
21 02 2022 - Media release Four new dramas commissioned through the Digital Originals initiative
Appetite: Mohini Herse, Neilesh Verma, Grace Tan, Karen Radzyner, Neil Sharma, Sleena Wilson
SBS, NITV and Screen Australia are thrilled to announce four new dramas developed through the Digital Originals initiative have been commissioned. A Beginners Guide to Grief, Night Bloomers, Latecomers, and Appetite explore contemporary issues in fresh and innovative ways and will premiere on SBS On Demand from 2022.
Night Bloomers is an anthology of horror stories from the Korean diaspora. With a goblin stowaway and monsters hunting in the night, the heroes of Night Bloomers experience a world of fractured identities and unresolved yearnings. This chilling horror comes from creator, writer, director, and producer Andrew Lee with writers Ra Chapman, Jacob Holmes-Brown, and Suzanne Kim, who will also direct an episode. It's produced by Turnabout Entertainment's Ashlea Ritchie and executive producers are Michael McMahon and Information & Cultural Exchange's Barry Gamba.
Latecomers is a comedy drama about two strangers with cerebral palsy, Frank and Sarah who, after watching their carers hook up at a bar, become determined to explore their own relationships with sex, and each other. Written and created by Emma Myers, Angus Thompson, and Nina Oyama, Latecomers will be directed by Madeleine Gottlieb and Alistair Baldwin, and produced by Hannah Ngo and Liam Heyen.
In Appetite, when a food delivery rider dies on the streets of Sydney, an unlikely trio of fellow riders find themselves entangled in a mystery to uncover the truth and expose a multinational food delivery behemoth. This mystery series comes from creator, writer, director and producer Mohini Herse with writers Neilesh Verma and Grace Tan, director Neil Sharma, and producer Karen Radzyner with executive producers Sleena Wilson, Elise McCredie and Jomon Thomas.
In A Beginners Guide to Grief, Harriet (Harry) Wylde is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her two terminally ill parents within the same week and forced to face her ultimate fear: absolute aloneness. But when she stumbles across her dysfunctional foster sister, Daisy, camping in the cemetery, Harry discovers that grief doesn't play by any rules and soon, neither will she. Filmed in South Australia, this dark comedy is written by and stars Anna Lindner and is directed by Ren e Mao. KOJO Studios' Linda Ujuk is executive producer and creative producer, and KOJO's Kate Butler is series producer, together with Julie Byrne.
Digital Originals is a joint initiative of Screen Australia, SBS and NITV, aimed at developing exciting and innovative short-form drama projects to premiere as a single episode program on SBS On Demand. The initiative is designed to support screen creatives currently under-represented in the sector, including people who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations Australians, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTIQ and those who are located in regional and remote areas. Applications for the next round of Digital Originals are currently open and close on 24 February. Click here to apply
SBS Head of Scripted Julie Eckersley said, SBS has a long history of supporting career pathways for the next generation of diverse and First Nation's storytellers. Short-form content is a really exciting way to tell unique and compelling stories from a range of experiences. We're thrilled that through Digital Originals we can support and provide a platform for underrepresented voices, and we can't wait for audiences to see these series when they premiere SBS On Demand from 2022.
Screen Australia Head of Online, Lee Naimo said, We've been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with the creators of these amazing shows through our Digital Originals workshops and into development, and it's so exciting to see them come to life. To be able to take three such different and impressive projects through to production from the 2021 initiative is especially rewarding, not to mention the humour, heart and beautiful storytelling that A Beginners Guide to Grief will bring to the screen. I'm looking forward to seeing them premiere on SBS On Demand.
Night Bloomers, Latecomers and Appetite have received principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS. A Beginner's Guide to Grief has received principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with the assistance of The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC).
A Beginners Guide to Grief will premiere on SBS On Demand in 2022 and production on Night Bloomers, Latecomers and Appetite will commence in 2022.
Please find more information on Screen Australia and SBS's Digital Originals initiative here
Latecomers: Madeleine Gottlieb, Angus Thompson, Emma Myers, Nina Oyama
Night Bloomers: Andrew Lee, Ashlea Ritchie
MEDIA ENQUIRIES Nikita Jacka | SBS
0425 171 192 | [email protected]
Media enquiries Lidia Williams | Acting Senior Publicist
61 2 8113 1091 | 61 468 784 170 | [email protected]
Georgia Hing | Acting Publicist
61 2 8113 1033 | 61 400 025 940 | [email protected]
All other general/non-media enquiries Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
More from Screen Aus
27/06/2025
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...
06/06/2025
06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...
12/05/2025
10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...
01/05/2025
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...
09/04/2025
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...
01/04/2025
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...
06/03/2025
06 03 2025 - Media release Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025
Top (L-R): Jet Wilkinson, Michael Shanks. Bottom (L-R): Ryan O Connell, Megan Park.
