Industry Panel: Leading the Screen Industry - SWAN Perth International Women in Film Festival 2026

What does it take to build an industry that lasts?

Join us as we talk with together women working across different corners of the screen sector, this panel looks at the bigger picture of funding, finance, leadership, business, industry structures and the realities of getting work made. We’ll explore what makes a screen career or company sustainable, where the industry is succeeding, where it’s falling short, and what needs to change for the screen industry to thrive.

When: Saturday, 17th October 2026

Where: The Backlot, West Perth

Who:

Dale Fairbairn - Dale Fairbairn is a producer and screen-industry strategist with more than 30 years’ experience across production, industry development and international festivals. During 20 years at Screen Australia, she built partnerships with leading international festivals and markets and advised Australian filmmakers on festival, marketing and career strategy. Now based in Fremantle, Dale has established Blue Skies Films to develop Western Australian stories with international resonance.

Julia Redwood - Julia Redwood co-founded Prospero Productions in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1991 and recently became the company’s sole owner and Managing Director. She now leads one of the most successful factual production companies in Australia, with internationally renowned titles such as Outback Truckers, Outback Opal Hunters, Outback Terror: The Falconio Murder and Martin Clunes – Islands of Australia, to her name.

Julia is a multi-award-winning Writer, Director and Producer. In addition to Executive Producing all productions, she is also at the heart of development and marketing of new projects.

Julia is also a highly active and well-regarded member of the Australian screen industry. She was recently on the SPA’s Advisory Board and is the Chair of the industry association, Screen Voice.

In 2021 she was winner of the Western Australian of the Year - Business Award.

Apurva Gupta - Apurva Gupta is a multi-platform visual artist based in Boorloo, Perth. With her roots in the North of India, she now pursues her passion for filmmaking and storytelling in Australia focusing genre-blending stories with women and other under-represented communities.

With a specialisation in Direction, she has a Master of Arts in Screen Arts from Curtin University alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from India. This enables her to create stories about identity, autonomy, and our larger place in the world. Working as a Freelance Creative at the start of her career to her subsequent full-time employment at Limitless Studios, Apurva’s experience ranges from non-fiction and commercial content, documentaries, to fictional films, TVCs, theatre and a lot more.

Over her 7+ years of working in the industry she has a keen interest in new production technologies and efficiencies as a Producer, Director and Cinematographer at Limitless Studios and plays a key role in advising, testing and filming for virtual production with local independent and funded features, shorts, and commercial content. Apurva frequently devotes time to education and community engagement within film and arts. She is a part of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) and Women in Film and Television (WIFT) as an individual and a committee member.

What: SWAN - Perth International Women In Film Festival. West Australia’s own film festival dedicated to celebrating powerful women in film from all over Australia and around the world!  Come for a fun night of networking and showcasing WA talent, supporting women in filmmaking, and sharing the love for all things film.

We’re all about celebrating the female perspective and creating a positive environment for interaction between legendary female filmmakers. We love to support emerging and indie filmmakers, especially nurturing Western Australia’s growing film industry.r