AFTRS congratulates the Class of 2024, who officially marked the completion of their studies at the School’s Graduation Ceremony on Friday 23 May.
Held at the Sir John Clancy Auditorium at UNSW, the event celebrated the achievements of 163 graduating students across the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, Master of Arts Screen, and Master of Arts Screen: Business.
Family, friends and faculty gathered to honour the graduating class and their accomplishments and to look ahead to their exciting futures in the screen and audio industry. The ceremony was held by BA Discipline Lead (Screenwriting) Jenevieve Chang, and inspiring speakers addressed the graduands, including AFTRS Deputy Chair of Council and Netflix Production Policy Director Debra Richards, and Andrew Myer AM.
Introducing the ceremony, Jenevieve spoke to the moment’s significance, encouraging graduates to embrace their creative power.
“The need for authentic storytellers with vision, with conviction, with lived experience, has never been more urgent. This is your invitation to step into main character energy — not as ego, but as agency. Keep showing up for your stories. Claim your space in rooms that weren’t built for you. Create new rooms if you have to.”
Debra Richards echoed the message, acknowledging graduation as the beginning of a lifelong creative journey, and affirming the strength of the AFTRS community in supporting students, graduates and alumni.
“As you take this next exciting step, one of the greatest assets you take with you is the ability to stay open – to listen, to learn, to hold strong convictions with a willingness to adapt and grow. Because storytelling – in all its forms – is always a collaboration. It thrives when different voices, views, and visions come together. That’s how we build stories that move people. That’s how we shape culture.”
The event featured special guest speakers, including Andrew Myer AM, AFTRS alum and NITV Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production Dena Curtis, and AFTRS graduate and 2GF Radio Breakfast Announcer Misty Fisher, who represented the graduating class as this year’s graduate speaker.
Andrew Myer delivered his keynote speech after his family was honoured by AFTRS earlier in the day with the renaming and dedication of a studio, the Myer Studio, recognising their support of more than 500 fellowships and scholarships, which have helped over 200 students since 1987.
A successful producer and storyteller, Andrew has long championed Australian stories and collaborated with AFTRS graduates, including Council Chair Rachel Perkins (Radiance) and BA alum Robert Connolly (The Dry, Paper Planes, The Boys). Reflecting on the role of storytelling in times of change, Andrew said:
“Stories are how we make sense of a world that sometimes feels spinning off its axis. They’re how we connect, how we challenge ourselves and others, how we heal. Whether you’re writing, interviewing, directing, producing, designing sound or lighting a scene — never forget that you are, above all, a storyteller. And, in times of uncertainty, stories matter more than ever.”
Dena Curtis, a Warlpiri, Warrumungu and Arrernte filmmaker, graduated from AFTRS’ Graduate Diploma in Television Editing in 2002. Her recent credits include being the executive producer of Rebels with a Cause, which premiered at MIFF, and producing the award-winning factual series First Weapons, which took out GOLD at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards. In her address, Dena reflected on her time at AFTRS and the value of a creative community.
“For me, AFTRS was a hothouse of ideas and a pool of talented creatives with endless ambition. It was a safe space to take risks and push boundaries,” she told graduands. “Your time at AFTRS has given you that foundation, too. You’re ready to embark on your journey in the industry. Find your people, the ones you love to work with, use your craft to tell outstanding stories — and above all, stay kind and be humble.”
Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting graduand Misty Fisher, spoke of her journey embracing full-time work and study, thanks to the program’s flexibility. Based in regional NSW, Misty now works as a breakfast announcer on 2GF Radio, Grafton.
“Just as I was starting my course at AFTRS, I was also starting my radio career,” she said. “The value of going to AFTRS is beyond anything I could’ve imagined — the support, the networks, the industry knowledge, the practical learning. I was able to apply what I was learning in real-time. Congratulations to each and every one of you. As you graduate and step into industry, remember to take every chance, believe in yourself, celebrate the wins — even the small ones — and most importantly, keep telling and sharing stories.”
The ceremony also saw the announcement of this year’s Women in Cinematography Prize, presented by Sony, awarded to Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production graduate Ella Stone Richards for her work in the film The Colour of Black, telling the story of Mahtab, an Iranian immigrant clinging to the illusion of reclaiming her lost life.
“I feel extremely grateful to be this year’s recipient of the Women in Cinematography Prize,” said Ella. “My aim as a cinematographer is to seek stories that unveil the experiences of identifying women and minorities — stories that start conversations and expand boundaries. I’m incredibly thankful to Sony and my mentors at AFTRS, especially Simeon Bryan (BA Discipline Lead, Cinematography), and to my incredible crew on The Colour of Black, in particular director Melika Azimi, for their trust and artistry.”
AFTRS CEO Dr Nell Greenwood concluded the graduation ceremony by talking to the students about the rich experiences ahead in their screen and audio careers and how inspired she was by the outstanding work created by them throughout the academic year and during their time at AFTRS.
“It’s just a fantastic sense of hope and possibility. That belief in our future, that belief in our own agency and our capacity to change things, is so powerful. You might at times have to check your expectation, but please always hold on to that sense of hope. Trust in your talent, in your skills and these amazing networks you have created; get out there and make great work and be brilliant.”
First Nations graduates were honoured at a special ceremony attended by Elders, the First Nations community and industry colleagues, and Indigenous AFTRS alumni the night before graduation at AFTRS.
Graduation celebrations continued into the weekend with a screening for friends and family, showcasing the breadth and depth of themes, skills and stories developed by this year’s graduating cohort.
We look forward to seeing what the Class of 2024 will achieve as they begin their journeys in the screen and audio industries — shaping the future as Australia’s next generation of storytellers.
