Netflix and the Australian Film Television and Radio School have announced the first three recipients of the Netflix Indigenous Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship aims to support Indigenous creatives and voices in the Australian screen and broadcast industries and support Australia's First Nations communities and storytellers.

Based on creative excellence, Nazareth Manar Alfred, Dylan Marcus Nicholls, and Samantha Alexis Laughton have been offered the inaugural scholarships.

Nazareth Manar Alfred is a Torres Strait Islander who was born on Thursday Island and grew up in Queensland.

Ms Afred has written and directed her own short films while completing her Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production at AFTRS.

Her second-year student film "Pills & Powder Milk" is currently screening on SBS OnDemand.

Ms Alfred is currently completing her MA in Directing at AFTRS.

"The Netflix scholarship means a lot to me. It enables opportunities such as acquiring resources and to attend conferences, workshops and master classes to expand my skills and knowledge to be an effective director," Ms Alfred said.

"These opportunities can only bring me closer to being the best that I possibly can be."

Scholarship recipients Dylan Marcus Nicholls, Samantha Alexis Laughton, Nazareth Manar Alfred.

Another recipient of the scholarship is Dylan Nicholls, a proud Yuwaalaraay man who grew up in Dubbo, NSW, before moving to the Far North Coast and then Brisbane.

He has been a practicing psychologist while also working as a videographer and making his own short documentary films.

Mr Nicholls is passionate about telling stories that explore themes around identity, culture, social issues, mental health, and First Nations perspectives.

"I was quite a creative kid growing up, telling stories, drawing, and making short films. But after graduating high school, I didn't have the confidence to pursue anything creative as a career," he said.

"Instead, I followed a more conventional path, training in the health professions to become a psychologist. I found psychology fascinating, but deep down, all I ever wanted to be was a filmmaker.

He said being a scholarship recipient will make a substantial difference to his future filmmaking career.

"To receive the First Nations Netflix Scholarship to study a Master of Arts Screen: Documentary at AFTRS is unreal. I still can't believe it," Mr Nicholls said.

"It's always been a dream of mine to study at AFTRS. To study at the same film school as great First Nations filmmakers like Ivan Sen and Warwick Thornton means so much to me.

"Without this scholarship, it wouldn't have been possible to move from Brisbane to Sydney.

"I'm looking forward to starting there this year, to be in a creative environment where I can make new connections and develop my skills and craft as a storyteller."

The third scholarship recipient is Eastern Arrernte woman Samantha Alexis Laughton, of Honey Ant Productions.

Ms Laughton has recent credits including 3rd Assistant Director and VFX Coordinator on Jon Bell's The Moogai (2023), VFX Coordinator on Warwick Thornton's The New Boy and Kitty Green's The Royal Hotel (2023) and 3rd Assistant Director on television crime-drama series True Colours (2021).

Ms Laughton was shortlisted for the SBS Emerging Writers Incubator (2022), AACTA/AFI Pitch: Regional Landscapes (2020) and Sundance Merata Mita Fellowship for Indigenous Artists (2019) for screenplay The Boundary Rider.

She is also a representative for the Screen Australia Gender Matters Taskforce.

"As an emerging Eastern Arrernte filmmaker who comes from an artistic family of poets, novelists and visual artists, receiving the Netflix Scholarship to study a Masters of Arts Screen: Business this break out point in my career as a screenwriter," Ms Laughton said.

"... the creative producer is an invaluable opportunity to enhance my skill set at the business and financial end of the film industry to further solidify the long-term film career that I have envisioned over the past decade.

"Thank you Netflix and AFTRS for supporting my next steps forward!"

Director of First Nations & Outreach at AFTRS, Dr Romaine Moreton said "The Netflix Indigenous Scholarship Fund presented an opportunity for AFTRS to further support First Nations media makers in cultivating expertise in their selected discipline."

"The scholarship fund as framed by AFTRS First Nations Strategic Plan recognises the important role community plays in the personal, familial, cultural, and professional lives of First Nations students," Ms Moreton said.

"The fund also gave us scope to centre First Nations values in the designing of pathways into industry; be they local, national, and international."

The scholarships will cover the full cost of course fees and will also contribute towards travel, accommodation, and living expenses of recipients.