Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects

10/10/2024

10 10 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects

L-R: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching You creators Alexei Mizin and Ryan van Dijk, and Arisa Trew from online development project, Level Up (photo credit: Mathias Scherrer).

Screen Australia has announced over $8.1 million in production funding for 15 projects spanning feature film, television and online content. This significant investment reflects Screen Australia's ongoing commitment to fostering innovative storytelling and content that engages audiences across genres and platforms.

Among the funded projects are Zac Power, a new animated family feature from Flying Bark Productions and Cheeky Little Media, based on the popular book series of the same name; Leviticus, the latest feature from Causeway Films, the production company behind the global breakout success Talk to Me; romantic comedy Love Adjacent; Stan's psychological thriller series Watching You; and online series Hoops, from the creative team behind the popular TikTok documentary Transathletica.

Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said, These latest projects reflect the depth of creative storytelling that defines the Australian screen industry. We support projects that entertain and resonate with audiences. Our aim is to champion authentic local voices and ensure our sector remains at the forefront of global storytelling.

For the 2023/24 financial year, Screen Australia invested over $85 million across all 57 funding programs, including over $5.5 million through the First Nations Department, and issued 205 final certificates through the Producer Offset with a total value of $413 million. Demand on Screen Australia support remained high, with the agency supporting just under a third of all applications received. We'll continue to seek ways to provide impactful support within our limited capacity, prioritising audience connection, industry value and cultural relevance.

Over the past year, Australian projects demanded global attention with 61 Australian projects selected for international film festivals and events. Amongst those titles, online series Videoland took out Best Comedy series at the prestigious Festival Series Mania, critically acclaimed debut feature Shayda won the Sundance Audience Award, and Furiosa and Australia/Ireland Co-production The Surfer starring Nicholas Cage led the Australian contingent hosting World Premieres at Cannes Film Festival. Funding stories that reflect and connect remains a focus and in 2023/24, the agency supported a breadth of titles that highlight local screen talent including drama series Top End Bub, feature film JIMPA and a new slate of children's content including DO NOT WATCH THIS SHOW, an animated adaptation of the popular children s book series by comedian and author Andy Lee.

Our focus is firmly on the future. We're building a sustainable screen economy that both adapts and inspires. I'm thrilled by the international recognition of our stories and excited for the pipeline of projects set to release before the end of the year including films Memoir of a Snail and The Moogai, along with series' Thou Shalt Not Steal, Four Years Later and Plum I can't wait for Australians to experience them, continued Brennan.

The projects funded for production include:

Chasing Millions: A crime drama set in Belfast 2004, where Northern Ireland has been at peace for six years, but old enmities and mistrust remain. Chasing Millions tells the story of the biggest bank heist in Irish, British (and Australian) history making reluctant partners of ambitious Australian police officer, Diana, with gruff, veteran Northern Irish detective, Crawford, as they investigate and seek to solve the crime while navigating their way through the minefield of a fragile peace. An official Irish-Australian co-production with Irish director Stephen Burke (Maze) at the helm, based on a script by Stephen Burke and Katherine Thomson (Schapelle, House of Hancock). Producers are Jane Doolan (Maze, Wolf) of Mammoth Films, Ireland and Michael Wrenn (Audrey) of Invisible Republic, Australia. It has received major production investment from Screen Ireland, with local distribution by Bonsai Films and international sales by Level K.

Displaced: A six-part comedy sci-fi series for YouTube that follows a dysfunctional physicist who is accidentally sent back in time and in the process, tries to fix her future by mentoring her younger self. Displaced is a comedy about depression, queerness, making trouble, healing an inner child, and being seen. It is from writer/director Molly Daniels (The InBESTigators, Wispy), writer/producer Jem Splitter (Galacticare) and producer Rachael Morrow. Displaced is produced and developed in association with VicScreen and financed with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation.

Hoops: From the team behind Transathletica on TikTok, Hoops documents the journey of Transgender Basketballer Lexi Rodgers and her fight to be ruled eligible to play with a NBL1 South team. After a major setback in 2023, Lexi spends the year jumping through hoops - determined against all odds to play in the 2024 season. Hoops is from writer/director Hannah McElhinney, writer Rudy Jean Rigg and executive producer Jamie Searle of Transathletica, with Eliza Bone (Letter for the King) producing.

Leviticus: The latest horror feature film from the production company behind box office hit Talk to Me, Leviticus is the story of two teenage boys living in a conservative Christian community in regional Victoria, Naim and Ryan. When their attraction to each other is identified by the local pastor, the pair are subjected to a conversion ritual which unknowingly releases an entity that terrorises the town. Leviticus is from writer/director Adrian Chiarella (Totally Complet
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2024/10-10-pro...
See more stories from screenaustralia

Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories

05/11/2024

Exclusive to SBS, watch LIVE coverage of the 2024 US election: an SBS World News and PBS News special

Exclusive to SBS, watch LIVE coverage of the 2024 US election: an SBS World News...

