Andrea Solonge, has been announced as the recipient of the coveted 12th Heath Ledger Scholarship.

Established in 2009 in memory of award-winning actor Heath Ledger, the scholarship is globally regarded as the hottest barometer and platform for the best acting talent coming out of Australia. Known for his generosity and support of fellow actors, the scholarship carries on Heath’s legacy by offering a life-changing education and career development program.

CST is a proud sponsor of the 2024 Heath Ledger Scholarship. Marcus Shimotsu and Jurate Gulbinas, from our US based team, attended the event where the recipient was announced. 

Part of the prize package that Andrea will receive includes US/Australian tax advice and tax return preparation services by our CST tax team. 

“We are delighted to sponsor the Heath Ledger Scholarship,” said John Marcarian, Founder of CST, “and we are looking forward to working with Andrea as she embarks on her new journey in Hollywood.”

CST is an international tax and accounting firm that manages the Australian and USA tax obligations of Australians living between the USA and Australia.

CST is proud to sponsor the 2024 Heath Ledger Scholarship.

Created by Australians in Film Foundation and managed by Australians in Film (“AiF”), the Heath Ledger Scholarship (HLS) is now in its 12^th year and is awarded to an emerging Australian actor who demonstrates extraordinary ability and dedication to their craft and has international aspirations in their career.

 “We are delighted to sponsor the Heath Ledger Scholarship,” said John Marcarian, Founder of CST Accountants & Advisors.

 “Supporting Australians to launch and grow their career abroad is a passion of our firm,” John continued. “The Heath Ledger Scholarship is an amazing opportunity for an Australian actor to break into the competitive US entertainment industry. Getting the best Australia/USA tax advice and guidance on managing money and financial literacy is crucial in these complex times.”

CST Accountants & Advisors is an international tax and accounting firm that manages the Australian and USA tax obligations of Australians living between the USA and Australia.

Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Sydney, CST provides Australians moving to and living in the US with essential tax advice and services across the two countries.

“We are so thrilled to welcome CST Accountants and Advisors as a supporting partner of Heath Ledger Scholarship. Transitioning your career, life and art to the international stage is a massive step for any actor, and requires the support of teams of people. Taxation and financial literacy is a critical part of that, and we are so pleased to be partnering with John and everyone at CST Accountants and Advisors, as part of the Scholarship Prize this year,” said Peter Ritchie, Executive Director of Australians in Film.

AiF will announce the recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship in late October 2024. Past Previous HLS recipients include Cody Fern, Ashleigh Cummings, Charmaine Bingwa, Ryan Corr, Mojean Aria and Rahel Romahn. Finalists for the 2024 Scholarship were announced on 19 September, with the winner announced in Los Angeles on 22 October 2024.

CST is a proud sponsor of the 2024 Heath Ledger Scholarship.

Australians in Film is pleased to announce the finalists of the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship 2024.

This year a record number of entries was received, setting a new bar for the scholarship which has been instrumental in shaping the international careers of Australian actors over the last 12 years.

This year, the HLS scholarship also saw an increase in applicants from both culturally diverse and LGBTQ communities.

Established in 2012 in memory of award winning actor, Heath Ledger, the scholarship is globally regarded as the hottest barometer and platform for the best acting talent coming out of Australia.

The six finalists are: Andrea Solonge, Charles Wu, Taj Aldeeb, Kartanya Maynard, Will McDonald and Ezekiel Simat.

Casting Director and Heath Ledger Scholarship Patron Ann Fay, Head of Casting at Maura Fay Casting, said, “Selecting the finalists is always a difficult job, but this year we had an exceptionally skilled pool of applicants to choose from. They each embody the talent necessary to work on an international scale and are all worthy of becoming the next HLS recipient. I’m very happy with our group of six finalists who reflect the high bar of talent coming out of Australia.”

Now in its 12th year, the life-changing education and career development program heralds the most significant prize package to date valued at USD $60,000. The scholarship will provide the 2024 winner with specialized and unique access and training along with the exciting addition of yearlong mentorship by former recipient Bella Heathcote (PIECES OF HER, RELIC) to help them build a career in Hollywood.

The six finalists, chosen by nine US and AUS casting agents, will be flown to Los Angeles by the 2024 Heath Ledger Scholarship airline partner Delta Air Lines for the once in a lifetime opportunity. For the perfect introduction to laid back California cool, each will stay with luxury hotel partner, The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills.

