Filmmaker Daniel King named Screen NSW’s First Nations Screen Fellow

Award-winning filmmaker Daniel King has been named the 2025 recipient of Screen NSW’s First Nations Screen Fellowship.

The Fellowship is a 12-month program which provides funding and professional development opportunities for an experienced First Nations key creative, accelerating their career and raising their profile in NSW and globally.

Daniel, a Ngarigo, Yuin and Worimi filmmaker, is founder and director of First Person Films and has over 20 years’ experience in film and television, working across broadcast, festivals, international distribution, and content for community organisations. Holding a Master of Film and Television from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), his ethos is grounded in respect, collaboration, and purpose-driven storytelling - using film to educate, provoke dialogue, reflection and inspire change.

His recent credits include writing and directing 2023 documentary Her Name is Nanny Nellie and co-directing 2024 Southern Pictures documentary Skin In The Game. Daniel was the inaugural recipient of the Indigenous Documentary mid-career placement with AIDC, ABC and Northern Pictures in 2021, and he was also one of the winners of the inaugural Indigenous Creators Pitch at the 2025 AIDC Awards.

Daniel will be awarded the Fellowship at the SXSW Sydney Unlocked event Blak to the Future: A Celebration of First Nations Creatives, a special event co-curated by Awesome Black and Winda Film Festival, hosted by Bianca Hunt and Travis De Vries. 

As part of the Fellowship, Daniel will receive funding to support early project development, contribute to membership to a relevant screen industry guild, and facilitate international travel to attend the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas (USA). The Fellowship will also provide access to an industry mentor for 12 months. The Fellowship is delivered in partnership with SXSW Sydney, who will provide Daniel with a 2026 SXSW Film & TV Badge and scheduling assistance for attending the 2026 SXSW Film and TV Festival.

Screen NSW is committed to increasing screen industry participation for key priority groups, including First Nations people, and the Fellowship will strengthen industry connections, elevate First Nations voices, and strategically position experienced NSW First Nations screen practitioners to advance their careers. Generating outstanding NSW screen content from NSW First Nations screen and digital games practitioners is also a key commitment in the NSW Screen & Digital Games Strategy.

Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth said:

“Screen NSW continues to elevate the voices of First Nations creatives, showcasing the depth of talent, and bold stories we have in NSW. We have so many talented First Nations creatives in our state, from emerging practitioners to established filmmakers, and we are dedicated to supporting them through strategic funding and opportunities, including the First Nations Screen Fellowship.

“I congratulate Daniel on being our 2025 Fellow and look forward to seeing him continue to go from strength to strength in his career and create more outstanding content for audiences across the globe.”

Screen NSW First Nations Screen Fellowship recipient Daniel King said:

“I’m deeply honoured to receive the Screen NSW First Nations Screen Fellowship. This opportunity will allow us to further develop our important project Abolished and expand our knowledge and networks through attending SXSW in Austin next year. I’m humbled to have my work recognised through this Fellowship."

Image: Daniel King. Source: Supplied.