Australian Screen Editors (ASE)

Overview

Australian Screen Editors (ASE) is the professional association for film and television editors working in Australia. Founded in 1998, ASE represents picture editors, assistant editors, online editors, VFX editors, colourists, post-production supervisors, and complementary post-production roles across scripted and unscripted television, streaming, film, advertising, music video, and new media.

ASE operates with a National Executive Committee (NEC) and maintains relationships with the MEAA, Australian Directors Guild, and Screen Producers Australia. The organisation's advocacy covers credit standards, rate guidance, working conditions in post-production, and recognition of the editing craft's contribution to Australian screen storytelling. Membership fees are structured on an income-based tiered system with an honesty-based declaration, reflecting the project-to-project nature of freelance editing work.

Membership: Fees, Tiers, and Eligibility

ASE offers three membership categories. Full membership is the only tier with voting rights, awards eligibility, accreditation eligibility, and access to the mentor scheme.

Full membership requires at least one professional screen credit as Picture Editor, Assistant Editor, Online Editor, VFX Editor, Post-Production Supervisor, Colourist, or other complementary post-production role. Where no on-screen credit exists, further evidence of work completed may be required. All applicants must supply at least one professional referee. The tiered fee arrangement is an honesty system: members are not asked to disclose actual income, a member's tier is not made public, and the data is protected under the ASE privacy policy.

ASE Accreditation

ASE Accreditation is the organisation's professional designation, allowing editors to use the post-nominal letters "ASE" after their name in screen credits, professional profiles, and communications. Accreditation is not automatic with membership. Requirements:

• Current financial member with a minimum of 5 years continuous membership
• At least 10 years industry experience as an Editor (from first professional credit)
• At least two nominations or one win at the ASE Ellie Awards (or equivalent), excluding the Emerging Editor category and the Technical Excellence Award
• Demonstrated excellence in craft with submitted work examples
• Demonstrated commitment to the editing community through the mentorship scheme, volunteering, moderating at ASE events, teaching courses, judging ASE awards, or other significant support

The application fee is $110 (GST inclusive). The 2026 accreditation deadline is Sunday 9 August 2026. Applications are assessed by an Accreditation Committee using a marking rubric that evaluates craft, career breadth, and industry recognition. Accredited members receive a certificate presented at the ASE Ellie Awards.

Ellie Awards 2026

The ASE Ellie Awards are the organisation's annual awards recognising outstanding achievement in Australian screen editing. The 2026 Ellie Awards are open for entries with the following structure:

Eligible works must have had their first theatrical, television, VOD, online, or DVD release between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026. Only Full Financial Members may enter. Student and Associate Members are not eligible. Co-editors may submit, but all credited co-editors must be Full Financial Members. In the case of a winning entry with multiple editors, only one trophy is awarded; additional trophies may be purchased.

The 2026 awards include several category and guideline changes, with simplified category definitions, broadened recognition opportunities, and a streamlined accreditation process. The number of works required for accreditation submission has been reduced, and the former Consistency criterion has been replaced with a Career criterion allowing assessors to evaluate the breadth, impact, and recognition of an applicant's body of work.

Additional awards include the Technical Excellence Award (for Assistant Editors, Post Supervisors, VFX Editors, Online Editors, and Colourists, judged on innovation, difficulty, and efficiency) and the Emerging Editor Awards (two awards: one for a student editor, one for an early-career editor).

Australian Post-Production Context

Australian post-production has expanded significantly due to the PDV (Post, Digital, and Visual Effects) Offset, which provides a 30% rebate on qualifying Australian PDV expenditure. This rebate has made Australian post-production facilities competitive with major international studios, attracting VFX and finishing work for productions that may not have shot principal photography in Australia. The result is an expanded post-production community with editing, post-coordination, and finishing opportunities beyond traditional picture editing roles.

For editors working in this environment, ASE membership provides professional community, rate guidance, awards recognition, and the accreditation designation that signals craft competence to producers and directors hiring for Australian and international productions.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For producers hiring editors on Australian productions, ASE Full Membership signals professional standing and at least one verified professional screen credit. ASE Accreditation (the "ASE" post-nominal) indicates 10+ years of experience, peer recognition through awards, and a documented commitment to the editing community. Producers building post-production budgets should understand the distinction between picture editing (assembling and refining the cut) and post-production supervision (managing the technical and logistical post workflow), as these are often separate roles on larger productions.

For editors building careers in Australia, ASE membership provides Ellie Awards eligibility, mentor scheme access (Full members only), professional networking, and the advocacy support that addresses the chronic under-resourcing of post-production in Australian production budgets. Student membership is free for one year, making it accessible for those enrolled in full-time editing or post-production courses.

See Also

For the broader Australian screen industry context, see Screen Producers Australia (SPA) in this directory. For the US editors guild equivalent, see Motion Picture Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700) in this directory. For the Australian directors association, see Australian Directors Guild (ADG) in this directory.