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Chef Pam, The World’s Best Female Chef, Is Opening A Thai Restaurant At Crown Perth
A new restaurant from Bangkok chef Pichaya Soontornyanakij, better known as Chef Pam, opens at Crown Perth next year. It’ll be called Khao San Sek.
Chef Pam was named The World’s Best Female Chef 2025 and Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024. Her Bangkok restaurant Potong took a Michelin star in its first year of trading and reached number 13 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025. Perth and Sydney will be her first restaurants in Australia. Here’s what we know so far.
“Chef Pam is one of the most acclaimed chefs in the world, and we are proud to welcome her to a city so connected to Asia and that has such a strong affection for Thai flavours,” said Crown Perth CEO Brian Pereira.
The Perth venue borrows its name and its thinking from Chef Pam’s restaurant on Song Wat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown, where the menu is organised around five ingredients she treats as sacred: rice, chilli, coconut, fish sauce, and palm sugar. Dishes are grouped by those building blocks rather than the curry-and-stir-fry categories most Thai menus fall into. The name refers to the stray grains that fall to the floor during rice milling, which are then blessed by monks.
“Opening my first Australian restaurants is incredibly meaningful,” she said. “My current venues are about respecting the foundations of Thai cuisine and expressing them in a modern and personal way. Australia’s beautiful local produce makes it the perfect destination for this next chapter.”
The Sydney restaurant, SEK, is taking a different approach: a chef-led degustation with the kitchen in full view, wine matched to each course, and a Thai dessert trolley to finish.
When Björn Frantzén’s two Australian restaurants were announced in July, Sydney got Én, a fine-dining room above the harbour, and Perth got Brasserie Astoria, the group’s more casual à la carte format.
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Freo Topple Adelaide To Secure The Minor Premiership: Is This Their Season?
Fremantle kicked five straight goals in the last quarter to beat Adelaide 16.16 (112) to 13.10 (88) at Optus Stadium on Friday night, taking the minor premiership for only the second time in the club’s history and the first since 2015.
Jye Amiss kicked five, Isaiah Dudley three, and Caleb Serong had 29 disposals, 12 clearances, and two goals. Josh Treacy pulled down 11 marks. A crowd of 55,010 watched Fremantle close out a perfect 12-0 home season, and the win was the club’s 19th of the home-and-away year, equalling the West Australian record West Coast set in 1991.
Adelaide didn’t hand it over. The Crows led early, and Izak Rankine finished with a game-high 39 disposals, ten clearances, and 717 metres gained. “When it was in the balance, we just made some crucial errors. Some of it was execution, just skill, handballs, missed handballs,” Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said.
Longmuir keeps the lid on“We’ve set our season up. That’s the way I look at it. It’s a good achievement. I’m really proud of the players of how they bounced back after last week. We’ve put ourselves in a good position,” Justin Longmuir said.
Last week was a four-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG, only Fremantle’s third of the year and a reminder that the gap between this side and the rest of the top six is narrower than the ladder makes it look. Captain Alex Pearce played out Friday night after hyper-extending an already heavily strapped left knee, which Fremantle fans will be watching closely over the next fortnight.
What top spot means for the DockersUnder the new finals system, the top six sit out the wildcard round while seventh plays tenth and eighth plays ninth. Fremantle then host a qualifying final at Optus Stadium, and winning it earns a home preliminary final. Two finals at their own ground with a double chance underneath them is the best September position the club has ever held.
It needs to count for something this time. Fremantle have never won a premiership. They have played in one grand final, in 2013, losing to Hawthorn by 15 points, and the last time they finished on top, in 2015, the season ended with a preliminary final loss at home to the same club. Finishing first has not been the missing piece, but this time around they have never had more star power and a much better balanced team.
We think it’s time to officially pop the lid off; it’s Fremantle’s to lose in 2026.
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Perth Just Had Its Biggest Year On Record For Public Transport
Transperth recorded more than 161 million boardings across trains, buses, and ferries in the 2025-26 financial year, the highest annual patronage in its history.
The 161.2 million total is an 8.4% increase on the previous year’s 148.7 million, and it clears the old record of 149.6 million set back in 2012-13.