04/11/2024

Light up classrooms for the Festivals of Lights with SBS Learn

Light up classrooms for the Festivals of Lights with SBS Learn 4 November, 2024 Media releases SBS Learn is providing educators with ready-made resources s...

31/10/2024

SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce documentary series 2.6 Seconds

30 10 2024 - Media release SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce documentary series 2.6 Seconds 2.6 Seconds. Photo credit: Jesse Marlow. SBS, NITV and Scr...

30/10/2024

SBS On Demand expands international news offering with Euronews and France24 FAST channels

SBS On Demand expands international news offering with Euronews and France24 FAS...

30/10/2024

NITV launches exclusive Indigenous advisory offering as it pushes brands to step up investment in First Nations media

NITV launches exclusive Indigenous advisory offering as it pushes brands to step...

30/10/2024

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to bring together television and live audio in one destination

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to bring together television and live a...

30/10/2024

SBS sets new bar on sustainability in broadcasting

SBS sets new bar on sustainability in broadcasting 30 October, 2024 Media releases Hybrid funded national broadcaster announces SBS Sustainability Challeng...

30/10/2024

SBS challenges media industry on narrow 25-54s demographic focus

SBS challenges media industry on narrow 25-54s demographic focus 30 October, 2024 Media releases National broadcaster SBS mounts case that media buyers nee...

30/10/2024

SBS On Demand introduces FIFA+ FAST channel: a free, premium all-FIFA destination for football fanatics

SBS On Demand introduces FIFA FAST channel: a free, premium all-FIFA destinatio...

30/10/2024

SBS to launch FIFA World Cup 2026 ad packages centred on where brands play

SBS to launch FIFA World Cup 2026 ad packages centred on where brands play 30 October, 2024 FIFA SBS declares FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the biggest TV...

30/10/2024

SBS celebrates 50 years with a bold, original and entertaining line-up of landmark Australian stories and international blockbusters

SBS celebrates 50 years with a bold, original and entertaining line-up of landma...

30/10/2024

SBS and NITV present landmark documentary series 2.6 Seconds

SBS and NITV present landmark documentary series 2.6 Seconds Media releases Examining the events that took place and the seismic repercussions of the shots ...

28/10/2024

New podcast Australia Fair': The long tail of the White Australia Policy

New podcast Australia Fair': The long tail of the White Australia Policy 28 October, 2024 Media releases How did Australia go from a White Australia p...

25/10/2024

SBS celebrates the Festivals of Lights with distinctive content to entertain all Australians

SBS celebrates the Festivals of Lights with distinctive content to entertain all...

21/10/2024

NITV announces commissioning team appointments

NITV announces commissioning team appointments 21 October, 2024 Media releases NITV welcomes Dena Curtis as Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production...

21/10/2024

Osher Gnsberg: A World of Pain premieres Thursday 21 November on SBS and SBS On Demand

Osher G nsberg: A World of Pain premieres Thursday 21 November on SBS and SBS On...

15/10/2024

Statement on the passing of George Negus

Statement on the passing of George Negus 15 October, 2024 Media releases We are deeply saddened by the passing of George Negus, a giant of Australian journ...

11/10/2024

SBS announces appointment of Nakul Legha as Head of Scripted

SBS announces appointment of Nakul Legha as Head of Scripted 11 October, 2024 Media releases SBS has announced that Nakul Legha has been appointed Head of ...

10/10/2024

Ernie Dingo, Mark Coles Smith, Aaron Fa'Aoso, Bianca Hunt and Rae Johnston showcase Australia's beauty in new season of Going Places

Ernie Dingo, Mark Coles Smith, Aaron Fa'Aoso, Bianca Hunt and Rae Johnston s...

10/10/2024

New AGL campaign highlights ways to be more energy efficient and save money

New AGL campaign highlights ways to be more energy efficient and save money 10 October, 2024 Media releases The bespoke campaign, created by SBS CulturalCo...

10/10/2024

Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects

10 10 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects L-R: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching Y...

09/10/2024

The unmissable true crime event, The Jury: Death on the Staircase, premieres Wednesday 6 November on SBS and SBS On Demand

The unmissable true crime event, The Jury: Death on the Staircase, premieres Wed...

24/09/2024

Don't miss the exclusive Australian premiere of Paris Has Fallen on SBS and SBS On Demand

Don't miss the exclusive Australian premiere of Paris Has Fallen on SBS and ...

18/09/2024

Karmic lessons and laughs with new SBS podcast Comedy Karma'

Karmic lessons and laughs with new SBS podcast Comedy Karma' 18 September, 2024 Media releases Join the ever-curious stand-up comedian Aditya Gautam a...

