Indigenous filmmaker to showcase talent in Berlin
Ballardong Whadjuk Noongar producer and writer Brooke Collard has been selected to participate in the Toolbox Program at the European Film Market in Berlin.
Collard was selected by the Winda Film Festival and will attend the program with the support of the Indigenous Cinema Alliance, where she is also named a 2026 ICA Fellow.
Her work champions authentic First Nations and LGBTQIA+ representation. Guided by the principle “No Stories About Us, Without Us,” her storytelling centres community healing, agency, and ethical collaboration.
In 2023, she won the AACTA Regional Pitch for Reclamation, a project currently in development.
The Toolbox Program is an intensive, tailor-made initiative supporting underrepresented producers from around the world through direct access to the international film marketplace.
The program offers one-on-one mentorship with industry experts, alongside workshops, matchmaking events, and high-level networking opportunities. Participants are nominated by partner organisations rather than selected directly by the EFM.
Toolbox alumni include Leah Chen Baker (The President’s Cake, Caméra d’Or 2025; Iraq’s Academy Awards 2026 entry), as well as Gilbert Mirambeau and Gaethan Chancy (Kidnapping Inc., Sundance 2024).
What is The European Film Market?
- Timing & Role: Held annually in February, it is the first major film market of the year, acting as a “barometer” for industry trends and the upcoming cinematic year.
- The “Big Three”: It is one of the world’s primary film markets alongside the Marché du Film in Cannes (May) and the American Film Market (November).
- Participants: It is an exclusive B2B event for over 10,000 professionals from 130+ countries, including producers, distributors, buyers, sales agents, and financiers.
One of the world’s leading film markets, held alongside the Berlin International Film Festival, brings together about 10,000 producers, distributors, sales agents, buyers, and financiers over eight days.
Closely linked with the Berlinale, it serves as both a major marketplace for film and audiovisual content and a platform for innovation and exchange.
Founded in 2016, Winda Film Festival is an Indigenous-led festival based in Sydney that celebrates emerging and established Indigenous filmmakers while fostering opportunities for Indigenous voices across the screen industries.
An official partner of the EFM since 2015, the Indigenous Cinema Alliance showcases market-ready Indigenous featur films and supports Indigenous producers through initiatives including the ICA Fellows Programme.
In 2024, ICA expanded its mandate to also operate as a world sales agent for Indigenous films.
Collard’s selection for the EFM Toolbox Programme marks a significant step in her growing international profile and underscores the impact of Indigenous-led pathways shaping the global film industry.
Core Activities
- Buying & Selling: Sales agents showcase new productions to international buyers and distributors to secure global release deals.
- Market Screenings: Hundreds of finished films and works-in-progress are screened in dedicated venues (on-site and online) specifically for accredited professionals.
- Networking & Co-Production: The Berlinale Co-Production Market connects producers with potential financiers and co-production partners for future projects.
- Innovation: Features hubs for emerging tech, including EFM Startups, VR/AR showcases (Immersive Zone), and cross-media tracks for animation and gaming.