Trains drove most of the growth, with 73.7 million boardings, up 19% on the previous financial year; although that increase is largely inflated due to the closure of the Armadale Line for 18 months of level crossing removals and track works, only returning in full last October. Increased train line coverage, combined with capped fares, has played a big role in the increased usage.
Buses remain the most-used part of the network at 86.5 million boardings, a slight rise on last year’s record of 85.9 million. Ferries carried 932,673 passengers. Transperth used additional data capture methods this year to pick up non-ticketed boardings, particularly students who don’t tag on when using the free student travel scheme.
“The Cook Labor Government has not only delivered the largest-ever expansion of WA’s public transport network through METRONET but has made catching public transport cheaper and easier than ever,” said WA Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti.
“We’re delivering real cost-of-living support to WA families with our Go Anywhere Fare, free weekday travel for students and free Sunday travel initiatives.”
“It’s fantastic to see more people choosing to make public transport a part of their everyday lives, with a record 161 million passenger journeys taken across our network over the last financial year.”
How passengers rated the networkAlmost 5,000 regular users were surveyed for Transperth’s annual Passenger Satisfaction Monitor, now in its 37th year. Nine out of ten said they were satisfied with the service.
Fares were rated good or excellent value for money by 84% of train passengers, up from 69% a year earlier. Under the Go Anywhere Fare, which took effect in January, a trip anywhere on the network costs no more than $2.80 with a SmartRider on Autoload, or $3.50 using contactless payment.
More passengers are also combining modes, with 85% of bus passengers using rail as part of the same journey, compared with 79% last year.
The Surf CAT, the free service between Stirling Station and Scarborough Beach that started running in November, recorded 471,888 boardings. Its passengers were the happiest in the survey, with more than 99% satisfied.
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The Perth Royal Show Might Be Affordable This Year With Discounted Pre-Sale Tickets
The Cook Government is putting $3.95 million into this year’s Perth Royal Show to reduce entry prices, with 70,000 discounted pre-sale tickets to be sold online at up to 50% off. That means a family of four will be able to go for less than $80.00, with children aged three and under remaining free.
The discount comes after a couple of years of lower-than-expected ticket sales. In 2025, entry for anyone 16 and over was $50.00, resulting in the lowest attendance in a decade. The Royal Agricultural Society of WA put the drop down to rain on two of the eight days; however, the average punter knows that with cost-of-living pressures, it was a luxury that most people couldn’t afford.
“The Perth Royal Show is an iconic Western Australian event and a fantastic opportunity for families to experience the very best of our agricultural industries and regional communities, Premier Roger Cook said.
“My government is putting Western Australians first by helping keep the Show affordable, with discounted tickets and plenty of free entertainment for families to enjoy.”
The money also covers the nightly fireworks, 10,000 free Yellow Brick Road experiences, and agricultural education activities across the showgrounds. A further $950,000 through Lotterywest will go towards making the Show accessible for people experiencing disadvantage.
“From the nightly fireworks and Yellow Brick Road to agricultural displays and family entertainment, there is something for everyone at this year’s Show,” Cook added.
The new Made in WA Harvest Collective will showcase dishes made with locally grown and produced ingredients, giving showgoers even more ways to experience some of the best food Western Australia has to offer while supporting local farmers and producers.
Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis commented, “The Perth Royal Show is one of the biggest celebrations of Western Australian agriculture, and we want as many families as possible to be able to experience it.”
“I’m particularly excited about the new Harvest Collective, which will put local produce front and centre and give showgoers another opportunity to discover the incredible food grown and produced right here in WA.”
How to get the discounted ticketsThe 70,000 pre-sale tickets will be available online through the Perth Royal Show.
The Show runs for eight days at Claremont Showground, from September 26th to October 3rd.
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Subi Night Market Returns With Six New Food Vendors and a Longer Season
Subi Night Market has just announced it’s returning to Market Square Park in Subiaco from September 5th to May 8th for an extra-long season of food and entertainment. Six new food vendors are also joining the lineup this year.
The market drew more than 130,000 visitors last season with more than 40 food stalls and 20 retail and artisan traders joining the market. This year is expected to be even bigger. Here’s what’s happening.
