Love the action and excitement of Ninja Warrior? Think you can create something more iconic than The Voice or Family Feud? Or more addictive than The Chase? The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has announced the return of the AACTA Reg Grundy Award.
The 2021 AACTA Reg Grundy Award is open to any Australian with a new idea for a television competition program, and with $50K on offer, is the largest prize of its kind in the world.
In addition to last year’s prize of $20,000 in cash and $30,000 in development funding, this year AACTA will offer an additional prize of $10,000 to the best idea from someone under 25.
This year’s winner will be determined by a panel of established screen experts including Eden Gaha (President of unscripted television at Shine USA), Cathy Payne (CEO of Banijay Rights), Sharon Wheeler (Award-winning senior entertainment executive), and Marion Farrelly (Speaker, consultant, TV & Film Producer), and Ian Hogg (Media CEO, Advisor, Australian Idol, Australia’s Got Talent, Family Feud).
AACTA Reg Grundy Award judge and president of unscripted television at Shine USA, Eden Gaha said: “A great idea can come from anywhere. It’s our job, as an industry, to make sure such great ideas are heard and their creators are supported. The Reg Grundy Award represents the kind of encouragement and mentorship that has made Australian content what it is today. Now more than ever, this award underpins the importance of new perspectives on entertainment from people of all backgrounds. I see this year’s additional prize for innovative, young, creators as a tremendous way to seed the next great competition format.”
Competition format entertainment has been well-established in Australian television with a wide variety of audience favourites that include The Block, The Chase, MasterChef, Hard Quiz, The Voice, MAFS, Family Feud, Millionaire Hot Seat, Lego Masters, The Bachelor, Ninja Warrior, et al. Competition and quiz shows have a long history and have been loved by Australian audiences since pioneer Reg Grundy beamed them into lounge rooms around the country and created engaging, inclusive entertainment for all. With many Australian made shows going on to be adapted internationally, the AACTA Reg Grundy Award is opening the doors to find Australia’s next big competition format show from the general public.
In partnership with Reg Grundy’s wife, Chairman of RG Capital, author and businesswoman Mrs Joy Chambers Grundy, the Award is designed to keep Reg’s heritage of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit alive whilst finding a home to foster the next generation’s brilliant and creative ideas.
The AACTA Reg Grundy Award aims to grow our output in unscripted entertainment and help fund compelling, original unscripted Australian formats. It is open to Australians from all walks of life and across all experience levels who can demonstrate they have an idea that is original, viable and has the all-important entertainment factor. Get your entry in here by 11.59pm AEST Monday 11 October 2021.