitors and industry professionals. I am grateful for the support of the NMF in my journey to contribute to the cinema landscape in Australia.

“I look forward to utilising this incredible opportunity to strengthen connections within the industry and inspire others, especially women in regional areas, to pursue their careers while supporting their local communities.”

On behalf of the independent final selection panel, Joel Pearlman said: “The Natalie Miller Fellowship is an important and critical part of the Australian film and cinema landscape – it’s unique work – finding and developing female leaders of our industry – has already developed a number of leading practitioners across exhibition, distribution and production. This year’s successful candidate – Katrine Elliott – was chosen from a rich field. Katrine’s proposal to develop unique and innovative practices for bringing independent film and alternative content to market comes at a time when the industry needs such initiatives. She is an exciting choice for the NMF and for the industry as a whole.”

Mike Baard, Managing Director of Universal Pictures Australasia said, “At Universal Pictures, we are deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the film industry, both on screen and off. Being recognized as a Best Workplace for Women underscores our dedication to creating an environment where women thrive, and our broader culture of respect and inclusion is celebrated globally and locally. We are honoured to collaborate with organizations that support underrepresented voices and create new pathways for marginalized communities. By championing initiatives like the Natalie Miller Fellowship, we help empower the next generation of leaders and amplify the voices that shape our industry’s future.”

NMF President, Sasha Close said: “The NMF is delighted to welcome the major sponsorship from Universal Pictures towards supporting female leadership in the Australian screen industry and the programs the NMF delivers. Gender equality and female leadership remain pertinent, and very relevant issues for the local and international screen industries and the NMF welcomes the guaranteed support of Universal Pictures to undertake direct initiatives and programs to support its aims. I express very sincere thanks to NMF committee members, in particular, Fiona Nix and Michael Smith for their guidance and support of this significant agreement and to the Universal Pictures team, in particular, Mike Baard for his long term and meaningful support towards the NMF.”

The Natalie Miller Fellowship is the only grant of its kind in the country. Since 2012, thirteen Fellowships have been awarded to women working in the Australian screen industry.

For more information, please visit www.nataliemillerfellowship.com.