Expand your practice

Adelaide Film Festival's Expand Lab is a collaborative development initiative where filmmakers, artists and screen-based practitioners come together to create bold new moving image works.

The initiative brings together 30 Australian visual artists, video artists, filmmakers, writers, XR and VR creatives to learn from each other, work with renowned mentors, and develop new projects for Australian audiences and beyond.

AFF Expand Lab was initiated by Adelaide Film Festival and is delivered in partnership with Samstag Museum of Art, Illuminate Adelaide, Art Gallery of South Australia and The Balnaves Foundation with support from Arts South Australia.

Held in October during the Adelaide Film Festival, there have been two labs to date in 2022 and 2023. Participants are selected through a competitive Expression of Interest process. There is no cost to attend the Lab and participants are supported with travel, accommodation and per diems. Mentors are highly experienced and accomplished artists, practitioners and producers who provide guidance and inspiration throughout the five full-time days of the Lab.

Applications are now closed.

Commissions

A major outcome of AFF Expand Lab is the AFF/Samstag Moving Image Commission, with two commissions awarded in 2022 and 2023.

AFF Expand Lab 2022 Commission

AFF/Samstag $60,000 Moving Image Commission was awarded to Emmaline Zanelli (SA), Matthew Thorne (SA) and Susan Norrie (NSW) for FIFO. A moving image work which will explore the transitory experience of ‘fly-in, fly-out’ mining work as a means to analyse the broader culture of mining and its role in Australia’s identity. The work will premiere at the Samstag Museum as part of the 2024 Adelaide Film Festival.

AFF Expand Lab 2023 Commission

$100,000 EXPAND 2025 Moving Image Commission awarded to Anna Lindner (SA), Nisa East (NSW) and Yasemin Sabuncu (SA) for 5 STEPS FOR BETTER LIVING, MAXIMUM GAINS AND MANIFESTING YOUR MOST OPTIMISED SELF! A satirical, critical reflection on the trends of hyper-masculinity in times of existential crisis. The work will premiere at the Samstag Museum as part of the 2025 Adelaide Film Festival.

Accolades

Contact

Julianne Pierce
Special Initiatives Manager
Email: julianne@adelaidefilmfestival.org

AFF Expand Lab is an initiative of Adelaide Film Festival with Principal Partner The Balnaves Foundation, and the Government of South Australia, Samstag Museum of Art, Art Gallery of South Australia and Illuminate Adelaide.