07 08 2019 - Media release Screen Australia announces development funding for 17 projects
Sam Humphrey and Nick Boshier in Jeremy The Dud
Screen Australia has announced five television series, six online projects and six feature films which will share in over $675,000 of Story Development funding. The slate is the final funding awarded in the 2018/19 financial year and marks 12 months since the Premium and Generate Funds were introduced. The agency has also announced the return of its Developing the Developer program.
The funded projects include Musquito, an adventure film about an Aboriginal warrior from director Dylan River; Jeremy The Dud, a TV comedy exploring the moments of challenge and levity when living with a disability; and Afro Sistahs, an online series about a group of twenty-somethings who connect at an Afro hair salon.
Nerida Moore, Head of Development at Screen Australia said, We are pleased to see that our revised Story Development programs are supporting a new wave of Australian storytellers while also supporting mid-career and experienced creators. In 2018/19, 59% of successful applicants* for the Generate Fund had never received Screen Australia Story Development funding before. This is an extraordinary outcome and way beyond our expectations.
We're also pleased to see a much more even spread of our development funding across film, television and online, better reflecting the screen market.
The Premium Fund is also proving fit for purpose, with experienced creators taking creative risks and dreaming big in terms of story, audience and potential production values.
In 2018/19 Screen Australia received 378 Story Development applications across the Premium and Generate Funds, up nearly 76% from 215 applications in 2017/18. In the last 12 months, Screen Australia has provided Story Development funds to a total of 80 projects out of a pool of 296 projects that were creatively assessed during the financial year. This included 48 through the Generate Fund and 32 through the Premium Fund.
*An applicant is the person who submits an application for funding and can be a producer, writer or director.
The latest projects funded for development include
Afro Sistahs: An eight-part online series from the Afro Sistahs Collective centred on an eclectic group of four sistahs whose lives intersect at an Afro hair salon in Western Sydney. The dramedy follows Kabusha, Ayo, Akilah and Trisha as they weave around nosey Aunties and woke baes, and they realise that some knots will take more than coconut oil to untangle. This project is helmed by an all-female team including producers Safia Amadou and Mumbi Hinga (Survive or Die), director Hawanatu Bangura (Inner Demons) and executive producer Rosie Lourde (Skin Deep). Writers Moreblessing Maturure and Rebekah Robertson, performer Ebube Uba and script editor Louise Gough are also attached. This project is co-produced by I.C.E.
Jeremy The Dud: An eight-part television series based on the 2017 short film of the same name, which follows two brothers who live in a world where everyone has a disability, and those who don t are treated with the same prejudice and condescending attitudes people with disabilities face in our own society. This comedy will be directed by Ryan Chamley (Rostered On) and produced by Mike Cowap of Princess Pictures. It will be written by Chamley, in close collaboration with Nick Boshier (Beached Az) who will reprise the lead role of Jeremy. Daniel Monks whose feature Pulse won the Busan Bank Award at the Busan International Film Festival in 2017 and Sam Humphrey (The Greatest Showman) join as creative consultants.
Musquito: The first feature film from director Dylan River, whose credits include critically-acclaimed teen television drama Robbie Hood. Inspired by true events, Musquito tells the story of an Aboriginal warrior fighting against colonialism during the Tasmanian Black War. The project will be written by Nathan Maynard (Little J & Big Cuz), Jonathon auf der Heide (Hell's Gates) and Raimondo Cortese, and produced by Tanith Glynn-Maloney (She Who Must Be Loved) and Chris Brown (The Railway Man).
Over and Out: A 10-part television series about two parents, Lewis and Freya, who are struggling to survive the trials and tribulations of raising toddlers while being smack bang in the middle of the post-apocalypse. This project sees writers Christian Van Vuuren and Adele Vuko and producer Bridget Callow-Wright building on their online series of the same name which won Best Short Form at Cannes Series 2019, and was funded through Screen Australia and Google's Skip Ahead initiative. It will be co-produced by Abi Tabone and Gemma Knight.
The Power Of The Dog: A feature film adaptation of the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage. This project is presented by an Academy Award-winning team including writer, director and producer Jane Campion (Top of the Lake, The Piano), and producers Emile Sherman and Iain Canning (The King's Speech, Lion). Tanya Seghatchian (Cold War) and Roger Frappier (Indian Horse) are also on board as producers. This drama centres on two brothers, Phil and George, who co-own the biggest ranch in Montana valley. When George secretly marries Rose, a local widow, Phil is overcome with anger and wages a war to destroy her.
