The Australian Writers’ Guild congratulates screenwriters Sam Meikle and Jeremy Brull who have been announced as the winners of the 2026 John Hinde Award.
Writer and creator Sam Meikle was awarded in the Unproduced category for his television pilot Hypersomnia. Described as ‘a story of first contact, alien infiltration, conquest and colonisation that hits us where we’re most vulnerable: in our sleep’, the script was praised by judges as a well-crafted and grounded sci-fi pilot that hooked them into its intriguing story world from the opening pages.
“The writing was both sharp and evocative with great characterisations and a hooky plot that all showed the writer’s clear understanding of their YA audience. We were left not only wanting to read the next episode but hoping to see this story on screen in the future,” said the judges.
Ryan Prestipino‘s television pilot The Parenthood Test was highly commended by the judges as runner-up in the Unproduced category.
Writer and director Jeremy Brull took home the award in the Produced category for his sci-fi short film Self Love, in which an individual is forced to confront the trauma he buried long ago when his malfunctioning identical clone reverts to a fearful child, realising that to save himself, he must first save the boy he once was.
The judges described Self Love as a genuinely original story: “We loved the premise and the writer delivers on it completely. The stakes are real, the relationships land, and it reads like someone in full command of their craft. This one will stay with you.”
Stuart Beedie, Toby Morris and Sam Burnett‘s feature film Cooee was highly commended by the judges as runner-up in the Produced category.
The Awards were announced alongside the AWG Emerging Writers’ Awards in Melbourne, to a packed room of producers, industry and Guild members. Meikle and Brull will both receive $5,000, generously provided by the John Hinde Trust.
The John Hinde Award, first presented in 2008, is funded by a bequest from the late film critic John Hinde. It was Hinde’s wish that future generations of Australian science-fiction screenwriters be nurtured through industry opportunities.
The winning and shortlisted projects in the Unproduced category are now available to view on AWG’s prestigious Pathways Showcase, joining an outstanding collection of projects available for development.
The John Hinde Award for Excellence in Science-Fiction Writing will open again for entries in 2027.
UNPRODUCED CATEGORY
Winner
Hypersomnia by Sam Meikle [Television]
Wake. Sleep. Subjugate. Repeat… Memories, dreams, and nightmares aren’t the only things that can come to you in your sleep.
Highly Commended
The Parenthood Test by Ryan Prestipino [Television]
In a world where compulsory IUDs control overpopulation, a lesbian couple win a rare chance at becoming parents by participating in “The Parenthood Test”, subsequently becoming subjects of a national reality television show.
Shortlist
After the Lights Go Out by Matt Kazacos [Feature Film]
In the wake of an apocalyptic power outage in a remote country town, PRU, a conflicted 17-year-old is forced to take on her missing father’s life mission; keeping their survival bunker (and supplies) secret from their increasingly desperate neighbours.
Lucky by Aaron Lucas and Mark Rogers [Feature Film]
When Guy, a permanently emerging filmmaker, casts a humanoid robot – Lucky – in the lead-role of his first feature, the desperate director must hide the true origins of his synthetic star to keep his reputation intact. But Lucky isn’t just a bad actor, he’s barely believable as a human. Guy’s film seems doomed, until he realises Lucky is a perfect mimic – the more Guy exposes the worst of himself, the better Lucky becomes.
PRODUCED CATEGORY
Winner
Self Love by Jeremy Brull [Short Film]
When his malfunctioning identical clone reverts to a fearful child, Travis is forced to confront the trauma he buried long ago, realizing that to save himself, he must first save the boy he once was.
Highly Commended
Cooee by Stuart Beedie, Toby Morris and Sam Burnett [Feature Film]
Small-town Australia, twenty years in the future. There’s no work, no hope – but a whole lot of aimless teenagers out to drive fast, hunt roos, get laid and escape into a virtual wonderland.
Shortlist
NCIS: Sydney: Season 3, Episode 6 ‘Sucker Punch’by Fiona Kelly and Ella Cook [Television]
The death of a US DARPA scientist takes NCIS: Sydney into the top-secret world of biohybrid insects and bioweapons, leaving two team members in a fight for their lives.
Zip and the Tiny Sprouts: ‘The Starship Wonder Tree’ by Peter Johnston, Breehn Burns and Jason Johnson [Children’s Television]
When Zip is suddenly stuck inside for the day, the Tiny Sprouts must use their creativity to bring the sun back out and save Zip from the brink of boredom.
