Let Make History: First Aussie WOC at AFI Needs You

Filmmaking has never been just an art form for me—it’s a tool for radical empathy. A powerful weapon to challenge perception, inspire change, and reshape culture.

Growing up in the sticky heat of 90s Brisbane, I never saw anyone who looked like me—on screen or behind the camera. No one with my skin, my story, or my truth. That absence made something painfully clear: girls like me weren’t meant to belong in film.

But I didn’t accept that.

I spent my childhood devouring every VHS tape from the local Blockbuster, studying the greats and wondering: what if people like me got to tell our own stories? What if we could be the lens instead of just the subject? That question has fuelled everything I’ve done since.

After years of relentless hustle—surviving homelessness, enduring a home invasion, and navigating countless personal battles—I’ve earned a place at the American Film Institute Conservatory, the world’s most prestigious film school. This is where cinematic legends are forged.

AFI receives thousands of applications each year, with acceptance rates sitting between just 10 to 15 percent—making it one of the most selective film schools on the planet.

No Australian woman of colour has ever been accepted into AFI’s Master’s in Directing program. I would be the first.

And that matters. Because representation matters.

In 2024, only 17% of working directors in the global film industry were women. That number drops off a cliff when it comes to women of colour. We are the rarest of the rare—and yet our voices are some of the most vital, most urgent, and most needed.

As a woman of mixed African and European heritage, I want to be a driving force in reshaping the future of Australian and British cinema—not just for myself, but for the generations of diverse storytellers coming behind me. This isn’t just about my seat at the table. It’s about building a longer one.

My work has already begun to lay the foundation for that vision. From directing Ode to a Fuckboi for Channel Four’s Random Acts—a bold, experimental short that interrogates feminine rage and heartbreak—to crafting branded and commercial content for Reebok, Spotify, MTV, and more, I’ve used every opportunity to tell layered, culturally rich stories that reflect the world as it is, and as it could be.

Most recently, I’ve poured my heart and savings into Saturday Born, a self-funded short film shot between Ghana and London. This UK-Ghanaian production spans the lush, mountainous landscapes of Akropong and the electric streets of Stoke Newington. It’s an intimate, visual love letter to dual heritage and cultural memory.

The film stars celebrated Ghanaian actors Eddie Kufuor (The Storm) and Brian Angels (Beasts of No Nation), alongside London’s own internationally touring DJ and producer Saint Ludo, who makes her acting debut in the role of Saint. This project is more than just a film—it’s a blueprint for the kind of international, diasporic storytelling I want to champion.

Investing in me means investing in a future where film truly reflects the world we live in—its beauty, its complexity, its multiplicity. Your support won’t just help me access this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It will help me uplift others like me, open doors that have too often been closed, and create tangible pathways for more underrepresented voices to rise.

But I can’t do it alone.

This opportunity comes with a staggering cost. To attend AFI, I must raise a life-altering sum, as I’m legally prohibited from working during the two-year program. The funds will cover AFI’s eye-watering tuition fees and the basic cost of living in Los Angeles—one of the most expensive cities in the world.

This is a career-defining moment. A life-changing chance. And a vital step toward a more inclusive and representative film industry.

Please help me make history.