The Australian Screen Editors Guild (ASE) is dedicated to the pursuit and recognition of excellence in Screen Editing and all forms of motion picture post production.
ASE accreditation recognises Editors who demonstrate a high level of craft and creativity in their work. Accredited Editors elevate their projects, contribute meaningfully to the community, and act as ambassadors for the profession.
Accredited Editors are entitled to use the letters ASE after their name in screen credits, professional profiles, and communications.
Click here for a full list of ASE Accredited editors.
Applicants will be required to
- Be a current financial member of the ASE with a minimum of five years continuous membership.
- Have at least 10 years minimum industry experience as an Editor (beginning with their first professional credit)
- Demonstrate excellence in their craft.
- Demonstrate their work has recognised standing within the industry.
- Demonstrate a meaningful contribution to the editing community and the ASE.
Applicants will need to supply
A list of their credits as an Editor
Include the year the work was completed and indicate any editing award nominations or wins.
Examples of their work
The work submitted must adequately demonstrate consistent excellence. The applicant may choose work from a variety of genres or focus in a specialised field such as commercials or documentary.
Please use the following guide when determining how much to provide.
- 2 x 90 min and above productions
- 3 x 60 min productions
- 4 x 30 min productions
- 8 x 5 minutes and less
The combined run length can be no longer than 4 hours (unless it is 2 features). The judges will not consider any work in excess of this duration.
Discretion is advised when entering work as quantity does not equal quality and the applicant will be judged on their weakest submitted piece.
Encoding and Uploading your video
Should the Applicant prefer, Dropbox and YouTube are also acceptable platforms.
A professional statement (200 – 500 words)
The professional statement should clearly articulate the applicant’s approach to editing and how it elevates their work, with reference to the submitted projects as supporting examples. It may also address the significance of their work within the industry.
A short community statement (no more than 200 words)
The community statement should demonstrate how the applicant has meaningfully engaged with and supported the editing community.
Two written references from industry professionals.
They must be Directors or Producers who have worked closely with the applicant in the editing room, who understand their process and can articulate their strengths and contribution.
Please include phone and email contacts for those references.
The application fee of $110
This fee is GST inclusive and payable to the ASE at the time of submission.
The Accreditation Committee may ask Applicants to submit further material.
The Judging Process
The Accreditation Committee (AC) comprises three Accredited ASE members and two non-accredited members. Each member independently reviews applications and scores them against the three criteria using the marking rubric.
Scores are shared and averaged for each criteria, rounded to the nearest whole number. The AC then discusses each application and may adjust scores based on group consensus.
An applicant will be recommended for accreditation where a majority of the AC agrees that:
- The applicant has scored at least 3 (Great) in all criteria;
- The applicant has achieved a 4 (Standout) in at least one criteria; and
- All other prerequisites have been met.
The AC’s recommendation is submitted to the ASE President for ratification. Once ratified, the decision is final.
The ASE President will notify the applicant and provide any relevant feedback from the AC. No further correspondence will be entered into.
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent years.
Marking Rubric
The following three criteria form the basis of the Accreditation Committee’s decision.
Criteria 1 – Creativity
The applicant demonstrates that their creative input elevates the work’s impact and effectiveness. Their involvement goes beyond technical competence, showing clear editorial authorship and intention.
Works should be considered and compared within their own genres and formats.
The professional statement may highlight key aspects of the applicants creative process.
| 4 | Standout | The editing demonstrates clear creative authorship and is integral to the works impact. It elevates the material beyond its source through distinctive, purposeful choices in structure, rhythm, and tone. |
| 3 | Great | The editing shows clear intention and some inventive choices, with moments that elevate the material beyond standard practice. |
| 2 | Competent | The editing meets professional expectations for structure, rhythm, and tone. Creative choices are present but largely conventional. |
| 1 | Poor | The editing has issues in structure, pacing, or tone that detracts from the overall piece. Creative intent is unclear or ineffective. |
Criteria 2 – Career
The applicant demonstrates that their work has achieved recognised standing within the industry, as evidenced through their CV and professional statement. Assessment should focus on the impact, visibility, and recognition of their body of work.
Scoring may be determined through one or both of the following:
- Industry Recognition: Awards, nominations, or honours (e.g. ASE Ellie Awards or equivalent editing awards).
- Significance of Work: The presence of projects with notable cultural, commercial, or critical impact, demonstrating the work is exemplary within its field.
Note of Significance
A dramatic feature may achieve significance through selection at a major film festival (e.g. Cannes Film Festival), while a horror feature may be recognised through strong box office performance.
A reality program may be significant due to high ratings, while a documentary may be recognised through awards or nominations (e.g. AACTA Awards).
A commercial may gain significance through major advertising awards, while a piece of branded content may have gone viral (e.g. millions of views)
Criteria 3 – Contribution
The applicant demonstrates meaningful engagement with and support of the editing community. Contributions should reflect a clear willingness to participate and give back, without requiring an onerous level of involvement.
This may include activity through the ASE or other recognised industry organisations (e.g. Bus Stop Films, Women in Film and Television, Australian Film Television and Radio School).
Supporting an Assistant Editor alone is not considered a sufficient contribution to meet the accreditation criteria.
Successful Applicants
Accreditation by the ASE is deemed a great honour and the Accredited Editor are entitled to use the letters “ASE” after their name, provided full membership is maintained.
With this recognition comes an ongoing responsibility to uphold a commitment to the profession and the guild. The ASE relies on the strength of its members, and accredited Editors are expected to contribute to the ongoing well-being, reputation, and growth of the organisation.
Accredited Members will be presented with a certificate bearing their name and the date of their Accreditation as part of the ASE Ellie Awards. If the awards are unable to be held, acknowledgement will be made online.
Unsuccessful Applications
If the application is unsuccessful then the following feedback will be provided to the applicant.
- The final averaged score of each of the three criteria.
- A brief summary of the aspects of the application that contributed positively or negatively to the outcome.
Once ratified, the judges decision is final and no further discussion or correspondence will be entered into.
To apply for Accreditation
The deadline for applications is Sunday 9th August 2026. Submissions will not be accepted after this date.
It is the responsibility of the Applicant to provide web links and ensure that they play back without interruption. The link must remain active until judging is complete, on Sunday 11th of October 2026.
Click here to apply for accreditation