CANBERRAN WRITER-DIRECTOR DENAI GRACIE NAMED STATE WINNER IN NETFLIX’S THE NEXT BRILLIANT CAREER

Writer, director and producer Denai Gracie has been selected as the Australian Capital Territory finalist for Netflix ANZ’s The Next Brilliant Career, a national initiative supporting the next generation of women and non-binary screen storytellers.

Denai is one of eight emerging Australian writers who was selected to pitch an original scripted concept to the Netflix ANZ Content team in Sydney this week, receiving direct invaluable feedback as she develops her story for the screen.

Denai recently executive produced It Will Find You and produced Break A Leg, both of which made official selection at SXSW in 2025, as well as producing feature Snatchers, which had its world premiere at Raindance Film Festival in 2025. She wrote and directed The Staircase, an episode of the horror thriller anthology Deadhouse Dark, which made official selection at Canneseries in 2020 and was released globally as a Shudder Original Series in 2021.

Denai produced the sci-fi short Shift, named one of the top shorts at the Toronto After Dark Festival in 2018, as well as feature Forbidden Ground (aka Battle Ground), which sold to Lionsgate in the USA, and Straight on Til Mourning, which won Best Mid-Sized Film at the Sydney Women’s International Film Festival in 2024. She directed, wrote and produced short EXO226, which premiered at Sydney Sci-Fi Film Festival in 2023, where it was nominated for Best Film and Best Director, won Best Production Design at CSFF and received the CSFF 2023 Emerging Talent Award.

As a two-time cancer survivor, and having lived across various parts of Australia and overseas, Denai draws on her life experience in her writing, and her love for animals.

The Next Brilliant Career takes its inspiration from pioneering Australian author Miles Franklin and her determination to tell stories on her own terms. The initiative was launched in August alongside Netflix’s series My Brilliant Career, based on Franklin’s celebrated novel, and reflects a shared commitment to fostering diverse talent and creating opportunities for emerging Australian voices.

Denai Gracie, Finalist for Australian Capital Territory said “Being selected for The Next Brilliant Career is a huge moment for me. I’ve worked independently across writing, directing and producing for years, and to have direct access to Netflix – to pitch my story, get real feedback, and be heard is just extraordinary. Telling stories on my own terms has always mattered to me and this is exactly that opportunity.”

Amanda Duthie, Netflix ANZ Content Director, said: “The Next Brilliant Career finalists represent exactly what we set out to do with the program – shine a light on voices that deserve to be amplified, supported, and nurtured. We’re grateful to our partners the Australian Writers’ Guild and every state and territory Screen Agency for believing in this initiative, and for their support in creating a tangible direct-to-screen opportunity for Australian women and non-binary screenwriters.”

Screen Canberra CEO Holly Trueman said: “Denai has demonstrated an impressive breadth of experience across writing, directing and producing, with a body of work that spans genres and has reached audiences and festivals internationally. I am excited to see where this opportunity leads – Denai has some excellent stories to tell the world”