NGALUWI is born from the urgent call by First Nations storytellers for spaces that centre cultural safety and creative sovereignty.
First Nations storytelling is one of the most sophisticated forms of creative intelligence: our stories are intuitive, relational and future-facing, preserving knowledge, but also dreaming forward, offering blueprints for just worlds outside of the systems that have harmed our people and Country, visions now increasingly recognised as vital to our collective survival.
NGALUWI will support three First Nations documentary practitioners or First Nations-led teams working on film projects driven by a vision for social, environmental, or cultural change.
Flexible by design, NGALUWI is an experiment in a responsive, relational model of tailored mentorship that provides creative and strategic guidance, all within a framework grounded in First Nations values of care, accountability and necessarily at this time, our collective strength.
Creating access to the right expertise at the right time, NGALUWI enables effective and culturally aligned solutions to emerge in a trusting and supportive framework. The program will connect First Nations documentary filmmakers, draw on the expertise of GARUWA and match practitioners with individuals from our kin-stellation (a constellation of producers, cultural strategists and impact leaders).
Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday 18 March 2026.
We also encourage video and audio expressions of interest via this form.
“NGALUWI is a space where First Nations storytellers are supported in ways that honour cultural integrity and responsibilities to future generations.”
Genevieve Grieves, Worimi
Co-founder & Creative Director, GARUWA
Photographer: Ned Mansfield
PROGRAM
NGALUWI aims to rewire the conditions under which our stories are made. Through this initiative and the annual First Nations Impact Lab, GARUWA is contributing to systems change that enables the full and sovereign expression of First Nations storytelling. This offering stems from our deep commitment to nurturing the next wave of documentary filmmakers, to strengthen an ecosystem where First Nations voices lead the way in shaping stories of justice, healing and change.
A highly responsive, relational model, NGALUWI provides deep creative and strategic guidance grounded in cultural safety and creative sovereignty.
GARUWA will meet with successful individuals or project teams to discuss their unique challenges and opportunities.
Our team will design a tailored mentorship, designed to meet your project where you most need support.
We will connect you with leaders in education, justice, self-determination, storytelling and healing or documentary filmmaking.
Our expert consultants will provide 1-1 support and guidance over the course of 6-months.
We will close with a virtual Lab designed to share projects and exchange insights.
Each project team will receive $2,500 to support their participation.
Program Contact: Any questions about the program can be directed to Maya Ghattas at info@garuwa.com
OVERVIEW
ELIGIBILITY
Three First Nations documentary practitioners or First Nations-led teams working on a project dedicated to social change will be invited to take part in NGALUWI. The project can be at any of the following stages:
Development
Production
Post-Production
Distribution
Before applying, please ensure you meet all of the following requirements:
I identify and am recognised as a First Nations person
I am based on this continent of Australia
I am applying as a First Nations documentary practitioner or as part of a First Nations-led team
I am actively working on a documentary film project that is at one of the following stages: Development, Production, Post-Production &/or Distribution
My project is dedicated to, or seeks to achieve social, environmental, or cultural change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the commitment from me?
The program is delivered over 6 months, from April to October 2026. While the specific time commitments will emerge based on the availability of the collective, your active and sustained engagement in the mentorship and sessions is a requirement.
What can I expect from the program? What’s the schedule or the format?
This is an emergent program, responsive to the needs of the selected projects. You can expect to connect with industry experts through both group workshops and individual mentorship sessions.
Strategic support will be tailored to your project's stage and specific challenges, and may focus on areas such as impact design, story development, partnerships, pitch packaging, or market readiness.
Where is NGALUWI based?
The program will be delivered virtually, through online sessions.
What is the cost to apply?
There are no fees to apply or participate. Each project team will receive a $2,500 stipend in recognition of their time and expertise (paid per project, not per individual team member).
Do I need to work in the screen sector?
NGALUWI is a film focused initiative. You can be starting out in the industry but will need to be developing a film project.
What is a film project? What formats are eligible?
We use "film project" broadly to include any documentary work intended for screen-based distribution. This includes, Feature-length documentaries, Short documentaries, Documentary series or episodic projects (for television, streaming platforms, or web), Web series & digital documentary contentHybrid formats that blend documentary with other forms. Your project can be at any stage (Development, Production, Post-Production, or Distribution) and intended for any platform: theatrical release, broadcast television, streaming services (Netflix, SBS On Demand, etc.), film festivals, online platforms, or community screenings.
What matters most is that your project centres First Nations stories and uses documentary approaches to tell them.
What stage should my project be at?
The program offers tailored mentorship that meets each project where it’s at. Your project can be at any stage of development, from early concept to production or post-production to distribution.
What do the stages mean?
Development: Researching and planning your story, approach, and partnershipsProduction: Actively filming and gathering content. Post-Production: Editing and finalising your documentary. Distribution: Completed film, seeking or securing audience reach through festivals, broadcast, streaming, or screenings; this can also include an Impact Campaign.
Can I apply if I’ve participated in or applied for GARUWA’s First Nations Impact Lab?
Yes! GARUWA is looking for ways to grow First Nations storytelling and each program offers different types of support. We encourage you to apply for NGALUWI if it would be beneficial for your project It can also be the same project you brought to the First Nations Impact Lab.
Who will be my mentor?
We’ve allocated an Expertise Access Fund to select the best-fit experts from a diverse network of industry experts in GARUWA’s community, ready to respond to distinct project challenges/opportunities in a culturally informed way. NGALUWI will be delivered with the leadership of GARUWA Co-Founders and filmmakers, Genevieve Grieves and Kieran Satour.
How many people in my team can join the mentoring?
Key Creatives (Director, Producer, Storytellers, Writers, etc.) will benefit most from the program and mentorship sessions. We are open negotiating how many people attend with each successful applicant. First Nations leadership must attend sessions.
Who assesses my application?
Applications will be assessed by GARUWA with the oversight of external assessors.
NGALUWI: Documentary Storytelling Incubator is made possible with the support of Screenrights Cultural Fund
