Biography

Sebastian Chan is an award-winning Australian writer, director and producer whose work spans film, television, digital series and short-form storytelling.

In 2026, Sebastian was selected as one of just three recipients of the Screen NSW Emerging Producer Placement Program, placing him among a highly competitive cohort of emerging producers selected by the NSW screen industry.

His career is distinguished by a strong record of industry recognition. In 2021, Sebastian was selected as one of six screen creatives from across Australia for the inaugural SBS Emerging Writers’ Incubator, a nationally supported initiative backed by SBS, Screen Australia, Screen Canberra and the Australian Writers’ Guild. His 12-month placement was with award-winning production company Bunya Productions, working within its development team.

As a filmmaker, Sebastian has achieved significant festival success. His short documentary Brothers in Alms, which he wrote, directed and produced, won Best Film, ScreenACT Best Director and the Dendy Audience Choice Award at the 2017 Lights! Canberra! Action! Film Festival. His subsequent short Bus Trip won Best Australian Film at the 2018 Focus on Ability Film Festival, with the award including an industry program in Los Angeles and access to major international film-market and studio events.

Sebastian has also developed a strong body of work across digital and screen platforms. His project The Family won the ABC iView Best Pitch Award at the 2020 Melbourne WebFest, while his short film I Am Steve was selected to screen on SBS and Foxtel. His producing credits include the internationally recognised short Becoming Emma Braintree, which received multiple festival accolades, as well as further narrative and digital projects across his production company, Vorfreude Pictures.

In 2023, Sebastian was selected as one of six finalists for the AACTA Pitch: Regional Landscapes, in partnership with Screenworks, for the feature project Lovin’ The Outback.

Sebastian holds a Bachelor of Media Arts & Production from the University of Canberra and an Advanced Diploma in Producing (Story, Audience, Finance) from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). He continues to develop original projects across film, television and emerging screen formats, with a focus on distinctive Australian stories, strong character-driven narratives and commercially compelling genre storytelling.
- IMDb mini biography by: Vorfreude Pictures