Screen Australia invests in five international documentaries

Screen Australia today announced production investment of over $1.7 million in five new projects as part of its International Documentary Program, triggering over $6.8 million in production.

Screen Australia Senior Manager Documentary Liz Stevens said, With two single-hour projects, two series and a feature-length project funded this round, it is a strong and diverse finish for the end of the financial year. In addition, working with international partners is a great way to grow the pie for Australian producers. These producers will work with American, Irish, English and German broadcasters on some exceptional programs.

The projects funded through the International Documentary Program include After the Wave: The World's Greatest Forensic Detective Story, from writer/director Amanda Blue, recounting one of the most devastating natural disasters in modern times the Boxing Day tsunami which fatally impacted 13 countries and killed over 200,000 people. The documentary will be produced by Lavinia Riachi for SBS and Discovery (UK).

Roar Film's Death or Liberty, written by Tony Moore, Steve Thomas and Keith Farrell, and directed by Steve Westh and Keith Farrell, is the story of how political activists exiled to Australia during the 19th century helped to create the worlds first true democracy. It will be produced by Steve Thomas, Kath Symmons, Anna Grieve and Rebecca O'Malley for ABC TV.

Writer/producer Todd Sampson's acclaimed program Redesign My Brain returns with a second series, investigating ways to train the brain to be resistant to the psychological problems faced by humans today. The three-part series is directed by Jeff Sibbery and also written by Paul Scott and produced by Isabel Perez for ABC TV, Discovery Network International, and Discovery Science USA.

Truck It follows road train drivers as they battle against the odds on some of the toughest and most demanding journeys across Australia, and is directed by Roger Power and produced by Ed Punchard and Julia Redwood for Seven Network Australia.

From writer/director Wain Fimeri and producer Sonya Pemberton, Uranium Twisting the Dragon's Tail tells the untold story of the most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth in a three-part series for SBS Australia and PBS.

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM

AFTER THE WAVE: THE WORLD'S GREATEST FORENSIC DETECTIVE STORY

75 mins

Flaming Star Films Pty Ltd

Producer Lavinia Riachi

Executive Producer Sharyn Prentice

Writer/Director Amanda Blue

Broadcaster SBS, Discovery (UK)

Sales TVF International

Synopsis The Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 was the most devastating natural disaster in modern times, killing 228,000 people across 13 countries in just a few hours. On that perfect day, from Indonesia to Thailand, Sri Lanka and as far afield as the Maldives, this catastrophic collision between the natural world and humankind would have far-reaching consequences on humanity and science forever.

DEATH OR LIBERTY

57 mins

Roar Film Pty Ltd

Producers Steve Thomas, Kath Symmons, Anna Grieve, Rebecca O'Malley

Executive Producers Craig Dow Sainter, Stephen Rooke

Directors Steve Westh, Keith Farrell

Writer Tony Moore, Steve Thomas, Keith Farrell

Broadcaster ABC TV

Sales TVF International

Synopsis Death or Liberty is the story of how political radicals exiled to Australia during the 19th century helped to create the worlds first true democracy.

REDESIGN MY BRAIN SERIES 2

3 x 60 mins

Mindful Media Pty Ltd

Producers Isabel Perez, Todd Sampson

Executive Producer Paul Scott

Director Jeff Sibbery

Writers Paul Scott, Todd Sampson

Post-producer Mark Barlin

Broadcasters ABC TV, Discovery Network International, Discovery Science USA

Sales Discovery Communications

Synopsis Redesign My Brain series 2 shows how we can train the brain to be resilient against the many psychological problems facing humanity today.

TRUCK IT

44 mins

Prospero Productions Pty Ltd

Producers Ed Punchard, Julia Redwood

Director Roger Power

Broadcaster Seven Network Australia

Sales NGTI

Synopsis Truck It follows road train drivers as they battle against the odds on some of the toughest and most demanding journeys across Australia.

URANIUM TWISTING THE DRAGON'S TAIL

3 x 60 mins

Genepool Productions Pty Ltd

Producer Sonya Pemberton

Executive Producers Sonya Pemberton, Michael Cordell

Director/Writer Wain Fimeri

Broadcaster SBS Australia, PBS

Sales SBS International

Synopsis An epic journey through the untold story of the most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth.

Media enquiries

Annaliese Zuzarte T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0404 877 887

annaliese.zuzarte@screenaustralia.gov.au

Media enquiries

Annaliese Zuzarte T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995

annaliese.zuzarte@screenaustralia.gov.au - See more at: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2014/mr_140417_both.aspx#sthash.JFRAW7ak.dpuf

Media enquiries

Annaliese Zuzarte T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995

annaliese.zuzarte@screenaustralia.gov.au - See more at: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2014/mr_140417_both.aspx#sthash.JFRAW7ak.dpuf

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2014/mr_140423_docos...
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