FREELANCE Shortlisted for AACTA Awards 2026

A Moment of Gratitude and a Call for Support: FREELANCE Shortlisted for AACTA 2026

As an Executive Producer, there is little more humbling and rewarding than seeing a film you have helped bring to life rise up in the eyes of your peers. Today I am thrilled to share that our latest feature FREELANCE has been shortlisted and selected for consideration in three prestigious categories at the 2026 AACTA Awards:

• Best Actress - Nicole Pastor

• Best Director - John Balazs

• Best Indie Feature Film

  
  

To be in contention at all is an honor in itself but winning would be incredible. That is why I am reaching out to you, our extended community. If you are an active AACTA member, I would deeply appreciate your support in casting your vote for FREELANCE in each of these categories.

The Significance of FREELANCE shortlisted for AACTA Awards

Australia’s AACTA Awards are the nation’s highest recognition for excellence in cinema and television, akin to the Oscars in the United States.

FREELANCE shortlisted for AACTA Awards means that FREELANCE is considered among the best of the best in the Australian screen industry, not just in genre or niche but across the board. For a film born from independent funding and powered by passion, that recognition is a win in itself.

But to walk away with one or all three awards would offer more than just a trophy. It would signal that independent voices, low-budget storytellers and homegrown genre cinema can stand shoulder to shoulder with mainstream high-budget productions.

A victory would:

• Bolster the profile of our creative team and open doors to new projects nationally and internationally

• Shine a light on Prima Lux Films, La Rosa Productions and all the passionate collaborators behind the scenes

• Help validate that investing in local voices can yield works worthy of national acclaim

• Inspire other independent makers by proving that even small-scale films can compete for recognition at the highest levels
  

FREELANCE: A Film Born of Grit, Collaboration and Creative Vision

Let me recap a bit about how FREELANCE came to be and why it resonates so deeply with us:

• Collaboration and Production: FREELANCE is a joint venture between Prima Lux Films and La Rosa Productions.

• Direction and Story: Directed by Melbourne-based filmmaker John Balazs, whose previous film was Rage, FREELANCE weaves a psychological thriller grounded in the realities of gig economy precarity and moral compromise.

• Writing and Cast: Based on a script by Mike Gerbino, the film tells the story of Katie, played by Nicole Pastor, a freelance video editor in dire financial straits who accepts a cryptic editing job only to discover that the imagery she is manipulating is more sinister than anyone anticipated.

• Supporting Team: The production crew includes cinematographer David Chan and composer Kai Chen Lim, collaborators who previously worked with Balazs.

• Acquisition and Release: FREELANCE has already been acquired by Radioactive Pictures for distribution in Australia and New Zealand and Gravitas Ventures for distribution in North America.

• Critical Response: Early reviews praise Nicole Pastor’s performance and Balazs’ slow-burn approach. Collider’s take: “Pastor’s organic performance elevates the slow burn horror”.

  
  

This journey from script to screen, through funding, creative challenge and distribution, has been one of grit and determination. To see FREELANCE now being honored in consideration for AACTA Awards feels like a validation of every hard decision, every late night and every risk.

The Road to the 2026 Awards

A few key dates to keep in mind:

• The AACTA Festival and Awards will take place on the Gold Coast from 4 to 8 February 2026, with the Awards Ceremony set for 6 February at HOTA (Home of the Arts).

• Entries for film categories are now open and span over 50 categories including Best Indie Feature Film, Best Direction in Film and Best Lead Actress.

• Winners in each category will be determined by voting by AACTA members and that is where you come in.

  
  

If you are an AACTA Professional Member or eligible to vote in these categories, we humbly ask that you log in to the AACTA voting portal and cast your vote for:

• Nicole Pastor - Best Actress

• John Balazs - Best Director

• FREELANCE - Best Indie Feature Film

  
  

Why Your Vote Matters

You might wonder what difference one vote can make. The answer is more than you think.

Each vote is a vote of confidence from peers who understand the craft, the challenge, the heartbreak and the exhilaration of filmmaking. When independent films gain recognition it shifts conversations in the industry. It helps funders, distributors and collaborators see that there is space and appetite for bold, unconventional stories.

Your vote helps:

1. Amplify independent voices by ensuring that small productions can compete alongside traditional studios

2. Raise the profile of Australian genre and thriller cinema, a segment often overlooked by mainstream awards

3. Empower the creative teams behind FREELANCE, from Nicole Pastor to our crew to the production studios

4. Encourage future local projects since successes breed opportunities, funding and momentum

   
   

In Closing

To everyone who has supported us so far, cast your prayers, cross your fingers and celebrate this moment with us. We are deeply proud of what FREELANCE has already achieved. But the potential to walk away with one, two or even three AACTA Awards would be the kind of full circle achievement that fuels our souls.

We know the competition is fierce but if you are an AACTA member your vote could tip the scale. Thank you for believing in independent cinema, for believing in our team and for standing with us as we strive to make story, risk and heart count.

From all of us at Prima Lux Films, La Rosa Productions and the FREELANCE team, thank you.

🙏 Let’s make noise. Let’s bring home the gold.

AACTA MEMBERS voting link (live until November 5, 2025): https://tv.aacta.org/film/freelance/