18/09/2024

Telespazio and ABS Partner to Deliver Enhanced Connectivity Services for the Brazilian Air Force System

Telespazio and ABS Partner to Deliver Enhanced Connectivity Services for the Bra...

17/09/2024

The $180 million mystery that reshaped music forever Red Flag: Music's Failed Revolution premieres Tuesday 15 October

The $180 million mystery that reshaped music forever Red Flag: Music's Fai...

17/09/2024

Screen Australia and Paramount+ Announce New Murder Mystery, Playing Gracie Darling

16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder M...

13/09/2024

Azercosmos and ABS Forge Partnership to Boost Satellite Services in Africa

Azercosmos and ABS Forge Partnership to Boost Satellite Services in Africa...

12/09/2024

SBS reveals new landmark documentary-drama series ROBODEBT coming in 2025

SBS reveals new landmark documentary-drama series ROBODEBT coming in 2025 12 September, 2024 Media releases Award-winning producers CJZ secure major fundin...

11/09/2024

Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce Early Career Writers Program

10 09 2024 - Media release Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce...

04/09/2024

Can life give love a chance? SBS Original romantic drama series Four Years Later premieres Wednesday 2 October

Can life give love a chance? SBS Original romantic drama series Four Years Later...

04/09/2024

Screen Australia invests over $2 million in Australian Games Industry

04 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia invests over $2 million in Australian Games Industry Zodiac Mountain Screen Australia has announced over $2 milli...

30/08/2024

Trailblazers: SBS's new vodcast series chronicles African-Australian migrants making their mark

Trailblazers: SBS's new vodcast series chronicles African-Australian migrant...

30/08/2024

SBS warms up for FIFA World Cup 2026 with new weekly show, exclusive qualifier matches and a dedicated SBS On Demand World Cup hub

SBS warms up for FIFA World Cup 2026 with new weekly show, exclusive qualifier ...

29/08/2024

SBS Board statement regarding SBS Non-Executive Director Mr Aaron Fa'Aoso

SBS Board statement regarding SBS Non-Executive Director Mr Aaron Fa'Aoso 29 August, 2024 Media releases SBS Non-Executive Director Mr Aaron Fa'Aos...

28/08/2024

Beat the Monday blues with SBS's new line-up of entertainment and comedy

Beat the Monday blues with SBS's new line-up of entertainment and comedy 29 August, 2024 Media releases 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Never Mind th...

28/08/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce four new children's programs

28 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce four new children's programs Andy Lee at Richmond Primary School with his nephews Freddy Mile...

27/08/2024

Shaun Micallef Joins Australian Comedy Icons on the Adventure of a Lifetime in Shaun Micallef's Origin Odyssey

Shaun Micallef Joins Australian Comedy Icons on the Adventure of a Lifetime in S...

22/08/2024

SBS and IMAA partnership unlocks new training for Australia's independent media agencies

SBS and IMAA partnership unlocks new training for Australia's independent me...

22/08/2024

Screen Australia announces $3 million for 13 documentaries

22 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $3 million for 13 documentaries We Are Jeni Screen Australia has announced 11 documentaries through the...

20/08/2024

Exclusive to SBS On Demand, watch LIVE coverage of the US Democratic National Convention: a PBS News special from Chicago, Illinois

Exclusive to SBS On Demand, watch LIVE coverage of the US Democratic National Co...

19/08/2024

Production starts on RFDS season three

19 08 2024 - Media release Production starts on RFDS season three RFDS cast. Photo Credit John Platt. Pre-production on the third season of the Seven Network...

15/08/2024

Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC for a second season of Mother and Son

15 08 2024 - Media release Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC for a second season of Mother and Son Denise Scott and Matt Okine in Mother and Son Fans of t...

14/08/2024

2025 SBS Journalism Cadetship opens for applications

2025 SBS Journalism Cadetship opens for applications 14 August, 2024 Media releases Dedicated to the memory of late SBS journalist Bridget Munro. Austral...

12/08/2024

Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift starts today, live and free on SBS Viceland and SBS on Demand

Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift starts today, live and free on SBS Viceland and...

06/08/2024

Got a podcast idea? Australia's Podcaster of the Year is listening!

Got a podcast idea? Australia's Podcaster of the Year is listening! 6 August, 2024 Media releases The fourth annual call-out for distinctive podcasts i...

06/08/2024

Bruce Beresford's Film Overture starts production in Western Australia

06 08 2024 - Media release Bruce Beresford's Film Overture starts production in Western Australia Overture cast (L-R) Susie Porter, Luke Bracey and Bryan ...

01/08/2024

SBS commits to 10-year renewable energy power purchase agreement with ZEN Energy

SBS commits to 10-year renewable energy power purchase agreement with ZEN Energy 1 August, 2024 Media releases The SBS-ZEN Energy wind power partnership pr...