Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

12/03/2021

18/03/2021

SBS and National Indigenous Television (NITV) have announced the appointment of two commissioning editors, with Bernadine Lim joining SBS as Commissioning Editor, Documentaries, and Marissa McDowell joining NITV as Commissioning Editor.

As a member of SBS's Unscripted team, Lim will work across SBS's slate of distinctive commissioned documentaries, championing diverse stories and exploring issues impacting contemporary Australia.

McDowell will join NITV's commissioning team, working on the development and delivery of a diverse slate of commissioned programming for the channel, including documentaries, entertainment and children's programs reflecting, exploring and celebrating First Nations stories.

Lim is an award-winning director and producer with more than 20 years' experience, and joins SBS from Screen Australia where she has been Head of Documentary since 2018. Born in Malaysia, she began her career as a TV journalist in New Zealand and has worked across a range of factual formats, from current affairs, entertainment, arts, science and documentary, in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia. Her appointment sees her return to SBS having previously been the Executive Producer of Dateline, SBS's long-running international current affairs program.

Joseph Maxwell, Head of Documentaries, SBS, said: We're thrilled to be welcoming Bernadine back to SBS, and bringing her extensive industry knowledge, working across a range of formats, to the documentaries team. Her experience reflects her talent and passion for storytelling, and we're looking forward to having her join us as SBS continues to deliver a strong and diverse slate of commissioned documentaries in 2021, and has an exciting mix of projects in development.

On her appointment, Lim said: It's been an amazing time at Screen Australia with a talented team of dedicated people. I'm very excited to make my next move into the creative heart of SBS's strong factual content team. As a passionate storyteller, it's a privilege to have this type of role across such compelling content and help celebrate multicultural Australia.

McDowell, from the Wiradjuri Nation and currently living in Canberra, has worked with Indigenous communities to tell their stories through documentary film making, photography and writing, throughout her career.

On McDowell's appointment as Commissioning Editor for NITV, Kyas Hepworth, Head of Commissioning and Programming, NITV, said: Marissa's passion and craft for storytelling is matched by her dedication and commitment to supporting the ongoing development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent in the screen sector. Her creativity, expertise and strong industry networks will be a great asset to the NITV team, and we can't wait to have her on board at a busy time with a number of exciting projects in the pipeline for the channel.

McDowell added: Our people have so many stories which are universal that need to be told. I am excited to be joining NITV, a channel dedicated to telling the stories of the world's oldest continuing culture, and be able to play a part in bringing these stories to the world.

A multimedia producer and filmmaker with her production company, Black & White Films, McDowell has produced content for various platforms including NITV, and also facilitates filmmaking workshops for youth and community. In 2016, she was selected as part of Screen Forever's Ones to Watch development and mentoring program, is a member of First Nations Writer group, Us Mob Writers, and is also a published poet and exhibited photographer.

Bernadine Lim will commence in the role in the SBS documentaries team on 3 May, and Marissa McDowell will join NITV from 24 March.

For a PDF version of this media release, click here.

More information:

Bernadine Lim

Commissioning Editor, Documentaries, SBS (from 3 May, 2021)

Bernadine Lim is currently the Head of Documentary at Screen Australia the country's federal funding body. The unit provides support through development and production funding, targeted initiatives and the Producer Equity Program across formats including features, television, online and XR.

As a director and producer with over 20 years' experience, she has several awards including two Gold Medals at the New York Festivals Film and TV Awards and was nominated for an Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts Award for Best Direction in a Documentary. She spent five years as Executive Producer of the international documentary current affairs SBS series, Dateline, commissioning close to 100 films which received multiple awards, including a BAFTA.

Living across New Zealand, UK and Australia, shes developed and produced content for both public, commercial and subscription networks including SBS, National Geographic, BSkyB, Discovery International, BBC World, TVNZ, TV3, Network 10 and NBC Universal.

Marissa McDowell

Commissioning Editor, National Indigenous Television (NITV) (from 24 March, 2021)

McDowell is a Wiradjuri woman from Cowra NSW. She started her career as an Audio-Visual Assistant and Vision Switcher in live production for the Canberra Raiders and Brumbies at GIO Stadium Canberra. During this time, she also worked as a News and Radio Operating Assistant in live news production for ABC Canberra.

She launched her independent production business Black & White Films and has worked with Indigenous communities telling their stories through multi-media platforms for over nine years. Her documentaries have been commisioned and screened with SBS/NITV.