What’s new to eatLeading them is Cha Pang, the only business in WA dedicated to Thai pancake rolls, the Bangkok street food staple cooked to order and rolled with fillings from custard cream to savoury soy. Celtic Cravings will be serving up spice bags, chicken fillet rolls, and curry cheese chips from Perth’s only Irish-inspired food trailer.
Piadina Nonna Pina is doing Romagna-style flatbreads, lightly charred and filled with paper-thin Prosciutto di Parma and hand-stretched mozzarella, alongside slow-cooked osso buco and braised beef cheeks. Rounding out the new arrivals are MatchérieXO, a specialty bar hand-whisking Japanese matcha and hojicha; Emotional Support Cookies, whose loaded cookies have molten centres; and The Clean Canteen, with a gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free menu of açai bowls, raw treats, and real fruit ice cream.
They join returning stalls including Tings, Taco Daddy, Pasta e Fagioli, and Banana Leaf Filipino Cuisine.
More than just foodThis season also brings the market’s first partnership with WAAPA. Students and alumni will play every Saturday night, covering opera, jazz, classical, contemporary, and singer-songwriter sets, with roving performances through the park as well.
“Subi Night Market has become one of the City’s signature events, and every year the team finds new ways to bring life to Market Square Park on Saturday evenings over the warmer months,” said City of Subiaco Mayor David McMullen. “Six new vendors and our first partnership with WAAPA make this the most exciting season yet.”
The rest of the program includes free outdoor movie nights, a Halloween celebration, performances as part of the Perth International Jazz Festival, Fringe programming under the Subilicious banner, and the return of the giant chess sets. Juan Rando Dance Academy is back with free Latin dance lessons from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, before the pavilion — newly illuminated this season — turns over to social dancing. Meet Your Street returns too, with neighbours reserving a long table under the lights while Spirit of Little Things mixes cocktails at the table for guests to sample.
Entry is free, and the market runs from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm every Saturday. Parking in Subiaco is always difficult, so catch the train if you can. Subiaco station is a short walk away.
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New Fremantle Traffic Bridge Set to Open Before the End of the Year
The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge will open before the end of this year, months earlier than the first half of 2027 date given when the old bridge shut on February 1st. That brings forward the end of the detour that has pushed every trip between Fremantle and North Fremantle onto the Stirling Bridge since summer.
The new crossing carries two lanes in each direction, ties back into Queen Victoria Street at the northern end, and has wider shared paths on both sides for people walking and riding.
“It is a big win for the community that the new Fremantle traffic bridge is on track to fully open later this year,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said.
“The Fremantle bridge will cut travel time for commuters, create new community spaces, and make the river wider and safer.”
Main Roads modelling before the closure predicted a severe impact on the network, and it was right. Traffic was funnelled onto the Stirling Bridge and Stirling Highway, which already carries around 38,000 vehicles a day as the main freight route to the port. Freight and transport operators formed a joint industry group ahead of February to manage the diversion, warning that congestion and delays would flow straight through to supply chain costs.
The State Government leaned hard on getting people out of cars for the duration, with extra trains and buses, free parking at Fremantle Station, and allowing bikes on certain peak-hour train routes.
“The speed at which the new traffic bridge has emerged on the Fremantle skyline has been remarkable to watch,” said WA Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti.
“Not only is this Australian-first bridge design highly complex, but work has been underway to remove the old bridge and build the new one at the same time, on a very busy river close to an operating port.”
“Despite these challenges and thanks to the outstanding efforts of the project team, this incredible new bridge will be finished and open before the end of the year.”
“We knew closing the old bridge was going to be tough, but the local community, businesses, schools, and freight industry have all done their part to avoid major disruptions to the surrounding road network.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has changed up their peak-hour travel plans or made the switch to public transport during this period, every small change has helped keep Fremantle moving.
Demolition of the old timber bridge is finished, the concrete deck has been poured, and the barriers separating the road from the paths are being installed now. Scaffolding is off all four towers and the cranes are expected to be gone from both banks later this month.
Four rows of timber piles have been kept at the northern end as a nod to the 1939 bridge, and removing the rest from the water has widened the channel for ferries and recreational craft.
