Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Originals, as applications open for 2025 3 June, 2025
Media releases
Applications are now being received for the sixth year of the trailblazing initiative, showcasing under-represented voices and uncovering fresh Australian screen stories.
SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and Screen Australia have announced six new series receiving development funding through the successful Digital Originals initiative, supporting pathways for emerging under-represented screen creatives.
The six shortlisted Digital Originals feature everything from body switching, sinking boats, screaming toddlers and supernatural journeys, pushing boundaries in the ways they explore themes of love and loyalty, friendship and community, resilience and self-discovery.
Digital Originals is a long-running partnership between SBS, NITV and Screen Australia with a proven record for elevating talent, and uncovering exciting, innovative and risk-taking scripted series. The initiative supports the development of emerging screen creatives historically under-represented in the sector, including those who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations, d/Deaf and with disability, women and gender diverse, LGBTQIA+ and those from regional and remote areas. It offers a valuable pathway in the industry, equipping creatives with skills, industry connections and support to bring distinctive Australian stories to life.
The following six Digital Originals selected for development were chosen from the 10 teams who took part in an exclusive workshop hosted by Screen Australia, SBS and NITV in November 2024. Up to three projects from this cohort will be chosen for production funding and commissioning.
Banana Milkshake' (L-R) Jonathan Lo, David Ma and Georgia Noe
Banana Milkshake (NSW)
When budding high school filmmaker Oliver Zhang is roped into blackmailing his teacher to save his cousin from expulsion, he finds himself in way too deep, confronted by moral choices he thought only existed in movies.
Producer: Georgia Noe (Floating Leaf Pictures)
Writers: David Ma and Johnathan Lo
Director: David Ma
Hardly a Wallflower' (L-R) Jessica Smith, Scarlett Koehne and Olivia Muscat
Hardly a Wallflower (VIC)
When a blind novelist goes undercover at her best friend's flower shop in a desperate bid to save her writing career, her cynical views on love are tested by the spirit of Valentine's Day and a romantic complication of her own.
Producer: Scarlett Koehne (Pikelet Pictures)
Writer: Olivia Muscat
Writer/Director: Jessica Smith
In Her Body' (L-R) Rachel Maxine Anderson and Rae Choi
In Her Body (QLD)
When two migrant women - Vanessa, an architect at the height of her career, and her unassuming housecleaner, Thelma - switch bodies, they must confront the cost of their unspoken sacrifices before it's too late.
Writers/Directors: Rachel Maxine Anderson and Rae Choi
Mangrove Mansion' (L-R) Mary Duong and Rhianna Malezer
Mangrove Mansion (QLD)
When her estranged dad derails their wedding plans, Sunny and fianc Alex commandeer his houseboat to get him to the mainland. Crashing into a stinking mess of mud and mangroves, they must survive the sinking boat, Country, and each other to get unstuck.
Writer/Producer: Mary Duong (Super Fruity)
Writer/Director: Rhianna Malezer
Nailing It' (L-R) Kartanya Maynard and Takani Clark
Nailing It! (TAS)
After botching a Welcome to Country, a culturally disconnected Aboriginal woman accidentally opens a passageway to the spiritual realm. Now supernatural entities wreak havoc, forcing her to juggle exorcisms and entrepreneurship, and embark on a challenging journey of self-discovery.
Writers: Takani Clark and Kartanya Maynard
Tantrum' (L-R) Sunanda Sachatrakul, Vidya Rajan and Jemma Cotter
Tantrum (VIC)
Varsha's doing a career-defining comedy gig. So, when best friend Jeev's screaming toddler derails the night she snaps, calling out their entitlement in an anti-parent rant that goes viral and tilts their friendship into a bitter, life-altering feud.
Writers: Vidya Rajan and Sunanda Sachatrakul
Directors: Jemma Cotter and Vidya Rajan
SBS Head of Scripted, Nakul Legha, said:With such an exciting and ambitious group of projects at our Digital Originals workshops, it was very tough shortlisting six to take into development. We're thrilled to be working closely with this talented cohort of creatives to develop their projects.
For any emerging creatives out there with a killer story to tell, I encourage you to apply to this round of Digital Originals. The resources, platform and pathway into the industry that this initiative offers is unmatched in the world. I can't wait to see the next wave of creative voices emerge through this year's round.
NITV Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production, Dena Curtis, said: Congratulations to the teams shortlisted, with bold, and innovative narratives showcased across an incredibly diverse range of stories. We continue to see First Nations creatives shining through with powerful and entertaining stories that connect with all Australians through Digital Originals, and we look forward to seeing how the participants develop their projects in 2025.
Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content, Louise Gough, said: Digital Originals continues to play a critical role in opening doors for exceptional, diverse voices, and this cohort of projects is testament to the initiative's role in unearthing new Australian screen stories. We're thrilled to partner again with SBS and NITV on this initiative, and look forward to discovering the next wave of original storytellers whose work reflects and celebrates the richness of contemporary Australia.
Applications for Di
