Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Screen Australia announces over $3.7 million for 13 documentaries

03/11/2021

03 11 2021 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $3.7 million for 13 documentaries

Harley & Katya

Screen Australia has announced six documentaries through the Producer Program and seven projects through the Commissioned Program that will share in $3.7 million of production funding.

This includes a feature documentary from Stranger Than Fiction (Mountain, Australia in Colour) that follows an Indigenous figure skater from Western Sydney, Harley Windsor, on his quest to compete in the Winter Olympics; a series going inside the Sydney Opera House for the ABC; and a feature documentary about a grandmother with dementia who became an internet sensation in Everybody's Oma.

Screen Australia's Head of Documentary, Alex West said, We were impressed by the broad mix of applications and these documentaries are a testament to the talented filmmakers creating local stories with great impact. These projects will explore contemporary social issues including how First Nations artist Richard Bell's work uses art to effect change in War & Order, as well as the complexities of teen parenting in Kids Raising Kids. They are also set to celebrate Australian icons like the Sydney Opera House and the Tasmanian Tiger, and I look forward to seeing them hit our big and small screens.

The projects funded through the Producer Program are:

Everybody's Oma: A feature documentary from director/producer Jason van Genderen (Mankind is No Island), who makes home videos about his ageing mother Oma' who is living with dementia. Quite accidentally, Jason turns Oma into an internet sensation, creating a love fuelled battle for identity that played out in front of 100 million people. The film charts the family's playful, moving and ultimately hopeful journey in the public spotlight and behind the scenes. van Genderen is joined by producer Ros Walker (Into the Deep), editor/co-director Gavin Banks (Lockout), co-producer Olivia Olley (Solus) and composer Angela Little (Australia). This project has been developed with support from Screen NSW and will be distributed by Bonsai Films.

Israel Folau (working title): A feature documentary about Australia's most gifted and controversial athlete, and how a social media post landed him at the heart of culture wars, derailing campaigns and careers in the process. A homophobic bigot to some, a persecuted freedom warrior to others, this will be the first time Israel Folau's story is examined in all its multilayered complexity. The creative team features director Nel Minchin (Firestarter The Story of Bangarra), associate director Vanilla Tupu, and producer Ivan O'Mahoney (Firestarter The Story of Bangarra) of In Films. This project is developed with support from Screen NSW.

Harley & Katya: A feature documentary from Blayke Hoffman and Stranger Than Fiction about Indigenous Australian figure skater Harley Windsor, who was the poster boy for the Australian Winter Olympic Team. Paired with Russian skater Katya Alexandrovskaya, this unlikely duo achieved unprecedented success on the ice before meeting with great tragedy. This film follows Harley on a journey of triumph, loss and transformation. Writer/director Selina Miles (Martha: A Picture Story) teams up with producers Blayke Hoffman (Viva the Underdogs), Jo-anne McGowan (Mountain) and Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury, and executive producer Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa). The project is supported by Screen NSW and will be distributed internationally by MGM/K2.

Tiger on the Rocks: A one-hour documentary about the Tasmanian Tiger which once roamed throughout Australia, leaving lasting connections with the land and its First Peoples. Featuring insights from Indigenous artists, rangers and custodians, biologists, bone hunters and archaeologists, this project explores the connection between human and animal, culture, nature and country. Tiger on the Rocks is written and directed by Cathryn Vasseleu (De Anima) and produced by Pat Fiske (Rosemary's Way). It is financed with support from Screen Territory.

The Last Daughter: A feature documentary about Brenda Matthews, a Wiradjuri woman whose earliest memories are of growing up in a white foster family, until she was placed back with her biological family, leaving her feeling disconnected with both sides. Directed by Matthews, The Last Daughter follows her mission to uncover the truth of her past, find a deeper connection to her culture and her story, and ultimately reconcile the two sides of her family. The film is also directed by Nathaniel Schmidt and is produced by Simon Williams and Brendon Skinner who previously collaborated on short documentary Ice Ball. The executive producers are Kyle Slabb (Surfing the Healing Wave), Michael Tear (Hating Peter Tatchell) and Taryn Brumfitt (Embrace).

War & Order: A feature documentary about 50 years of First Nations activism in Australia, shown through the lens of contemporary Australian Aboriginal artist Richard Bell. Director Larissa Behrendt (Maralinga Tjarutja) teams up with producers Charlotte Wheaton (Off Country), Nick Batzias (The Australian Dream) and Josh Milani. It will be executive produced by Richard Bell and Virginia Whitwell (The Australian Dream). Madman and NITV will be bringing War & Order to Australian audiences.

The projects funded through the Commissioned Program are:

Untitled Family Court Murders Documentary: A four-part series for Network 10 from Easy Tiger Productions in association with SAM Content which will examine the family court murders in 1980's Sydney which resulted in several family court judges and their families being targeted by domestic terrorist attacks. This series will expose a chapter of Australian life that has frightening relevance today. Director/producer Sally Aitken (Playing with Sharks) teams up with producers Ian Collie and Rob Gibson whose credits inclu
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2021/11-03-3-7...
See more stories from screenaustralia

Most recent headlines

17/12/2025

The EU Investigative Journalism Award 2025: bold reporting, regional impact, and rise in public-interest journalism

Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...

17/12/2025

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable Night

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable ...

17/12/2025

ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCast

ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCastThe series, powered by Adrenaline TruPlay AI, launches Dec. 22 and runs through ...

17/12/2025

Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network

Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on ...

17/12/2025

Ring In the New Year With New Playlists Mixed by Artists, and More Spotify Hacks

The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...