The finished structure is Australia’s first extradosed bridge, combining cantilevers with cable stays. A community event will mark the opening, with the date to be announced in the coming months.
“Opening this project ahead of schedule is great news for the Freo community, for local retailers, and all those who visit our city over the summer holiday period,” Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk added.
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Census Night Is Tuesday: What Perth Households Need To Know
Census night is Tuesday, August 11th. Everyone in Australia that night has to be included on a Census form, including overseas visitors and people on temporary visas. Let’s hope the website can handle the traffic load this time, and doesn’t crash five minutes in.
By now, you should have received a letter from the Australian Bureau of Statistics with instructions on how to complete it. If you’ve received this, you would have noticed that you don’t have to wait until Tuesday to fill it in. The ABS has already received more than one million completed forms.
The ABS counts every person and every household in the country every five years. The data helps to better plan for schools, health care, transport, and infrastructure, and it’s used to work out where local services are needed.
The last count, in August 2021, put Greater Perth at 2,116,647 people, with a median age of 37 and a median weekly rent of $350.00. It’s safe to say that is not even close to accurate any more.
The form covers everyone who is in your household on Census night, including visitors and babies. For each person you’ll need things like their name, sex recorded at birth, date of birth, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, plus their current address and where they were living one year ago and five years ago.
There are also questions on country of birth, citizenship, ancestry, religion, languages used, parents’ countries of birth, year of arrival in Australia where it applies, and whether the person needs help with self-care, body movement, or communication activities.
Then there’s the household itself: the dwelling, the number of registered motor vehicles kept there, and what you pay in rent or mortgage repayments. If you don’t know the exact housing figure, the ABS asks for your best estimate. There are also a few questions about anyone who usually lives with you but will be away on the night.
How to access the formYou can complete the Census as soon as your instructions arrive, as long as you know where you’ll be on Tuesday. Your answers describe your household as it stands on Census night.
There’s a 16-digit Census number on the letter you should have received, along with a temporary password to log in online. If you don’t want to complete it online, you can post it back.
If your instructions haven’t turned up, or you’d rather complete a form separately from the rest of your household, you can get a Census number or request a paper form through the Census website, or call the Census Contact Centre on 1800 181 227.
For in-person help, Pop-up Hubs are running in shopping centres, select Woolworths stores, libraries, and community centres, with a map on the Census website showing sessions near you.
Penalties for not completing itCompleting the Census is compulsory in Australia. If you don’t submit a form, the ABS will first contact you to encourage you to take part. If you still don’t respond, you can be served a direction in writing, which is a formal legal instruction to complete it.
Failing to comply with that direction is an offence. You can be prosecuted and fined up to $364.00 for every day you don’t comply.
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Perth Director Richard Vilensky Lands $1.5 Million For His Dark Comedy Debut
Richard Vilensky has been making films in Perth for about 30 years, most of them 30 seconds long. This week, Screenwest and Screen Australia named his debut feature Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You the West Coast Visions 2026 recipient, putting up to $1.5 million behind it.
The film is a dark comedy about the owner of a failing furniture business who, on the eve of his daughter’s wedding, resorts to steadily more desperate measures to keep his family in the dark, himself out of jail, and the big day on track. Screenwest bills it as Fargo meets Father of the Bride, built around an insurance scam that goes badly wrong.
The film draws on Vilensky’s own life in Perth’s Jewish community. Screenwest is framing it as a contemporary Jewish-Australian family drama told through dark comedy and surreal farce, a story world it says is rarely seen in Australian screen culture.
“It wasn’t until I embraced both the personal themes and the Jewish world I grew up in that the story finally became what it was meant to be, a funny, unsettling and painfully human spiral of chaos,” Vilensky said. “If for no other reason than my mother needs something to boast about.”
Vilensky has spent his career directing commercials through Sandbox and The Penguin Empire, winning Perth Advertising and Design Club awards for campaigns including St John’s Life Goes On, which took Best of Show in 2018.