Au...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced
Stars of He Had It Coming, Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewso...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes
Gnomes writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven, and creato...
05/02/2025
04 02 2025 - Media release Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead
Writer/Director of Penny Lane Is Dead, Mia'Kate Russell
Sanc...
12/12/2024
12 12 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, ABC and NITV announce Proper Loved Up Short Film Initiative
Short Film Last Drinks at Fridas from Pitch Short Bla...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Much-loved series Austin returns for a second season
Austin season 2: Ingrid (Sally Phillips), Julian (Ben Miller), Austin (Michael...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new documentary series Eat The Invaders
Eat The Invaders: Tony Armstrong, Kirsha Kaechele and Vin...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce drama series The Family Next Door
Teresa Palmer as Isabelle in The Family Next Door. Photo credit...
20/11/2024
20 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV unveil Digital Originals shortlist for 2024
Digital Originals recipients with Screen Australia, SBS ...
31/10/2024
30 10 2024 - Media release SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce documentary series 2.6 Seconds
2.6 Seconds. Photo credit: Jesse Marlow.
SBS, NITV and Scr...
10/10/2024
10 10 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects
L-R: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching Y...
17/09/2024
16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder M...
11/09/2024
10 09 2024 - Media release Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce...
04/09/2024
04 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia invests over $2 million in Australian Games Industry
Zodiac Mountain
Screen Australia has announced over $2 milli...
28/08/2024
28 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce four new children's programs
Andy Lee at Richmond Primary School with his nephews Freddy Mile...
22/08/2024
22 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $3 million for 13 documentaries
We Are Jeni
Screen Australia has announced 11 documentaries through the...
19/08/2024
19 08 2024 - Media release Production starts on RFDS season three
RFDS cast. Photo Credit John Platt.
Pre-production on the third season of the Seven Network...
15/08/2024
15 08 2024 - Media release Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC for a second season of Mother and Son
Denise Scott and Matt Okine in Mother and Son
Fans of t...
06/08/2024
06 08 2024 - Media release Bruce Beresford's Film Overture starts production in Western Australia
Overture cast (L-R) Susie Porter, Luke Bracey and Bryan ...
17/07/2024
17 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Onlin...
12/07/2024
12 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new comedy series Optics
Optics. Photo credit: Joel Pratley
ABC and Screen Australia have annou...
10/07/2024
10 07 2024 - Media release Shipwreck Hunters Australia back on the water for Season 2
Shipwreck Hunters Australia
Screen Australia and The Walt Disney Compan...
09/07/2024
09 07 2024 - Media release Applications Open for Digital Originals, and three new dramas coming to screens
(L-R) Moonbird director, co-creator and co-writer N...
30/05/2024
30 05 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, Australians in Film and VicScreen announce FUTURE VISION
Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo
Australians in Film, Scree...
08/05/2024
08 05 2024 - Media release Olivia Colman and John Lithgow Star in Sophie Hyde's New Project JIMPA
Olivia Colman and John Lithgow in JIMPA. Photo credit: M...
29/04/2024
29 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces James J. Robinson's debut feature First Light
First Light
Principal Photography is underway on Firs...
24/04/2024
24 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound...
18/04/2024
18 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Dynamic Television announce new Scripted Initiative
Savage River
Screen Australia and Los Angeles-based telev...
11/04/2024
11 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First...
10/04/2024
10 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.3 million for nine documentaries
Guardians of the River
Screen Australia has announced nine doc...
21/03/2024
21 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry
Which Way Up: Galaxy Games
Screen Australia has anno...
18/03/2024
18 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative
LTR Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, K...
15/03/2024
15 03 2024 - Media release The Creators 2024 Participants Announced
The Creators program recipients. L-R Thomas Duncan-Watt, Vanessa Gazy, Sarah Lambert, Lea...
13/03/2024
13 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan
Critical Incident: Akshay Khanna and Zoe Boe. Photo c...
28/02/2024
28 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects
Willy
Screen Australia has announced 23 feature fi...
27/02/2024
27 02 2024 - Media release Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair
Michael Ebeid AM and Megan Brownlow
The Hon. Minister for the Arts, Tony...
21/02/2024
21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...
15/02/2024
15 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs
Liz Keogh Palmer (Australian Production Design Guil...
13/02/2024
22 01 2024 - Media release Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai
Six Australian screen projec...
12/02/2024
12 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9
Uncovering Street Dance: Australia from Skip Ahead 8. Photographed by Ry...
08/02/2024
08 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two
Marta Dusseldorp as Stella in Bay of Fires
ABC, Screen Austr...
22/01/2024
22 01 2024 - Media release Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai
Five Australian screen proj...
17/01/2024
17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...
14/12/2023
14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...