22 10 2018 - Media release Screen Australia announces $2.7 million for 14 new documentary projects
Sarah Ferguson and Stephen Page (AO)
Screen Australia today announced production funding for 14 documentary projects through the Documentary Producer and Commissioned programs. This latest slate includes Revelation, a three-part series commissioned by the ABC where award-winning journalist Sarah Ferguson investigates the forces behind child abuse inside the Catholic Church and the extraordinary cover-up that took place; Firestarter The Story of Bangarra, a feature documentary that tells the story of iconic Indigenous performing arts company Bangarra; and an online series States of Consent that focuses on a victim of sexual assault trying to get justice against all odds.
Documentary continuously works as a platform to amplify marginalised voices and ideas, and there are a variety of stories in this slate from multicultural, transgender and Indigenous perspectives that will enrich and enlighten viewers, said Sally Caplan, Head of Content at Screen Australia.
The documentary art form allows us to unravel and explore complex and often challenging topics, and these projects take on some difficult and topical subject matter including death, abuse and consent. These are important Australian stories that will be recorded as part of our shared national history.
In total $1.3 million was allocated through the Producer program, and $1.4 million through the Commissioned program.
Documentary Commissioned projects
Business As Usual: A one-hour documentary that will provide a sneak peek into the world of Manjits - a thriving but often chaotic family-run event business in Western Sydney. Jennifer Cummins of Heiress Films (Man Up) will produce the project alongside Bruce Permezel (Man Up, The Larrikin & The Leader) who will direct. The creative team will follow the charismatic Gujral family as they engage with multicultural and multi-faith families during some of the most significant occasions of their lives. SBS have commissioned the project as part of their Untold Australia series and Create NSW have provided production investment.
Revelation: A three-part documentary series that will unite an experienced, multi-award winning creative team including Gold Walkley-winning journalist Sarah Ferguson (Trump/Russia), director Deborah Masters (The Killing Season), and In Films producer Nial Fulton (Hitting Home) and executive producer Ivan O'Mahoney (The Queen & Zak Grieve). After years of resistance, The Royal Commission finally broke the silence of the Catholic Church and unveiled the legacy of abuse of those in its care. In Revelation, Sarah Ferguson will piece together the forces at play in one of the most profound stories in Australia's history and the extraordinary drama that brought it to light. This project has been commissioned by the ABC. Commissioning Editor is Stephen Oliver. Head of Factual is Steve Bibb.
Secret Life of Death: A one-hour documentary that will open a window into the hidden world of two family-owned funeral homes in Sydney, following two young women: one who works with the living; the other who works with the dead. The experienced production company Mint Pictures is coproducing with Tangerine Pictures, and will deliver this documentary written and directed by Dan Goldberg (The Archibald), produced by Nia Pericles (Storm in a Teacup) and executive produced by Adam Kay (Strictly Jewish) and Gary Russell, who is also the Director of Photography (Go Back To Where You Came From S2 and S3). SBS have commissioned the project as part of their Untold Australia series and Create NSW have also invested in the project.
Trans Mission: A one-hour documentary that will follow transgender truck driver Holly Conroy in her bid to stage a Mardi Gras in Australia's No. 1 Christian town: Wagga Wagga. Holly will attempt to win over priests, pastors and politicians as she seeks acceptance for the trans community, all while she continues the process of her gender affirmation surgery. The team at Mint Pictures, including writer Dan Goldberg (Food Fighter) and executive producer Adam Kay (The Archibald), with producer and director Catherine Scott (Backtrack Boys), will bring audiences this local story with global appeal. SBS has commissioned the project as part of its Untold Australia series and Create NSW has also invested in the project.
Young, Dateable and Disabled (working title): A one-hour documentary from writer-director Liz Allen (Andrew Marr: My Brain and Me) and producer Dominique Pile executive produced by Laurie Critchley (The Mosque Next Door, Hawke). Straight-talking relationship counsellor Liz Dore is on a mission to help six young people with neurological diversity and intellectual disabilities find love. For people with disabilities, love and relationships can be seen as taboo, but for Liz's six clients it's a deeply held personal goal. Against the odds, these unique and diverse individuals are determined to learn as much as they can to find a romantic partner. SBS have commissioned the project as part of their Untold Australia series and Create NSW have also invested in the project.
Firestarter The Story of Bangarra
Documentary Producer projects
The Bamboo Bridge: A one-hour television documentary written and directed by anthropologist Juan Francisco Salazar, Executive Producers Pat Fiske and geographer Katherine Gibson, and produced by Matadora Films comprising of Claire Fletcher and Alejandra Canales. This documentary looks at the stories that take place around a unique 1.5 kilometre long bamboo bridge that for generations has been built every year following the rhythms of nature across the Mekong River to join the rural community of Koh Paen to the city of Kampong Cham in Cambodia. In 2017 the bamboo bridge was dismantled for the very last tim
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