WIFTI (Women in Film and Television International) is excited to announce the upcoming Global Lens online event in partnership with WIFT Australia and WIFT Victoria: Storytelling at the Edge of the World. Australia’s screen industry has become a model for gender equity, First Nations leadership, accessible filmmaking and strong public-policy frameworks. With Screen Australia’s 2025 Gender Matters KPI Update demonstrating parity or above in several key categories, this Global Lens session, moderated by WIFT Australia Chair Leanne Tonkes, offers an opportunity to highlight what Australia is doing effectively and what global peers can replicate.
This panel looks to explore:
- Key findings from the new Gender Matters report
- First Nations-led creative practice
- Inclusion frameworks that genuinely shift workplaces
- Industry-wide collaboration between agencies, creators, and community organisations
- Practical steps international chapters can implement immediately
This is an opportunity for WIFTI members to hear directly from some of Australia’s leading changemakers.
Date: Thursday 18 December 2025 / Friday 19 December 2025
📍Online: SIGN UP HERE
Time Zones:
- Australia: 8:00 AM AEDT, Friday 19 December 2025
- Los Angeles: 1:00 PM PST, Thursday 18 December 2025
- New York: 4:00 PM EST, Thursday 18 December 2025
- London: 9:00 PM GMT, Thursday 18 December 2025
Moderator: Leanne Tonkes – Chair, WIFT Australia
Leanne Tonkes is a veteran Australian producer across a varied slate in film, television and digital and long-running CEO of Sense & Centsability. Her productions include Stan’s first original film project, The Second, feature film My Mistress and series This Is Desmondo Ray! Tonkes is currently producing West Australian production, Prawn Curry Christmas, under the 2025 West Coast Visions initiative and Written in the Stars, directed by Fawzia Mirza.
Based in Victoria, Leanne envisions a bold new chapter for WIFT, one driven by deep industry collaboration, national influence, and international strategic alliances that elevate the visibility, agency, and creative leadership of Australian women in screen.
Featured Panelists:
Dianna La Grassa – COO and Head of Screen Bus Stop Films
Dianna is an award winning producer having created over 45 short films and moving into longer form content. She is a proud woman of the disability community and comes from a CALD background and is also an immigrant to Australia. A NIDA trained actress and an MBA graduate she combines her passion for the arts and business to create inclusively made films advocating for authentic representation on both sides of the camera. Dianna is on the Board of WIFT Australia and is a disability advocate promoting and elevating the voices of our community.
Rosie Lourde – Producer, Writer, Actor
Rosie Lourde is an award-winning multi-faceted filmmaker with a passion for advocacy. Amongst many projects, Rosie is an EP on sport docu-series YOUNG BLOODS (TikTok), comedies WHITE FEVER (ABC/Stan), and feature SWEET MILK LAKE. She directed romcom ROMANCE ON THE MENU (Netflix) and DEADHOUSE DARK – DASHCAM (Shudder), and produced STARTING FROM NOW (YouTube) which now has over 250 million views online. As an actor Rosie features in TOTAL CONTROL (ABC), ONE NIGHT (Paramount+/Netflix), and HOUSE OF GODS (ABC). Rosie was a member and the Chair of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce (2020-25), and was previously an Investment Manager of Screen Australia’s Online Production fund.
Sarah Price – Co-Founder, Damulgurra Stories
Sarah is a multi award winning Casting director, marketing director and experienced production professional with over 20 years experience. Sarah co-founded the Northern Territory’s only dedicated casting business, Castaway NT 7 years ago and is also an emerging NT based producer. Sarah holds graduate degrees in business and Marketing, including a Master Screen Business, AFTRs( 2022) . The sole accredited and dedicated casting director ( Casting Guild of Australia member) in the Northern Territory, Sarah has grown the business from an interesting side hustle to a thriving and in demand business. Castaway NT has developed a database of NT talent from The Red Centre to the Top End and everywhere in between and has worked on everything from major film and TV productions to short films as well as collaborated with some of the most respected producers and casting directors in the industry, building a reputation for finding the unfindable talent . In 2025 Sarah was named by Inside Film magazine a “Rising Talent”, in the Casting Director category.
Sarah is also co – founder of Damulgurra Stories along with Larrakia filmmaker Cian Mccue – a new business launched in May 2025, that sets a new screen industry standard by providing resources, protocols and training focused on cultural integrity , collaboration and empowerment.
Grainne Brunsdon – COO / Screen Australia
As Chief Operating Officer at Screen Australia Grainne leads on Content and Operations – investment and initiatives across Australian screen content, including film, television, direct to audience, documentary and games; industry development and international programs. Grainne is a strategic leader with more than 25 years’ experience working in the creative industries, including as Head of Screen NSW, and leadership positions in international cultural relations with the British Council, and arts organisations in Sydney. As Head of Screen NSW, Grainne oversaw the state’s investment in the local screen sector, including industry development and international production incentives, and was the representative for global film cities for the UNESCO Cities Of Culture Network.