17/12/2025

Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station Links Toledo Walleye and Mud Hens Venues with...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...

17/12/2025

Broadcast and Streaming Serve Up a Historic Month of TV in Nielsen's The Gauge

Audiences Watched Over 103 Billion Minutes of TV on Thanksgiving Day NFL Games ...

17/12/2025

EdgeBeam Wireless Makes Initial Sale, Expands Executive Team

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Warner Bros. Discovery Tells Shareholders to Reject Paramount Bid

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

NDI, Zoom Collaborate on Seamless Connectivity

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Broadcasters Mark Momentous Year of Challenges Amid Viewing Fragmentation

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Tennessee Public Broadcaster to Trial AI Metadata

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Chyron Unveils New AXIS Maps

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Broadcast Solutions Group Acquires PMT Professional Motion Technology

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Study: U.S. Pay TV, Video Revenue to Total $190.7B in 2030

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Texas Attorney General Takes Aim at 5 TV Manufacturers

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

DirecTV Wins Appeal in Retransmission Price-Fixing Suit

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

E.W. Scripps Rejects Sinclair Takeover Bid

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration

KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration Andrew Choi and EJAE, who voiced the film's main characters and contributed to its soundtr...

17/12/2025

Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 January

Wednesday 17 December 2025 Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...

17/12/2025

Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The Brave Heroics Of The Customs Officers In Taskaree

Back to All News Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The...

17/12/2025

Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Netflix on January 9th

Back to All News Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Ne...

17/12/2025

Netflix Unveils First Look at 'Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole' Premiering on March 26, 2026

Back to All News Netflix Unveils First Look at Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole Pr...

17/12/2025

Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation

Back to All News Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation Business 17 December 2025 Global Link copied to clipboard After Careful Revi...

17/12/2025

RT announces appointment of Kathy Fox to role of Commissioning Editor, Documentaries and Features

RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...

17/12/2025

UC San Diego Lab Advances Generative AI Research With NVIDIA DGX B200 System

The Hao AI Lab research team at the University of California San Diego - at the forefront of pioneering AI model innovation - recently received an NVIDIA DGX B...

17/12/2025

Into the Omniverse: OpenUSD and NVIDIA Halos Accelerate Safety for Robotaxis, Physical AI Systems

Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...

17/12/2025

The Glitterball awaits: Dancing with the Stars unveils dance pairings for 2026

With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...

16/12/2025

Stranger Things' Playlist Takeover Challenges Fans to Decode Clues and Unlock Exclusive Volume 2' Content

Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...

16/12/2025

Spotify and NAVER Bring Music Integrations and Premium Benefits to Korea

Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...

16/12/2025

Around the World With Spotify Wrapped: 2025 Fan Destinations You Had to See

2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...

16/12/2025

L3Harris Delivers Most Powerful Thrusters for NASA's Lunar Gateway

Three 12-kilowatt Advanced Electric Propulsion System thrusters, supplied by L3Harris Technologies, form the core of Gateway's propulsion system. Pictured i...

16/12/2025

Palantir and L3Harris: Reindustrializing Defense Through AI-Powered Production

The challenge facing America's defense industrial base is not just about speed - its about rebuilding the foundation that makes speed possible. Our nations ...

16/12/2025

NFL Boosts Broadcast, Streaming Viewing Share in November

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

16/12/2025

Spanish Broadcaster Updates Playout With Pebble Solutions

SEVILLE, Spain Canal Sur, the public broadcasting service for Andalusia, Spain, has completed a total technology refresh based on Pebble's resilient, softwa...

16/12/2025

Telescript International Buys Prompter Software Company

NEW YORK Teleprompting hardware provider Telescript International has acquired all software code and intellectual property previously owned by Telescript West. ...

16/12/2025

Ookla: T-Mobile Is Fastest Fixed Wireless Access Provider

As cable operators face increased competition from 5G fixed wireless access providers, a new report from Ookla Research finds that T-Mobile is the FWA speed lea...

16/12/2025

Apple TV App for Android Now Supports Google Cast

Apple has announced a major upgrade to the Apple TV app for device owners outside the Apple ecosystem with news that the Apple TV app for Android now supports G...

16/12/2025

PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia and Space42 Explore Partnership to Extend 5G Direct-to-Device Services

Space42 grows Direct-to-Device partner ecosystem through a Memorandum of Underst...

16/12/2025

VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 Results of Both VEON and Kyivstar

16 Dec 2025 VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...

16/12/2025

VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acquisition of Solar Power Company

16 Dec 2025 VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...

16/12/2025

Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro Star in Swedish Thriller Series Bytet'

Back to All News Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro...

16/12/2025

Docu-reality 'My Korean Boyfriend' Gets a Trailer and Premiere Date: January 1st. Is Real Life Really like a K-drama?

Back to All News Docu-reality My Korean Boyfriend Gets a Trailer and Premiere D...

16/12/2025

Czech TV Elevates Video Streaming with Harmonic

Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...

16/12/2025

RT Sport Manager of the Year Nominees 2025 Revealed

RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December. On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...

16/12/2025

Music legend Brian Kennedy revealed as the twelfth and final contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...

15/12/2025

Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From The Famous Group

Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From Th...

15/12/2025

2026 Sundance Film Festival Reveals 54 Titles Selected for Short Film Program Presented by Ketel One Vodka

Top L-R: La Tierra Del Valor (The Home of the Brave), Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawe...

15/12/2025

L3Harris to Provide Assured Communications for US Air Force's Survivable Airborne Operations Center Program

L3Harris will leverage 15 years of experience supporting the E-4B Nightwatch and...