Marissa is a member and chairperson for Us Mob Writing and had her poetry published in the literary journal Ora Nui, featured work by Aboriginal and Maori writers and as part of Overland's Emerging Poet Series. She featured as a contributor in A Poc
LINK: https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/sbs-and-nitv-announce-new-commissioning...
See more stories from sbs

Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories

30/06/2025

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel

SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel 30 June, 2025 Media releases SBS is expanding its international news offeri...

27/06/2025

Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong

27 06 2025 - Media release Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong Marton Csokas and Lila McGuire of Goolagong. Image c...

26/06/2025

Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On Demand

Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On De...

20/06/2025

Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Australia

Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Au...

13/06/2025

Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic sporting event

Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic spor...

12/06/2025

50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celebration

50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celeb...

06/06/2025

Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwright and Soo Hugh Headline Future Vision 2025

06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...

03/06/2025

Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Originals, as applications open for 2025

Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Origin...

28/05/2025

SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia

SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia 28 May, 2025 Media releases Marking 50 years of broadcasting on 9 June 2025, SBS...

28/05/2025

ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transformation through Salesforce Communications Cloud

ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transf...

22/05/2025

SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with Digital Originals

SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with ...

22/05/2025

Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast

Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast 22 May, 2025 Media releases Ever caught yourself using baby talk with your pet and wondered ...

19/05/2025

Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 million Australians tuning in

Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 m...

16/05/2025

Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced

Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced 16 May, 2025 Media releases Screen Australia's First Nations Department, the Australian Broadcasting Cor...

15/05/2025

Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There'

Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There...

15/05/2025

We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS

We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS 15 May, 2025 Media releases The We Go There Hub brings together over 300 ti...

14/05/2025

ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe, Middle East & Africa

ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe,...

13/05/2025

Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion

Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion 13 May, 2025 Media releases As the latest season nears its end, SBS's hit series brings full cast together for re...

13/05/2025

Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle

Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...

12/05/2025

And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS, Australia's Home of Cycling

And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS,...

12/05/2025

Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directing Debut with Dark Comedy Fangs

10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...

07/05/2025

SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recognising the strength and resilience of First Nations peoples

SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recogni...

07/05/2025

SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location

SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location 7 May, 2025 Media releases SBS has today launched a Request for Expressions of Intere...

02/05/2025

SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Handmaid's Tale

SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Hand...

01/05/2025

Screen Australia empowers 100+ distinctive Australian narratives

01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...

30/04/2025

Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award

Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award 30 April, 2025 Media releases Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla...

30/04/2025

SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives

SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives 30 April, 2025 Media releases SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ...

23/04/2025

We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it goodit's almost time for the Eurovision Song Contest!

We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it ...

22/04/2025

McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September

McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championshi...

16/04/2025

Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Sustainability Challenge

Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Susta...

15/04/2025

Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lifetime Who Do You Think You Are?

Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lif...

15/04/2025

SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide

SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Champions...

14/04/2025

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduction targets validated by the SBTi

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduc...

11/04/2025

Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo topics in podcast return

Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo to...

09/04/2025

SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering

SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering 9 April, 2025 Media releases SBS is expanding its international news offering with the...

09/04/2025

SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as Eurovision Song Contest commentary team

SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as E...

09/04/2025

Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase

09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...

07/04/2025

Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS commentary team for Spring Classics Races

Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS comme...

07/04/2025

Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election year

Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election ye...

07/04/2025

SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key issues of the Federal Election campaign

SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key is...

04/04/2025

SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and information about the 2025 Federal Election

SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...

01/04/2025

Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June

01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...

31/03/2025

Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new political podcast

Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new politica...

28/03/2025

Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and family

Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and fam...

28/03/2025

SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages

SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages 28 March, 2025 Media releases As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia...

26/03/2025

The Secret DNA of Us premieres 17 April

The Secret DNA of Us premieres 17 April 20 March, 2025 Media releases Family secrets, royal relationships and hidden histories revealed What would you disc...

24/03/2025

ABS further Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Matthieu Boutrolle as Chief Technology Officer

ABS further Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Matthieu Boutrolle a...

19/03/2025

NITV and Cricket Australia elevate First Nations sport with National Indigenous Cricket Championships Finals live broadcast on 7 April

NITV and Cricket Australia elevate First Nations sport with National Indigenous ...

19/03/2025

Yumi Stynes wants older women to be SEEN' as SBS podcast returns

Yumi Stynes wants older women to be SEEN' as SBS podcast returns 19 March, 2025 Media releases Feminist icon Yumi Stynes shines a spotlight on trailbl...