The 2026 WA Screen Culture Awards were held in Perth last night, paying vibrant tribute to the remarkable talents and accomplishments shaping the captivating world of screen culture in Western Australia.
Held at Luna Cinemas Leederville, and hosted by enigmatic WA performance artist and producer, Rose Kingdom-Barron, the WASCAs once again highlighted the amazing achievements of the WA screen industry over the past year.
“It’s been a phenomenal year for WA filmmaking and screen artists across the board, no question,” says Revelation Perth International Film Festival and WASCA Director, Richard Sowada.
“Working through the diversity and strength for the judges was a real challenge but the results speak for themselves and congratulations to all. All the nominees presented us with very special works that explore so much territory. It’s very inspiring.”
Leading the charge with five awards was Trading Cards, a dark fantasy animated short film about the weight of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Directed by Radheya Jang and narrated by Jay Jay Jegathesan, Trading Cards took home gongs for Innovation In Short Film, Innovation In Animation, Outstanding Achievement In Performance, Outstanding Achievement In Writing and Outstanding Achievement In Original Music.
Meanwhile, the confronting drama series, Invisible Boys, exploring the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal town of Geraldton, won awards for Innovation In Television and Outstanding Achievement In Sound & Sound Design.
POINTE: Dancing on a Knife’s Edge, a captivating and moving documentary about Australian dancer Floeur Alder, won Innovation In Documentary/Non Fiction (tying with My Soul Is In A Hurry) and Outstanding Achievement In Editing.
Indie punk thriller Skeleton Girls: A Kidnapped Society was another dual-award winner for Innovation In Narrative Film Under $1m Budget and Outstanding Achievement In Production Design.
Here’s your full list of 2026 WASCA winners:
Innovation Awards:
Innovation Narrative Feature Film Over $1m Budget
Birthright
Innovation in Narrative Feature Film Under $1m Budget
Skeleton Girls: A Kidnapped Society
Innovation in Documentary/Non Fiction
My Soul Is In A Hurry
POINTE: Dancing on a Knife’s Edge
Innovation in Television
Invisible Boys
Innovation in Short Film
Trading Cards
Innovation in Student Film
The Couch
Innovation in Alternate Content
The Great Kimberley Wilderness
Innovation in Game Design
I Eat Paintings When Guards Aren’t Looking
Innovation in Animation
Trading Cards
Innovation in Music Video
La Echolalia
Innovation in Commercial Content
Horizon Power | Together
Innovation in Web Series or Online Content
The Westerbergs
Outstanding Achievement Awards:
Outstanding Achievement in Performance Under 18
Aalia Afshar (e-Mum)
Outstanding Achievement in Performance
Jay Jay Jegathesan (Trading Cards)
Outstanding Achievement in Writing
Radheya Jang (Trading Cards)
Outstanding Achievement in Sound & Sound Design
Xoe Baird & Ric Curtin (Invisible Boys)
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music
Nicholas Gardiner (Trading Cards)
Outstanding Achievement in Editing
Nicholas Dunlop (POINTE Dancing on a Knife’s Edge)
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography or Visualisation
Alex Gibbs (Mango Seed《芒果芯》)
Outstanding Achievement in Production Design
Skeleton Girls. A Kidnapped Society
Outstanding Achievement in Directing
Blunt
The 2026 WASCAs also recognised outstanding industry leaders with two prestigious Special Industry Awards. The Independent Spirit Award, presented by Umbrella Entertainment, went to David Vincent Smith, and the Contribution to the Industry, presented by Lingo Pictures and ITV Studios, went to Shane McNeil.
An award-winning writer and director based in Perth, David Vincent Smith was initially driven by creative writing before successfully transitioning his storytelling passion to cinema, earning recognition as a compelling voice in Australian filmmaking.
David made his feature directorial debut with the gripping 2024 drama, He Ain’t Heavy. Developed through Screenwest’s prestigious West Coast Visions initiative, the film starred Leila George, Sam Corlett, and Greta Scacchi. Prior to this milestone, he directed acclaimed short films such as We Were Here and I’m Not Hurting You, which served as the proof-of-concept for his debut feature. An alumnus of Screenwest’s Feature Navigator program, David continues to shape the local industry through narrative projects, major cultural video installations, and screenwriting mentorship.
Writer, director, producer, developer Shane McNeil worked in the South Australian screen sector for over three decades in script development and program management capacities. He has previously worked for the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), where he developed their creative accelerator program TV MiniLab, and for film and television training organisation Media Resource Centre (now Mercury CX), where he oversaw events, programs, workshops and funding initiatives designed to support and develop emerging filmmakers. Additionally, Shane established the Screen Studies course at Flinders University, where he served as Foundation Lecturer and Head of Screen Production.
Shane has been employed as a script developer for internationally renowned UK screen development company Arista, along with several Australian production companies including Cyan Films, Kojo Productions and Southern Light Alliance. His writing/directing credits include a number of short films and documentaries for ABC, SBS, Channel 7, SAFC, Adelaide Film Festival and Tropfest Short Film Festival; as well as serving as associate producer and co-producer on Kriv Stenders’s feature films Lucky Country and Boxing Day, respectively. Since 2023 Shane has worked as Development Manager for Screenwest.
The WASCAs are proudly presented and produced by the Revelation Perth International Film Festival in collaboration with the WA screen industry.
Find out more online at www.wascreencultureawards.com.au.
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