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 today confirmed the return of the AACTA Reg Grundy Award.
This year will be even bigger than last year, with a focus on all things competition – gameshows, competition reality and quizzes.
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)
- Marion Farrelly (Speaker, consultant, TV & Film Producer)
- 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 in to 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.
There isn’t a current Australian producer who hasn’t been inspired by Reg Grundy’s prolific legacy.
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.
Reg Grundy was peerless in the adaptation of entertainment formats for local audiences in Australia and across the world. Often Reg’s format adaptations became more popular than the originals and were sold around the world with added Grundy magic, including Sale of the Century and Blankety Blanks.
His towering success in creating and adapting entertainment formats spans decades, and includes Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Perfect Match and dramas including Sons & Daughters, Prisoner and Neighbours, which has become the longest-running drama series in Australian television and a launching pad for many careers.
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.
Simply get your idea down on one page and enter it. The Award is an important pillar in AACTA’s Development strategy, which is committed to supporting new voices in screen entertainment and fast tracking new and original productions.
Think you have Australia’s next big competition on your hands? Get your entry in by 11.59pm AEST Monday 11 October 2021.
For full eligibility requirements, please visit here.
