The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and DocPlay have unveiled a new slate of emerging documentary talent, with five short documentaries premiering on the streaming platform as part of the school’s First Cut initiative.

Launching on June 22, the latest First Cut showcase features Before the Lights Go Out, Cover Up, First Contact, Heel Turn and Top Dog — a collection of films exploring themes ranging from sport, social justice and politics to art, identity and community.

Now in its third year, the First Cut program was created to provide AFTRS postgraduate documentary students with a real-world industry pathway, pairing academic training with an industry brief and a national audience through DocPlay, Australia’s leading documentary streaming platform.

Produced by Master of Arts Screen students, the films represent the work of emerging filmmakers Catherine Young, Isabella Poynter-Symonds, Jacob Collings, Karly Marks and Maya Carmen.

Several of the documentaries have already attracted attention on the festival circuit. First Contact and Top Dog both premiered at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival, with First Contact also screening at the St Kilda Film Festival. Heel Turn debuted at Queer Screen, while Cover Up is set to make its festival premiere at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival in July.

For filmmaker Maya Carmen, whose documentary First Contact forms part of the collection, the project offered an opportunity to immerse herself in the realities of documentary production.

“I learnt a lot making an observational documentary while working to DocPlay’s brief,” Carmen said. “It was a deep dive into the world of documentary filmmaking — meeting interesting characters, shaping a story from unfolding events and collaborating with fellow students.”

“It’s epic that our short docs will now be available to watch online, allowing our films to reach the wider documentary community.”

AFTRS Discipline Lead, Documentary, Richard Welch said the initiative had become an increasingly valuable bridge between education and industry.

“Now in its third year, the collaboration with DocPlay goes from strength to strength,” Welch said. “The initiative provides AFTRS postgraduate students with a real-world industry brief, commissioning feedback and a pathway to audience for their films to be seen right across Australia.”

DocPlay Documentary Executive Rufus Richardson said the calibre of work coming through the program continues to impress.

“As Australia’s premier destination for documentary streaming, DocPlay is delighted to collaborate with AFTRS to share this engaging and thought-provoking collection of short documentaries with audiences across the country,” Richardson said.

“Through empathy, curiosity and a strong sense of storytelling, these works explore a wide array of subjects and contemporary issues with depth and understanding.”

The initiative arrives at a time when Australian documentary filmmaking continues to gain momentum both locally and internationally, with streamers, festivals and broadcasters increasingly looking to emerging voices for new perspectives and stories.

The 2026 First Cut collection is available to stream exclusively on DocPlay from June 22.