Screen Australia announces $800,000 in development funding
31/07/2018
Bin Chickens created by Nikos Andronicos and Dave Carter
Screen Australia has announced Story Development funding for 20 feature films, 10 online series, one television drama and four talent development placements, totalling over $800,000.
Highlights include an adaptation of Charlotte Wood's critically acclaimed novel The Natural Way of Things into a feature film; a family film Monster Nanny with Ridley Scott attached to co-produce; an absurdist New Zealand co-production Nude Tuesday written by Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers); and feature film Agaat set in the apartheid era, helmed by acclaimed writer and director, Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker).
Development funds allow works to continue through the creative process, such as allowing the writer to work on further drafts, with the aim to get the title ready for production.
This is the last slate of Story Development projects to receive funding under Screen Australia's previous development guidelines which were replaced on 1 July 2018.
This slate encompasses a wide range of genres, from comedy to family drama, featuring both adaptations and originals. It's great to see popular Australian children's and fiction novels being adapted for the screen and some excellent comedies emerging from online creatives including Bin Chickens centred on Sydney's ibis community and The Racka from renowned YouTubers Danny and Michael Philippou, said Nerida Moore, Senior Development Manager at Screen Australia.
The new story development guidelines have opened up funding opportunities to creators across all platforms with a more streamlined application process and flexible eligibility requirements. We're really looking forward to seeing how the industry takes advantage of these new opportunities to grow their creativity, their businesses, and create new content that resonates with audiences.
Among the projects funded for development are:
Bronte Pictures will produce Agaat with Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker, Proof) on board to write and direct. Based on the international award-winning novel by Marlene van Niekerk, this soaring drama spanning across 50 years, follows a young black girl adopted into a white apartheid era family in South Africa. Cast aside into the servant's quarters by the woman she considered her mother, Agaat fights to forge an identity not defined by her skin colour.
The online series Bin Chickens is a social satire set in the tourist heart of Sydney, Darling Harbour. This adult animation created by Dave Carter and Nikos Andronicos (Fish with Legs), follows three ibises Derek, Janice and Clive as they are forced to take on a daily and never-ending parade of imbecile humans and their ludicrous civilisation, laws, technology, social mores and horrific taste in architecture. Having previously received funding via the 2017 ABC Fresh Blood initiative, the project will now continue to develop with the creators drafting a script and teaser for a complete online series.
Bain Stewart of Tahlee Productions, David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin (Mystery Road, Sweet Country) and Alison Owen (Elizabeth, Suffragette) will produce The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, a searing cinematic reimagining of Leah Purcell's award-winning Belvoir St Theatre play and Henry Lawson's classic short story The Drover's Wife. Set in the Snowy Mountains, this Australian revenge Western with love, family, survival, misogyny and racism at its heart, will ask the question how far do you go to protect the ones you love? Having received previous development funding from Screen Australia, Purcell and the team will now draft a fourth screenplay for this feature film production.
Director Corrie Chen (Homecoming Queens, Mustangs FC) is developing her first feature film titled Empty Empire. This bittersweet coming-of-age tale will be co-written with Penelope Chai (Other People's Problems) and directed by Chen. The project formally titled Strangers was one of 45 projects to receive development funding through Gender Matters: Brilliant Stories in 2016. This funding enabled them to further develop their script, making it both distinctive and culturally authentic. The film will follow a biracial Australian woman as she travels to a mysterious city in China to track down her long-absent father. Both writers will continue to develop their script with a third draft currently in motion.
Emerging writer-director Vanessa Gazy has teamed up with Goalpost Pictures (Upgrade, Holding The Man, The Sapphires) to create a compelling new high concept sci-fi feature titled Highway. Based on Gazy's internationally acclaimed short film of the same name, the film will follow Hester, a mysterious young woman who wakes up on the side of a highway with no memory of who she is, and soon finds herself fighting for her life in a slippery and dangerous world of looping time and fatal prophesies.
Alison Lester's much beloved Australian children's book Magic Beach will be reimagined as a unique mix of live action entwined with extraordinary animated stories from 10 leading Australian animators. Robert Connolly and Liz Kearney of Arenamedia (Paper Planes, Spear) will produce this alternative children's offering with a number of brilliant writers contributing to this film adaptation.
Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) of Scott Free Productions and Sylvia Wilczynski (The Rocket) of Red Lamp Films are working to adapt Monster Nanny with Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket) on board to write and direct. The two production companies are also working alongside Zareh Nalbandian of Animal Logic Entertainment with the aim of Monster Nanny becoming an Official Co-production between Australia and the United Kingdom. The film will be an a
LINK: | https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2018/07-31-dev... |
See more stories from screenaustralia |
More from Screen Aus
24/04/2024
Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound for Cannes Film Festival 2024
24 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound...
18/04/2024
Screen Australia and Dynamic Television announce new Scripted Initiative
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
Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First Nations Creators Program for Instagram
11 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First...
10/04/2024
Screen Australia announces over $2.3 million for nine documentaries
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
Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry
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
Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative
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
The Creators 2024 Participants Announced
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
Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan
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
Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects
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
Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair
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
Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce Applications Open for UNTAPPED 2024
21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...
15/02/2024
Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs
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
Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
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
Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9
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
Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two
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
Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
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
Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Australia and ABC's new drama series Plum
17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...
14/12/2023
Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of production funding for 11 projects
14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...
12/12/2023
Applications open for The Creators program
12 12 2023 - Media release Applications open for The Creators program The Creators program Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have annou...
11/12/2023
Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023
11 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023 Enoch Mailangi, Noora Niasari, Hannah Carroll Chapman Screen Austr...
30/11/2023
Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2
30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2 Image courtesy: Screen Warriors Screen Australia has annou...
29/11/2023
Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries
29 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries Deeper Screen Australia has announced three documentaries fun...
23/11/2023
Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects
23 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects Wishes Screen Australia has announced 18 feature f...
10/11/2023
Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin
09 11 2023 - Media release Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin Austin - Ben Miller, Michael Theo, Sally Phillips Screen Australia, ABC, ITV Stu...
10/11/2023
Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023
10 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023 Screen Australia Digital Originals Workshop. Image by ...
09/11/2023
Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series
09 11 2023 - Media release Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series Kangaroo Beach Series 3 Screen Australia and ABC are thrilled to announce that a third...
09/11/2023
Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Shaun Tan's Tales From Outer Suburbia
09 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Sh...
08/11/2023
Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program
08 11 2023 - Media release Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program Behind the scenes of Total Control 3 - Wayne Blair, Jub Clerc ...
02/11/2023
Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions
02 11 2023 - Media release Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions NCIS: Sydney, The New Boy, Ginger and the Vegesaurs. S...
01/11/2023
Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new film We Bury the Dead in Western Australia
01 11 2023 - Media release Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new fi...
31/10/2023
Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO
31 10 2023 - Media release Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO Screen Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Deirdre Brennan a...
31/10/2023
Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program Access Coordinator Training Program workshop in Sydn...
31/10/2023
Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil Writer/director/producers Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, a...
30/10/2023
South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced
30 10 2023 - Media release South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced With or Without You stars Melina Vidler, Marta Dusseldorp and Albe...
30/10/2023
Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years
31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years L-R: Mithila Gupta (creator/writer), Nicole Reddy (writer), S...
17/10/2023
Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative
17 10 2023 - Media release Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative Screen Australia and the Australian International Documentary Confere...
09/10/2023
Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of 2023 First Nations Creator Program
09 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of...
06/10/2023
Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollywood luminaries to SXSW Sydney
06 10 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollyw...
05/10/2023
Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open
05 10 2023 - Media release Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) are delighted to anno...
03/10/2023
Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond
03 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond Neyyah: Defy Reality Entertainment Screen Australia is pleased to ...
25/09/2023
Screen Australia announces over $10 million of production funding for nine projects
25 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $10 million of produc...
14/09/2023
Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake
14 09 2023 - Media release Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake Fake stars Asher Keddie and David Wenham Screen Australia and P...
13/09/2023
Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced
13 09 2023 - Media release Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced 2023 Untapped Participants Screen Australia and Australians in Film today an...
07/09/2023
Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs
07 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs Screen Australia is pleased to announce two progra...
30/08/2023
Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series
29 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series L-R: Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal), Bonnie Moir (Exposure), Nicholas...
28/08/2023
New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced
28 08 2023 - Media release New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced Mix Tape director Lucy Gaffy and writer Jo Spain BINGE, Screen Australia and Screen Ireland ...
28/08/2023
Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission
28 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission Maggie Beer s Big Mission Screen Australia, ABC and Screenwest hav...
24/08/2023
Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding
24 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding Enterprise Business funding recipients Kauthar Abdulalim (Blac...
24/08/2023
Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever
24 08 2023 - Media release Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever White Fever creator and actor Ra Chapman and actor Chris Pang. Ima...
18/08/2023
Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023
18 08 2023 - Media release Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023 Shayda Five Australian projects have been selected ...