The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) has announced the latest recipients of its 2026 scholarship program. The scholarships provide vital financial and practical support to help students from all walks of life access AFTRS’ world-leading screen and audio education.
The scholarship program provides opportunities for emerging creatives from diverse backgrounds across Australia to participate in AFTRS’ Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, Master of Arts Screen, and Master of Arts Screen: Business programs.
Delivered in partnership with the AFTRS community, industry leaders, and alumni, these scholarships prioritise access and equity, and are a powerful investment in the future of Australian storytelling.
Offered every three years, the Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship has been awarded in 2026 to Esperance Nyiramugisha. This prestigious award, now in its third iteration and valued at over $80,000 for 2026, is open to applicants from a refugee background pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production at AFTRS.
Esperance, 19, who was born in a Rwandan refugee camp to Congolese parents and came to Australia as a child, said receiving this scholarship was “such an honour”.
“It gives me the chance to study and tap into my creativity without the worry of financial constraint,” she said. “I’m so grateful to be the recipient of this scholarship and I’m excited to see what opportunities it opens up for me.”
The Onbass Giant Steps Scholarship – made possible through the generous support of the Gentle Giant Media Group and the Onbass Foundation – returns for its sixth year in 2026 and has been awarded to First Nations student Georgia Williams (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production), who has relocated to Sydney from Cowra, NSW.
Georgia said: “I am eternally grateful for the opportunity this scholarship has unlocked for me. Without it I don’t think I’d be able to pursue my passion and acquire the skills I need for the industry.”
The two annual Women in Cinematography Scholarships, sponsored by SONY, and the Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship are now in their fourth years. The recipients of the Women in Cinematography Scholarships in 2026 are Jenna Coghill and Serafina Paletto (both Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production). The recipient of the Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship is Felicity Weaver.
Jenna said: “As I enter my final year of studying the BA at AFTRS, I’m incredibly grateful for the support this scholarship will provide. It represents the opportunity for women and gender diverse creatives to move past barriers and trust in our voices behind the camera. Seeing the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Cinematography this year was a powerful reminder that the industry is evolving and scholarship opportunities like this help the next generations carry that progress even further.”
Serafina said: “The Women in Cinematography Scholarship provides not only financial support, but the creative encouragement to commit to my voice as a cinematographer. I’m driven to create work that feels intimate, grounded and emotionally resonant. With the support of AFTRS and SONY, I feel empowered to take creative risks and focus on visual storytelling without limitation. This scholarship not only enables women to refine their craft, but also contributes to a more diverse and representative future of cinematography.”
Felicity said she was genuinely moved to receive a scholarship given in honour of the “great broadcaster” Glenn Daniel.
“This scholarship represents more than financial support. It has given me the confidence to back myself, in the ideas I already have and the ones still forming,” she said. “To my donor: never underestimate the impact of what you have given. A scholarship does not just fund study, it tells someone their potential is worth believing in.”
The First Nations Scholarships – supported by the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust – provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and are awarded to one or more recipients each year based on creative excellence or equity. In 2026 the scholarships recognising creative excellence have been awarded to Master of Arts Screen: Directing student Sasha Parlett, Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting student Micah Kickett, and Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production student Pablo Wild. The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship will provide living expenses in 2026 to Jai (surname withheld), who was also the recipient of 2025 Scholarship, to enable him to continue his studies in the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production program.
Micah said: “To be supported and recognised as an Indigenous student at AFTRS means not only will it assist financially, but will continue to drive my motivation and determination to complete the course. It is very humbling to know that scholarships such as these are available for Indigenous students in supporting their journey throughout the AFTRS courses, which gives an additional incentive to the student to pursue their career interests.”
Pablo said: “Receiving this scholarship is both a validation of my potential and a responsibility to take my work further with intention. It gives me the opportunity to fully immerse myself at AFTRS, where I’m excited to collaborate with other creatives, refine my directing voice, and strengthen how I translate complex ideas into compelling visual storytelling. I’m genuinely grateful to the donor for investing in emerging storytellers. This kind of support has a lasting impact, and I intend to make the most of it through the stories I create.”
The Anita Jacoby Trailblazer Scholarship recipient is Maria Kilogiri (Master of Arts Screen: Business). This scholarship, established last year, seeks to empower outstanding female-identifying or gender-diverse applicants from across Australia who demonstrate remarkable leadership skills and entrepreneurial spirit – and is made possible through the generous support of acclaimed television producer and journalist Anita Jacoby.
Maria said: “Receiving this scholarship is a meaningful recognition at an early stage of my journey. I’m incredibly grateful for the support, and excited by the opportunities it opens to further develop my skills and contribute to the screen industry.”
AFTRS Craft Excellence Scholarship supports female-identifying applicants who demonstrate excellence in craft in the disciplines of cinematography, sound, documentary, and editing in the Master of Arts Screen program. This year’s recipient is cinematographer Amrita Sur.
Amrita said receiving this scholarship was “truly life-changing”.
“As a woman entering an incredibly challenging field like cinematography, having my work recognised through this scholarship has strengthened my determination to keep pushing creative boundaries,” she said. “It means the world to know there are people who support emerging artists stepping into this space – who see what we stand for, and recognise our hard work, talent, and potential to grow as collaborators and storytellers.”
The Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship has been awarded to Madeleine Adams who, as part of her Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting studies, will have the opportunity to do a work placement at Sunshine Coast radio stations MixFM and SeaFM.
Madeleine said receiving the scholarship had boosted her confidence in her broadcasting abilities and validated her passion for storytelling: “Not only has it alleviated some of the financial stress of studying full-time, but it has given me a foot in the door via a week of placement at MixFM and SeaFM following the completion of my graduate diploma at AFTRS. I hope to honour Glenn Wheatley and his entrepreneurial spirit and will take this recognition with me throughout my studies and into the radio and podcasting industry.”
The ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship recipient is Leisa Reichelt, who has made a late career switch from customer research to study her passion for broadcast. The CRA Regional Radio Scholarship recipient is Michael Cross, from Illawarra on the NSW South Coast.
Leisa said: “After a long career in customer research, I applied not quite sure I deserved a place here, or that making a career pivot at this stage made any sense. Winning this scholarship was the moment I stopped questioning that, and started believing I could turn a passionate side-quest into my next career. Having people who know this industry look at what I bring and say ‘yes, you’ gives me confidence to take risks I could easily talk myself out of.”
Michael said: “It is such a wonderful opportunity to be studying at AFTRS and the CRA Regional Radio Scholarship is great financial support to allow me focus on my studies.”
As previously announced, Liam D’Silva (Master of Arts Screen: Directing) is the recipient of the Alumni & Industry Fund Scholarship.
Dr Nell Greenwood, CEO of AFTRS, said: “Our deepest thanks go to the companies and individuals who continue to support AFTRS year after year and whose generosity makes these scholarships possible. Scholarships are transformative: they open doors, relieve pressure and allow students to fully commit to learning their craft. Over time, we have seen how this support not only changes individual lives, but strengthens the entire screen sector by enabling new voices to enter, contribute and lead.”
More than 30 scholarships are offered at AFTRS each academic year.
