NIDA respectfully acknowledges the Bidjigal and Gadigal Clans as the custodians of the lands where NIDA is located. We respectfully acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present and recognise their eternal connection to country. NIDA staff and students are honoured to work, learn and create on unceded sovereign lands.
Few costume designers work at the intergalactic scale and ambition of Costume Designer, Michael Wilkinson (Design, 1993). His work threads through some of the most recognisable on-screen worlds of the past two decades including, 300, The Twilight Saga, Man of Steel, Aladdin and many, many more.
Hosted at NIDA and bringing together emerging filmmakers, industry voices and creative leaders for honest conversations, practical learning and meaningful connection, Tropfest: Roughcut is for emerging and early-career filmmakers who want to take their ideas further.
Luke D’Alessandro (Properties and Objects, 2018 & Master of Design for Performance, 2020) is the award-winning Costume Designer for ‘The Masked Singer’, carving out an incredible international reputation since graduating NIDA.
The 2025 debut of triple j Unearthed marks 15 years of collaboration on this project with independent Australian musical artists and NIDA’s Directing and Design students teaming up to create music videos.
We are thrilled to announce that NIDA has been ranked among the Top 10 Costume Design Schools in the world by The Hollywood Reporter.
Words of wisdom from NIDA’s Costume, Props, Sets, Make-up and Design alumni.
Stage Manager, Luke McGilvray (Live Production and Technical Services, 2024) and Assistant Producer, Bianca Watkins (Writing for Performance, 2024) about their behind-the-scenes roles on ‘Gia Ophelia’.
Simon Stephens’ ‘Port’ brings together a phenomenal team of NIDA graduates, including Director Nigel Turner-Carroll (Acting, 2008), Actor/Producer Grace Stamnas (Musical Theatre, 2017), Costume Designer Benedict Janeczko-Taylor (Design for Performance, 2022) and Production Lead/Associate Producer Bella Thompson (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2022).
When Dane Laffrey (Design, 2004) stepped onto the stage at this year’s Tony Awards to accept Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Maybe Happy Ending, it wasn’t just a career milestone, it was a Broadway-sized triumph.