The recipient will be announced on Tuesday October 22 at an exclusive red carpet cocktail party at a Hollywood location.

In the days prior to the exclusive winner unveiling, each finalist will attend an exclusive HLS Scholarship Breakfast (presented by supporting partner Bluestone Lane), and HLS Boot Camp featuring CST Tax and other special guests on hand providing invaluable insights and advice.

A panel of esteemed judges including Sarah Snook (Succession, The Picture Of Dorian Gray), Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets, The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Gabrielle Union (The Perfect Find, 10 Things I Hate About You) Charlie Hunnam (The Gentlemen, Criminal, Sons of Anarchy), Simone Kessell (Yellowjackets, Obi-Wan Kenobi) Cleopatra Coleman ((The Last Man on Earth, Clipped) and award winning casting director, Terri Taylor will select the 2024 HLS Recipient.

Seen by Hollywood as the barometer of emerging Australian talent, The Heath Ledger Scholarship has been awarded 11 times, accelerating the careers of previous recipients such as Bella Heathcote (Relic, Pieces of Her), Cody Fern (Eden, American Crime Story), Ashleigh Cummings (NOS4A2. Citadel), Mojean Aria (Shayda, Reminiscence) Charmaine Bingwa (The Good Fight, Emancipation) and most recently Rahel Romahn (Furiosa: a Mad Max Saga, The Surfer)

The 12th Heath Ledger Scholarship Prize includes:

• US$10,000 towards a living allowance, rent and transport assistance in Los Angeles
• One-year mentorship from 2010 recipient Bella Heathcoate. Bella will be on hand for quarterly meetings to help guide the winner as they settle into life in LA.
• Tax advice and US Tax return from CST
• Private coaching and classes from Lisa Robertson Studio.
• Private coaching, classes, and special workshops taught by Jean-Louis Rodrigue and Kristof Konrad of Alexander Techworks.
• Private speech and dialects coaching from Joy Ellison.
• Headshot and publicity look from Sally Flegg Photography (Sydney).
• Hair and Makeup Looks by Sophia Lee (with Sally Flegg Photography).
• Physical approach to Acting Voice De-structuring (Authentic Voice) from Kennedy Brown.
• Immigration Services from Raynor and Associates.
• Virtual Line Rehearsal Service with Professional Actors from Audition Genie.
• Actor Headshot and On-Location Portrait Session’ in Los Angeles from Greg Doherty Photography.
• Self-tape sessions from Stella Tape Studio.
• All Finalists will receive a US$100 voucher to Bluestone Lane Coffee.
• All Finalists will receive a bag courtesy of State of Escape.
• Lifetime membership to Australians in Film, including access to the workspace “Charlie’s” at the AiF offices on The Lot in West Hollywood.

Emma Cooper, Chair of AiF who will host the cocktail event at Soho House West Hollywood says, “The HLS scholarship continues to grow reflecting its importance to the global screen industry. Our aim is to shine a light on the best acting talent coming out of Australia and to uphold Heath’s generous spirit of helping others. We’ve been so excited to see the breadth of talent represented in this year’s finalists and are delighted to help support them as they navigate what will undoubtedly be a successful career in Hollywood.”

Patrons of the Heath Ledger Scholarship are Kim Ledger, Gregor Jordan, Susie Dobson and Ann Fay.

A special thanks to Heath Ledger Scholarship Partners for 2024: Delta Air Lines, The London Hotel West Hollywood at Beverly Hills, Vogue, CST, Bluestone Lane, Penfolds, Golden Globe Foundation and Venroy for helping shine a light on Australia’s best acting talent.

HLS FIRST ROUND JUDGES include from the US: Jason Wood (VP casting, A&E Networks), Barbara McCarthy (The Spectacular Now, Mother’s Day) Alyssa Weisberg (Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, No Activity), J. McAlary (The L Word: Generation Q, Cargo), Gail Goldberg (10 Things I Hate About You, Ted) and from Australia: Ann Fay, patron of the HLS (NCIS Sydney, The Artful Dodger), Amanda Mitchell (Heartbreak High, Thor Love and Thunder), Anousha Zarkesh (Shayda, Firebite) and Danny Long (Return to the Planet of the Apes, Eden).

In a podcast episode of Barely Legal in Web 3, hosted by Jamilia Grier, Boon Tan, the managing director of CST Tax Advisors, and Chris Holland from Holland & Marie discussed the crypto tax issues and challenges in the Web3 space.

