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. For more information, visit: www.awg.com.au for details.
Image: Sam Meikle and Jeremy Brull (supplied)