Screen Australia announces $2.2 million in funding for 11 online projects

02 02 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $2.2 million in funding for 11 online projects

Miss Ink: The Documentary Series

Screen Australia has announced 11 projects that will share in $2.2 million of online production funding. This includes documentary series Facing the Numbers exploring testimonies of First Nations people, rom-com series Love Me Lex and comedy Plausible Deniability, a series written and produced by It's Fine, I'm Fine co-producer, Iain Crittenden.

Screen Australia's Head of Online Lee Naimo said, It's fantastic to see that the volume and standard of applications to the Online Production fund hasn't slowed down, with online creators yet again proving that they can tell clever and complex stories for a variety of platforms.

From impactful documentaries to rom-coms, the range of genres covered in these projects shows that Australian creators are constantly exploring new and exciting ways of engaging their audiences. It's great to see so many newer voices and talents represented in these teams, demonstrating the opportunities for emerging Australian talent that Screen Australia is providing, said Naimo.

Over the past four years, Screen Australia has supplied more than $22 million of funding to online creators for projects across a variety of platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

The funded projects are:

Facing the Numbers: A 9 x 5-min documentary series using emotive cinematic visuals to explore deeply personal testimonies of First Nations peoples' encounters with violent systems of oppression. Gurindji, Pertame Arrernte and Worimi writer/director/producer Kieran Satour is the Co-Founder of the 100% First Nations-owned production company behind Facing the Numbers, GARUWA. He is joined by writer/director and Arrernte and Kalkadoon man Tyson Perkins (Mystery Road: Origin, Finding Jedda). Kaytetye woman Rona Glynn-McDonald (Audrey Napanangka) and GARUWA s Andrea Distefano are executive producing, with Ramona Telecican producing (At the Formal, Welcome Home Allen). Facing the Numbers is funded in association with Bright Moon Trust, with support from the Shark Island Foundation and the Reichstein Foundation. Common Ground, a First Nations not-for-profit, will be distributing the series and delivering an impact campaign.

Love Me Lex: A 7 x 9-min romantic comedy for Lesflicks which explores what it's like being a lesbian on the other side' of 45 looking for love through the eyes of Lex Adamson. Just as she meets the perfect woman in off-limits Kat, her ex Miranda arrives back in town determined to win her back forcing her to decide whether to stay with the woman who broke her heart or to be with the woman she loves. This series is written and directed by Sanja Katich, writer of award-winning short film When Harri Met Salma which features in Lesflicks' top 5 most-watched short films. Stephanie Davis from Somedae Pictures is attached as producer and Claire Leach (Family Rules) as executive producer.

Plausible Deniability: A 7 x 10-min comedy for Facebook which follows 11-year-old social warriors Abeba, Harriet and Tron who are making a homelessness documentary at school. When a who's who of thought leaders' come to their school to participate in the doco, hidden agendas are exposed and hollow platitudes are batted aside as the three kids tackle our national disgrace head-on. The series is from writer/producer Iain Crittenden (It's Fine, I'm Fine, Holy Crap), with Victoria Thaine (Sonia & Cherry) directing. Amal Awad, Claire Christian, Samuel Gebreselassie and Meg Mundell are also attached as writers, with AWG award-winner and author Benjamin Law (New Gold Mountain, The Family Law) and Catherine Hill (Some Happy Day) executive producing. Gabriel Aleksandrs, Ayub Abdi-Barre, Maurya Bourandanis, Stephanie Dower and Rachel Kurzyp are also attached as story consultants.

Behind the Seams: A dramedy for Facebook that centres around India Scott who, after the death of her father, finds a photograph of a mother and child and discovers that she has an extraordinary talent for reading the past in pre-loved items. As India tugs at the threads of the past - uncovering more mysteries begging to be solved she finds her present life unravelling, until she s forced to reshape her life, business, and relationships for the better. Joining director Tiffany Lyndall-Knight is writer Ruth Estelle. Attached as producer is As Mad as a Cut Snake creator Victoria Morgan, with Richard Jasek (Neighbours, McLeod's Daughters) onboard as executive producer. This six-part series will be released on Facebook to fans of slow fashion.

Compulsory Entertainment: This 9 x 4-min dark comedy for YouTube is a sketch series which takes a look at the inherent strangeness underpinning show business, corporate arrangements, interactions with technology, and the unique apathy that Australians use to deal with it. In the director's chairs are renowned comedian Eric Hutton (At Home Alone Together, Nippers of Dead Bird Bay) and AACTA award-winning makeup artist, Mariel McClorey (Mad Max: Fury Road, Thor: Love and Thunder). Hutton will also be joined by writers Sam Campbell (Red Christmas, Nippers of Dead Bird Bay) and Laura Hughes (Open Slather), with Bryan Moses (Double the Fist) as producer.

Miss Ink The Documentary Series: This 6 x 15-min docuseries celebrates tattooed women from across the country as they participate in Miss Ink Australia; the only beauty pageant in the world where age, size, shape, sexuality, scars, culture, colour, creed and cellulite don't matter. Along the way, audiences will learn that it is so much more than a beauty pageant; it s a platform for women to express themselves - busting stereotypes and redefining beauty. Attached as director is Jo-Anne Brechin (Paper Champions), who will

LINK:	https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2023/02-02-2-m...
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