BBFF at 2026 AACTA FESTIVAL
The AACTA Festival returned in 2026 as a major gathering of Australia’s screen industry, bringing together leading talent, emerging creatives, and global voices for a five-day celebration of film and television.
This year’s festival featured appearances from some of the industry’s most recognisable names, with talent spanning film, television, and international production. Among those participating across the program were Baz Luhrmann, Sarah Snook, Bruce Beresford, David Wenhem and Dacre Montgomery:, alongside a wide range of producers, craftspeople, and industry leaders shaping the future of screen.
As part of the festival’s industry-facing program, the AACTA Careers Expo created space for direct engagement between emerging practitioners and established voices.
Within this context, Byron Bay International Film Festival Director J'aimee Skippon-Volke chaired the panel ‘Grit and the Art of Doing It!’, a conversation centred on the discipline and resilience required to sustain a creative practice over time.
She was joined by an accomplished group of industry leaders.
Jason Baird (JMB FX Studio) is an Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning prosthetics designer whose work spans both subtle period detailing and large-scale cinematic transformations. His credits include landmark productions such as The Matrix trilogy, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Elvis, Thor: Ragnarok, Aquaman, and Kong: Skull Island.
Natasha Pizzica (EndemolShine Australia) has built a career defined by range and adaptability. A Logie Award-winning series producer, she has spent more than a decade working across reality, lifestyle, and children’s programming. Her recent work on Gogglebox Australia, alongside projects such as Limitless with Chris Hemsworth and Play School, reflects a deep understanding of storytelling across formats and audiences.
Mike Mosallam (Shadowbox Studios) brought a global production perspective shaped by nearly two decades in the industry. His work has included revitalising major Hollywood studio lots, including Sunset Studios, and leading production planning for global platforms such as Netflix and Apple TV+. Now serving as COO of Shadowbox Studios, his career reflects the strategic thinking and endurance required to scale ambitious production environments.
The panel offered a grounded perspective on creative practice, moving beyond surface-level inspiration to focus on the sustained effort required to build a career in screen.
