Screen Australia invests over $. million in 0 documentaries

Screen Australia today announced over $2.3 million investment in 10 documentary projects triggering over $8 million in production. Two series and eight one-off documentaries have been greenlit for production.

Screen Australia's Documentary Manager Liz Stevens said, It's very encouraging to see so many projects with solid international deals in this round. Australian producers are creating good opportunities in the international marketplace with strong stories, know-how and support from domestic broadcasters and Screen Australia it's a great collaboration. In the domestic arena the National Documentary Program continues to fund significant Australian stories that will resonate with Australian audiences.

Funded through the National Documentary Program, the three-part ABC series Afghanistan: The Australian War will tell the complete story of Australia's longest and most expensive modern war. The series will be written and directed by Victoria Midwinter-Pitt and produced by Alan Erson.

Supported through the International Documentary Program, Frank Gehry's Treehouse is also from producer Alan Erson and follows the world's most renowned contemporary architect and the creation of his first Australian building in Sydney. The documentary will be produced for both ABC TV and BBC Imagine with writer Helen Vatsikopoulos and director Sally Aitken.

Other projects from the International Documentary Program include Tales of the Unexpected, a three-part SBS series that will take viewers out of their comfort zone looking at contemporary, counterintuitive and often controversial science. The series is produced by Peter Rees with executive producers Sonya Pemberton and Michael Cordell.

Trucking Hell follows daredevil Aussie truckers who put their lives on the line to drive some of the world's toughest roads and will be produced for Seven Network Australia by Ed Punchard and Julia Redwood with director Eliot Buchan.

SBS documentary JFK: The Smoking Gun, from writer Steve Lucas, will follow a former Australian police detective/crime writer who sets out to uncover the truth behind the assassination of US President John F Kennedy. The film will be produced by Michael Cordell and Jesse Prupas.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, writer/director Adam Geiger will investigate a series of shark attacks in Western Australia in The Real Jaws, produced for the Nine Network and NOVA by Ed Punchard and Julia Redwood.

Four one-off documentaries were approved through the General Documentary Program (GDP). The Boffin, the Builder and the Bombardier is a fast-paced, fun, living history documentary from writer John Concannon and directors Chris Bamford and Serge Ou in which three mates deconstruct history by reconstructing the devices that made it. The documentary will be produced for the ABC by Michael Tear, Serge Ou, Harriet Pike and John Concannon.

Also from the GDP, Mary & Mohammad is an ABC documentary from writer/director/producer Heather Kirkpatrick and producer Tom Zubrycki about a 71-year-old Christian woman who questions her own beliefs after she meets Mohammad, a 26-year-old Muslim asylum seeker from Afghanistan.

Set across the islands of Oceania, writer/director Liz Courtney's The Tipping Points: Oceans the Last Frontier will attempt to identify and explore the culprits that are altering the oceans existence. The documentary will be produced for NITV by both Liz Courtney and Veronica Sive.

From director Bruce Permezel and writer Alex West, Bodyline: The Ultimate Test tells the story of the infamous Bodyline test cricket series of 1932/33. The documentary will be produced for the ABC by Kate Pappas and Charlotte Wheaton with executive producers Alex West and Margie Bryant.

NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM

AFGHANISTAN: THE AUSTRALIAN WAR

3 x 55 mins

Essential Media and Entertainment Pty Ltd

Producer Alan Erson

Writer/Director Victoria Midwinter-Pitt

Sales Agent ABC Commercial

Broadcaster ABC TV

Synopsis The complete story of Australia's longest and most expensive modern war told by the generation of Australians who fought it, those who ordered it, our allies and enemies.

GENERAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM

BODYLINE: THE ULTIMATE TEST

57 mins

Serendipity West Pty Ltd

Producers Kate Pappas, Charlotte Wheaton

Executive Producers Alex West, Margie Bryant

Writer Alex West

Director Bruce Permezel

Sales Agent ABC Commercial

Broadcaster ABC1

Synopsis This is the story of one of the most extraordinary, well-known, but perhaps least understood, moments of conflict and controversy in the history of sport: the infamous Bodyline test cricket series of 1932/33.

THE BOFFIN, THE BUILDER AND THE BOMBARDIER

28 mins

For Valour Pty Ltd trading as Bearcage Television

Producers Michael Tear, Serge Ou, Harriet Pike, John Concannon

Writer John Concannon

Directors Chris Bamford, Serge Ou

Sales Agent Flame Distribution

Broadcaster ABC TV

Synopsis The Boffin, the Builder and the Bombardier is a fast-paced, fun, living history documentary in which three mates deconstruct history by reconstructing the devices that made it.

MARY & MOHAMMAD

28 mins

Jotz Productions Pty Ltd

Producers Tom Zubrycki, Heather Kirkpatrick

Writer/Director Heather Kirkpatrick

Broadcaster ABC TV

Synopsis Mary is 71 years old and has been a Christian all her life. When the government announces the arrival of a detention centre, her local knitting club agrees to knit beanies for the asylum seekers, though Mary is originally not in support. She meets Mohammad, a 26-year-old Muslim from Afghanistan, and begins to question her own beliefs.

THE TIPPING POINTS: OCEANS THE LAST FRONTIER

52 mins

Unboxed Media Pty Ltd

Producers Liz Courtney, Veronica Sive

Writer/Director Liz Courtney

Sales Agent Electric Sky UK

Broadcaster NITV

Synopsis For generations families have lived off t

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_130321_docum...
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