“As soon as we read Richard’s hilarious script, we all knew this was the film we wanted to make,” the film’s producers, McNeil, Limpus, and Habib said. “Having watched Richard develop as a director through his work with Sandbox over the past decade, we’re thrilled to help bring his unique voice and bold cinematic vision to a global audience.”
Running since 2005, West Coast Visions backs one WA director’s first theatrical feature. Screenwest delivers it with up to $1 million from the State Government and Lotterywest, and Screen Australia pre-commits a further $500,000 in equity. Past recipients include Sweet As, How to Please a Woman, Last Train to Freo, and Birthright.
“West Coast Visions has become one of the country’s premier pathways for emerging filmmakers, helping Western Australians transform bold creative ideas into feature films with national and international reach,” Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said.
Production on Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You is scheduled to start in Western Australia in mid-2027.
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WA Music Week Launches Today With More Than 50 Artists Across 18 Venues
WA Music Week opens today and runs through to August 16th, with more than 50 local artists playing across 18 venues. Delivered by West Australian Music alongside local promoters, venues, and event organisers, the 2026 program covers ten days of gigs, masterclasses, and industry sessions.
The WAM ShowcaseThe WAM Showcase runs on August 15th, putting 25 acts across four Fremantle venues — Clancy’s Fremantle, Buffalo Club, Honky Tonk Blues, and Wyola Bar. The lineup includes Birdland, Blush, Boox Kid, Maatakitj, Odlaw, Rosalie Chilvers, STOW, TAIJA, Tchéga, and The Gray Brothers.
“WA Music Week is also a critical opportunity for local artists to break out with WAM’s Showcase platforming 25 artists in front of over a hundred visiting festivals, bookers, managers and labels,” said WAM chief executive Owen Whittle.
“Our reputation of producing some of the best music in the country will once again be fulfilled as the best of the state takes to the stage at the same iconic venues that cultivated and grew acts like Tame Impala and Spacey Jane.”
First release tickets are on sale now at $20.00. General admission is $30.00, and door sales, if any are left, are $35.00. North Metropolitan TAFE runs a free showcase at Clancy’s Fish Pub, and there’s an Up Late after party at a secret location.
Rosalie Chilvers, who plays the Showcase this year, has been coming since she was 13.
“I have been attending WA Music Week Events since 2019 when I was 13. I remember seeing Dulcie playing and knowing that one day that would be me up there,” she said.
“Last year, although I wasn’t showcasing, I had the opportunity to meet so many industry professionals and start building relationships, so this year when I play, I know there will be people who come to my show.”
WAMCon and the masterclassesWAMCon returns to Freo.Social on August 14th and 15th for two days of keynotes, workshops, panels, one-on-ones, and networking. Karnivool guitarist Drew Goddard and ARIA and PPCA chief executive Annabelle Herd are the keynote speakers.
Two masterclasses are new to the program this year. Goddard pulls apart a track from In Verses, Karnivool’s fourth album and their first in 13 years, using demos, session files, and stems to trace how the song changed over more than a decade. Producer and engineer Anna Laverty, whose credits include Nick Cave, Courtney Barnett, Stella Donnelly, and Missy Higgins, runs a production masterclass on how preparation, communication, and performance come together on a record.
The WA Gig GuideThe WA Gig Guide, built as a partnership between WAM and RTRFM, launches during WAMCon. It came out of a $750,000 election commitment covering the guide and audience development work, with a further $500,000 going to WA Music Week over four years.
“The WA Gig Guide is an exciting initiative that will make it easier for people to discover live music happening across the State while supporting artists, venues, and promoters to connect with new audiences,” said Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk.
The State Government also puts more than $1.125 million a year into the Contemporary Music Fund, which supports musicians and industry professionals developing their careers.
Support Your SceneWAM’s Support Your Scene campaign runs alongside WA Music Week with similar messaging: support local artists, buy tickets, buy the music, and tell your friends about it. WAM has also put together WA music playlists for cafés, bars, restaurants, and retail spaces to run through the week.
“Too often local music struggles to break through algorithms created by tech giants. This week we encourage people to come find their next favourite artist and to support our local scene,” Whittle said.
The full program is on the WA Music Week website.
