Screen Australia invests $5.5 million in new feature and TV drama projects

Screen Australia today announced almost $15.5 million investment in three feature projects, five adult drama series, one two-part adult drama telemovie and three children's series, triggering almost $84 million in production. The slate of projects marks a strong start to Screen Australia's 2013/14 investment cycle.

Feature projects include writer/director/producer Robert Connolly's Paper Planes, a children's drama about a young boy from a small outback town who dreams of competing in the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. The film is written by Steve Worland and produced by Maggie Miles and Liz Kearney.

Producers/writers/directors Amiel Courtin-Wilson and Michael Cody's new feature Ruin, a low-budget drama set in Cambodia, and acclaimed emerging director Ariel Kleiman's arthouse drama Partisan were also supported with investment. Partisan is produced by Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw and written by both Ariel Kleiman and Sarah Cyngler.

Screen Australia's Chief Executive Ruth Harley said, It's great to support a feature film for child audiences from such an experienced director as Robert Connolly, alongside two exciting new distinctive films from rising Australian talents.

In the first of two television funding rounds for 2013/14, adult television drama investments include ANZAC Girls, a six-part period drama series produced for the ABC, based on the extraordinary young Australian and New Zealander women who served as nurses in World War I. The series is produced by Lisa Scott and Felicity Packard, written by Felicity Packard and Niki Aken and directed by Ken Cameron and Ian Watson.

Based on the true story of the investigation that led to the arrest of serial killer Ivan Milat, Catching Milat is a two-part telemovie produced for the Seven Network from producer Kerrie Mainwaring, writer Justin Monjo and director Peter Andrikidis.

The SBS cult comedy series Danger 5 will receive investment for a second season and will once again be produced by Kate Croser with producer/writer/director Dario Russo and writer David Ashby.

The Gallipoli Story is a new four-part mini-series produced for Foxtel about three journalists sent with the troops to Gallipoli in 1915, and how their quest for the truth helped change the war's course - and its legend. The mini-series is produced by Penny Chapman, John Schwarz and Jacquelin Perske and is written by Jacquelin Perske, Shaun Grant, Cate Shortland and Stuart Beattie. Sam Worthington, Penny Win, Michael McMahon, Michael Schwarz and Luca Scalisi are executive producers on the project.

The eight-part series for Network Nine, Love Child, is a character drama set in 1969 in Kings Cross; the time and place Australia came of age and the new generation broke all the rules. The series is produced by David Maher, David Taylor, Sarah Lambert and Sue Seeary, written by Tim Pye, Liz Doran and Sarah Lambert and will be directed by Shawn Seet, Shirley Barrett, Geoff Bennett and Ian Barry.

Producers John Edwards and Imogen Banks's Party Tricks is a new six-part series for Network Ten written by Michael Lucas, about a woman's campaign to be the next State Premier and the complications that arise when her ex-lover is announced as the new leader of the opposition.

Dr Harley said, Quality Australian television drama continues to rate extremely well, television production companies are blossoming and forging productive relationships with broadcasters hungry for product and this funding round in particular was highly competitive.

Children's drama investments include series two of the 26-part live-action adventure In Your Dreams, produced for the Seven Network by Noel Price, writers Josh Mapleston, John Armstrong, Tim Gooding, Julie Miller and director Ralph Strasser.

A mockumentary children's comedy series about what happens at snack time in the primary school playground, Little Lunch was supported with investment. The ABC3 series is based on the books written by Danny Katz and illustrated by Mitch Vane and is produced and written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope and directed by Wayne Hope.

Also approved for investment was producer Jonathan M Shiff's second series of Mako Island of Secrets. The 26-part live action series produced for Network Ten and ZDF Germany is written by Anthony Morris, Michael Joshua and Max Dann and will be directed by Evan Clarry and Grant Brown.

FEATURES

PAPER PLANES

Arenamedia Pty Ltd

Producers Robert Connolly, Maggie Miles, Liz Kearney

Writers Robert Connolly, Steve Worland

Director Robert Connolly

International Sales Arclight Films

Australian Distributor Footprint Films

Synopsis Young Dylan, from a small outback town, dreams of competing in the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan.

RUIN

Flood Projects

Producers Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Michael Cody

Writers Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Michael Cody

Directors Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Michael Cody

International Sales XYZ

Australian Distributor Madman Entertainment

Synopsis A fable of violence and love in modern-day Cambodia.

PARTISAN

Warp Films Australia Pty Ltd

Producers Anna McLeish, Sarah Shaw

Director Ariel Kleiman

Writers Ariel Kleiman, Sarah Cyngler

Australian Distributor Madman Entertainment

International Sales Protagonist Pictures

Synopsis A confronting tale about Alexander who, raised to see the world through Gregori's eyes, is starting to think for himself.

ADULT TV DRAMA

ANZAC GIRLS

AG TV (SPV of Screentime)

Producers Lisa Scott, Felicity Packard

Writers Felicity Packard, Niki Aken

Directors Ken Cameron, Ian Watson

Broadcaster ABC Television

Domestic Sales Village Roadshow

International Sales ALL3MEDIA

Synopsis In World War I, 3000 young Aussie and Kiwi women served as nurses nearly 300 were decorated for courage beyond the call of duty. But they were also just ordinary girls. A story based

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_130626_fundi...
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