In this episode, our tax experts discussed how to successfully launch token offerings and how the crypto tax system works in Singapore. Gain valuable insights as they delve into the tax issues facing crypto businesses to avoid common pitfalls.

You may also listen to the podcast on Spotify.

Here is a link to the podcast transcript.

Boon Tan, Managing Director of CST in Singapore, recently joined Hemandra Tanapalan, Chief Executive Officer at Mstige Holdings, to discuss the intricate world of Web3. Together they unpack the tax implications of trading NFTs, investment strategies, and the vibrant community dynamics within the space.

In this podcast, Boon delves into topics such as DAOs, GameFI, and opportunities for additional income in Web3. Learn how to manage crypto and NFT profit taxes while navigating the evolving landscape of decentralized finance.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify.

To get the podcast transcript, click this link.

Our Managing Director in Singapore, Boon Tan, will be participating in Singapore Global Network’s “Relocation to Singapore” webinar.

The webinar is designed for foreigners relocating to Singapore, including job seekers, trailing spouses, and students.

Boon will be joined by Ms Marina Lopes, who has been residing in Singapore with her family since 2021. Boon and Marina will guide you through the process to ensure you embark on your Singaporean adventure with confidence.  

Hear from the personal experiences of those who have made the move, on various topics such as housing, transportation, children’s education, navigating work culture, social norms, and career options for trailing spouses.   

Whether you’re in the initial stages of planning or have already made the decision to relocate, we aim to assist you in assimilating seamlessly to our beautiful island, Singapore!  

Event sign up page: https://community.singaporeglobalnetwork.gov.sg/events/4585

Section 6048 requires US taxpayers to make an annual report regarding financial or asset transfers in relation to the receipt of distributions from foreign trusts. Taxpayers can be penalised if they fail to comply. Unfortunately many taxpayers have been caught out when it comes to reporting foreign retirement investments and other trusts. 

On March 2nd 2020 the IRS released Rev. Proc. 202-17. This change comes into effect on March 16 and provides taxpayers with certain foreign investments with an exemption from section 6048 reporting requirements on those investments. Accordingly, eligible US citizens with some tax favored foreign retirement investments and other trusts, have less duties in their reporting requirements. Furthermore, eligible individuals can now apply for a refund of any penalties that they have incurred as a result of section 6048 reporting requirements with their applicable tax-favored foreign trusts. 

The reason behind the change is that there are already a number of restrictions imposed by the countries where those trusts are located and there are already additional reporting requirements in the US under section 6038D regarding interests in these trusts. This alleviates the pressure of being penalized for meeting the section 6048 reporting requirements and reverses the penalties previously imposed in such cases. 

Once the change comes into place it will apply to any prior tax year that is still open. 

One of the reasons this relief is important is because it covers a requirement that many taxpayers and tax professionals haven’t realized was in place. This is because people tended to assume that the tax and reporting requirements were deferred until the point of retirement and they didn’t understand which international information reporting forms were to be used. Alleviating this reporting requirement will help reduce a lot of confusion in the field. 

If you have a foreign retirement or trust investment that may qualify you should look into Rev. Proc. 2020-17 or seek further advice for your specific situation. 

Our Founder, John Marcarian, has won the prestigious Longevity Award in The Finder’s Expatpreneuer Awards 2019.

The Expatpreneur Awards honour foreign-born entrepreneurs running successful expat-owned businesses in or from Singapore.

Read more on the finder website.

Americans living abroad, in countries like Great Brittan, are being affected by tax hikes. Although there are some ways that you can dance around these increases in other countries, it is not always that easy. These increases affect not only those with luxury properties, but more average investors, as well.

UK tax hikes affecting expat property owners: is it too late to act?

Some companies have had to deal with a lot of backlash do to immigration, but here this company is the complete oppositie. This company has been able to become better since immigrants have joined the workforce and this article tells you exactly how and why the owner is greatful to their foreign workers.

Immigrants Have Made my Company Stronger

Download our eBook “Moving To The US”

Disclaimer:
This document is intended as an information source only. The comments and references to legislation and other sources in this publication do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should seek advice from a professional adviser regarding the application of any of the comments in this document to your fact scenario. Information in this publication does not take into account any person’s personal objectives, needs or financial situations. Accordingly, you should consider the appropriateness of any information, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs and seek professional advice before acting on it. CST Tax Advisors exclude all liability (including liability for negligence) in relation to your reliance in this publication.