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Little Italy Has Taken Over Stadium Park At Optus Stadium
Stadium Park has been transformed into Little Italy this week, a free, multi-day festival of Italian food, live music, cultural entertainment, and family activities, running while the Italian Football Festival plays out at Optus Stadium next door.
The Little Italy Festival is open from 4:00 pm until late tonight, Friday, and Saturday, and from midday on Sunday. Entry is free every day, whether you’re heading to a match or just after a good night out.
“The Little Italy Festival will bring a fantastic festival atmosphere to Perth, celebrating the rich culture, food, and passion that Italy is known for and creating a vibrant atmosphere for the thousands of football fans attending the matches at Optus Stadium,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“This free event gives everyone the opportunity to be part of the excitement, whether they’re heading to the matches or simply looking to enjoy a great evening out.”
On Thursday and Friday night, there’s also a long table Italian dinner that will be a perfect night out.
The footballFour giants of Italian football are in Perth this week for three world-exclusive games. The Milan Derby between AC Milan and Inter opened the series at Optus Stadium last night, playing out a 1-1 draw. Juventus play Inter at Optus Stadium on Saturday before Juventus meet Palermo at HBF Park on Tuesday.
“The Cook Labor Government is proud to be bringing the Italian Football Festival to life, with Perth the only city in Australia where you’ll be able to see AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Palermo face off,” Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said.
The festival is part of Beyond the Game, a program of fan events built around the matches to give locals and visitors more ways to experience Perth. That includes open training sessions, where fans can watch AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Palermo prepare for their matches, and official supporter parties before kick-off on match days.
“There will be so much on offer at Stadium Park, with families encouraged to come down and enjoy some great food and entertainment, support our local businesses, and join the festivities,” Saffioti said.
Our favourite Italian spotsCan’t make it to the Little Italy festival? Here are a couple of our favourite Italian restaurants across Perth where you can get a perfect pasta feast of your own.
Coccodrillo Pizza & Wine BarCoccodrillo Pizza & Wine Bar on Napoleon Street in Cottesloe has built a reputation for the best pizza in Perth. Some say it’s their bases — fermented for two to three days before hitting the wood fire, made with Italian-imported flour and topped with ingredients sourced from local providores like Princi butchers in Bicton. The menu goes beyond pizza, with handmade pastas, chilli mussels, and a traditional seafood stew, and the wine list draws on small, organic Italian producers alongside some West Australian bottles.
Cibo Bar & KitchenCibo Bar & Kitchen is a modern Italian Restaurant in the Heart of North Perth. Wood-fired pizzas prepared with the purest respect for traditions, fresh handmade pasta, and a curated selection of local and imported wines from the most renowned winemakers.
Whether you’re a foodie, a wine connoisseur, or simply looking for the perfect spot for a relaxed family dinner or aperitivo, Cibo Bar & Kitchen offers a refined yet welcoming space where great food, curated wines, and effortless atmosphere come together.
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Calling All WA Filmmakers: You Can Now Apply For Up To $70,000 To Make A Short Film
Applications are open for the 2026 Lotterywest Elevate Initiative, a Screenwest program that will fund up to eight Western Australian short films, animations, or online series. You have until September 28th to apply.
Elevate is aimed at early-to-mid career creatives. The funding pays for one finished short, which a director or producer can then take to festivals and funders when pitching a bigger project. Screenwest appoints an executive producer to manage production and delivery across the whole cohort, rather than leaving each team to run its own shoot.
The grant is split into two options: Elevate 30 covers projects running up to seven minutes, at up to $30,000 each. Elevate 70 covers projects up to ten minutes, at up to $70,000. Recipients can also access a further $2,000 towards marketing the finished project and entering it into festivals.
Projects selected in this round are expected to enter production in 2027.
The grant is backed by Lotterywest, which has funded Screenwest for more than three decades, and its 2025-26 grant of $10.8 million was the largest yet, up from $10.7 million the year before.
“Lotterywest is proud to have partnered with Screenwest for more than three decades, and we’re excited to continue supporting the next generation of creators to share the stories, experiences and perspectives that help connect and enrich WA communities,” Lotterywest CEO Colin Smith said.
How to applyApplications go through Screenwest and close at 5:00 pm on September 28th.
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