PUBLISHED11 Aug 2026
Celebrating the next generation in the lead up to International Youth Day
Reflection by Cealan Macdonnell
It’s been a busy month engaging with young people in the lead up to International Youth Day on 12 August. From new documentaries shining the spotlight on issues deemed pertinent by the next generation, to a celebration of emerging talent at the Australia Youth Film Festival, and holding the first focus group for our upcoming initiative to support young filmmakers and audiences, it’s evident that the future of storytelling lies in passionate and proactive hands.
Cealan Macdonnell, Documentary Australia Marketing & Engagement Coordinator, and Engaging Young People program lead, has been connecting with young people aged 18-35 across Sydney, Melbourne and other states, in order to gather real-life insights about the experiences and priorities of young filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences.
The Plastic Country Premiere
At the beginning of July, Documentary Australia-supported film The Plastic Country premiered in Sydney. The film investigates the plastic crisis and its hidden threats to our health and future; issues particularly relevant for young people today.
The 26-year-old filmmaker behind The Plastic Country is Kal Glanznig, a former water polo athlete turned ocean advocate who grew up surfing the beaches of Cronulla. The film follows Kal, health-conscious and deeply curious, as he becomes increasingly concerned by the impacts of plastic on human health and the environment.
Followed by a Q&A with iconic Australian science broadcaster and author Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, CEO and Co-founder of Take 3 for the Sea Tim Silverwood, and Director of Plastics and Human Health at Minderoo Foundation Sarah Dunlop, the sold-out premiere screening of The Plastic Country showcased the relevance of documentary and the impactful discussions which it encourages. On top of that, it was an inspiring reminder of the energy and passion which young voices bring to the conversation around pressing issues and topics.
Australia Youth Film Festival 2026
Later in July at the Australia Youth Film Festival award ceremony in Melbourne, Cealan presented the award for Best Documentary on behalf of Documentary Australia.“I was genuinely inspired by the incredible work of the young people who shared their films. I was also blown away by the strong presence documentaries had on the night, with four out of seven awards, including Best Overall Entry, going to a documentary film,” said Cealan.
The award ceremony was an opportunity to raise awareness amongst a new audience of young filmmakers about the work which Documentary Australia does, and the support which is available through initiatives such as our Fiscal Sponsorship program or Impact and Fundraising 101 Workshops. 2026 is the first year which Documentary Australia has supported the award, aligning closely with the development of the Engaging Young People program, which aims to support young filmmakers and audiences alike to engage with Documentary. The winner of the AUYFF Best Documentary award, as well as seven nominees, were provided with a bespoke Documentary Australia prize pack to help support them in future endeavours.
AUYFF was also an opportunity to connect with young filmmakers and listen to their experiences. “There are a few common threads that I have noticed weave through all of the experiences and conversations I’ve been having – a deep and genuine care for the future of humanity and the planet, as well as a desire for meaningful connection and community,” said Cealan.
Engaging Young People Focus Group: Filmmaker and Audience Insights
At the end of July, Documentary Australia ran the first Engaging Young People focus group. The focus group included six young people from our target age bracket and consisted of two in-depth sessions: Filmmaker Insights and Audience Insights. This was a unique opportunity to hear in detail from young people about their opinions, priorities and lived experiences.
We are adopting a participatory approach to the design of the Engaging Young People initiative, empowering young people to co-create a program that genuinely reflects their needs and interests. In order to achieve this, activities such as focus groups, which give young people an opportunity to contribute meaningful and nuanced input, are essential. “Having your voice be heard is a really big part of this,” said one focus group participant.
Collectively, the focus group participants identified, agreed upon and prioritised the main barriers to young people creating documentaries (filmmakers) and to accessing documentaries (audiences). We’re looking forward to sharing these insights soon, as well as continuing to receive feedback and further insights from young people on the program’s goals and activities.