Neyyah - Innovation in Game Design nominee at 2026 WA Screen Culture Awards!

Our deepest thanks go to the phenomenal post-production team at Sandbox Productions, whose professionalism, creativity and post-production expertise elevated every frame of the FMV sequences. We're grateful for the care they poured into this project. If you're looking for an exceptional team for your next film, commercial or creative project, we couldn't recommend them highly enough.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our cinematographer Peter Renzullo, whose videographical expertise was vital to the game's cut-scenes; this nomination is a wonderful recognition of the artistry he brought behind the camera.

To Neyyah’s cast - Nigel Goodwin, Paul Hayward, Xanthe Turner, Zaedyn Turner, Nanci Nott, Dann Tozer - thank you for bringing these characters to life with such heart, personality and commitment. Every performance helped create a world players could believe in, and I’ll always remember the days we spent filming those scenes!

Thanks to our incredible crew and artistic consultants, including Azalia Turner, Katie Brown and Xanthe Turner, whose creativity and behind-the-scenes contributions helped shape the finished experience in ways that are invisible to Neyyah’s audience, but no less important than the aspects they see on their screens.

Also, to Zaedyn Turner for the years he dedicated to writing, recording, and producing a significant portion of Neyyah’s soundtrack, which - in its entirety - goes a long way in creating the atmosphere of Neyyah’s world.

We also want to express our gratitude to Screen Australia, who funded the majority ofNeyyah’s cut-scene production, and the entirety of Neyyah’s post-production, in addition to supporting Neyyah in other ways, including the Screen Australia Local Lounge at GCAP (which Chad did an amazing job of setting up!) and countless other little ways in which these legends supported our general journey. Their team made Neyyah’s live-action production possible, and we are beyond grateful to Screen Australia. Not just for what their help has meant for Neyyah, but for the opportunities they consistently provide for devs, artists, filmmakers, and other creatives to produce work that reaches audiences around the world.

A HUGE thanks to the MicroProse team, who have championed, supported, tested, funded, promoted and believed in Neyyah over the years. Bringing a game like this to players takes an enormous effort, and we're incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped Neyyah find its way to its players.

Speaking of players - thanks, players! Without you, this would all have been for nothing.

Also, thanks to Neyyah’s Patreon patrons; other developers who’ve offered advice; fans who’ve created Neyyah content; WAGIC ’s continued encouragement; Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, who let us film scenes in their Dance Studio, and Mandurah Coder Dojo (who’ve attended almost every WA convention that’s ever showcased Neyyah!) are all hugely appreciated by the Defy Reality team. Although Neyyah is the brainchild of one person, it took a village to raise that child, and we appreciate all of you.

We’re so excited to see Neyyah included amongst such an inspiring group of screen projects, and it's a privilege to be recognised as part of an event that celebrates innovation across storytelling in all its screen-iest forms.

Congrats to the other nominees (whose games you should definitely check out when you have a chance)! We'd especially like to wish Jane Fiona and the team behind Don't Stop Girlypop (think Ultrakill, but faster and prettier) the very best of luck on the night. We can't wait to celebrate alongside you guys!

This nomination provides the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate all the people whose work on Neyyah is celebrated through this nomination, so apologies for the long read, but it’s important for us to acknowledge all the amazing people who contributed. Well done everyone - and thank you :)