For the complete list of development funding approvals, refer to television, online and feature film breakdowns.
Also confirmed today, applications are now open for third iteration of Screen Australia's Developing the Developer to be run in November 2019. The intensive workshop was first run in 2017 and has proved successful in enabling story developers from diverse backgrounds to produce the work of other creators. To view the guidelines and apply click here
Mary Amevor and Moreblessing Maturure in Afro Sistahs
FUNDING SUMMARY In July 2018 S
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
04/05/2026
It's Andrew! stomps onto screens this June 4 May 2026
The ABC and Screen Australia are delighted to announce that brand new preschool series, It's Andr...
30/04/2026
SBS & NITV LEAD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2026 WITH LANDMARK GULPILIL DOCUMEN...
29/04/2026
Surgeon Dr Jasmina Kevric wins 2026 Les Murray Award
29 April, 2026
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Dr Jasmina Kevric...
23/04/2026
Apply now to join the 2026 Producer Delegation to TIFF: The Market 23 April 2026
Screen Australia, in partnership with Ontario Creates, has opened application...
22/04/2026
SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge
22 April, 2026
Media releases
National broadcaster also releases its second annual...
21/04/2026
Applications open for 2026 AISF and Screen Australia Writer/Director Virtual Ses...
20/04/2026
Register now - Market & Audience Department Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 11 February 2026
Screen Australia Head of Market & Audience Rakel Tansley
Talking to...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces funding for 44 documentary projects that reflect a s...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia appoints Tanya Phegan as Narrative Content Head of Development 17 March 2026
Tanya Phegan
Screen Australia has today announced the appointmen...
20/04/2026
Applications Open for Skip Ahead 11 19 March 2026
Past Skip Ahead recipients (L-R): Macfarlane Bros, Rainbow Bop, Lyanna Kea.
Screen Australia and YouTube Aus...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia empowers the next games generation, including new creatives fro...
20/04/2026
Official Co-production Ask Me Anything (AMA) Session 26 March 2026
Image (L-R): Mix Tape, Michele McDonald, Flower & Flour.
Interested in international Co-pro...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia announces Narrative Content funding for 91 projects, including ...
20/04/2026
Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) pinpoints four key workfo...
20/04/2026
Australians in Film and Screen Australia Announce the 2026 Participants in the T...
20/04/2026
Screen Australia relaunches website with new tools and improved user experience 16 April 2026
Screen Australia relaunches website
Screen Australia has relaun...
16/04/2026
SBS reveals all-star alumni team to celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Co...
02/04/2026
SBS Welcomes Back Cup Fever! For The Biggest FIFA World Cup Ever
2 April, 2026
Media releases
Santo Cilauro, Ed Kavalee and a host of special guests retur...
02/04/2026
Truth. Power. Perspective: NITV's Flagship Current Affairs Programs Return t...
27/03/2026
NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-lo...
21/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnect highlights how we all deserve t...
21/03/2026
Statement regarding Rhoda Roberts AO
21 March, 2026
Media releases
SBS is deeply saddened by the passing of Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung Na...
20/03/2026
Feast for cycling fans as SBS extends road cycling broadcasts to include all Gra...
19/03/2026
Silicon Valley satire The Audacity premieres 15 April on SBS and SBS On Demand
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From one of the writer/producers of Succession...
19/03/2026
SBS brings communities together at Bondi Pavilion for Harmony Week multilingual ...
19/03/2026
Clarification from SBS regarding Western Sydney expansion
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From an SBS spokesperson:
SBS wishes to clarify some media coverag...
19/03/2026
Techtel announces inctrl : web-based production control for content creators, co...
18/03/2026
Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture
18 March, 2026
Media releases
New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...
17/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnnect highlights how we all deserve ...
12/03/2026
AFL and NITV partner to launch new First Nations led program Inside the Huddle&...
06/03/2026
Statement on the appointment of Dr Nicholas Pappas AM as SBS Chair
6 March, 2026
Media releases
The SBS Board and Executive have welcomed the appointment o...
05/03/2026
SBS and Mint Pictures to chronicle the Bondi terror attack in major feature docu...
05/03/2026
Winter Olympic stars return to the ice for ISU World Figure Skating Championship...
04/03/2026
100 Days to Go: SBS Unveils World Class Team for The Greatest Show on Earth -The...
02/03/2026
Global powerhouse Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at this year's Eurovi...
02/03/2026
SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek ...
02/03/2026
NITV Unveils Wednesday Night Sport Night
2 March, 2026
Media releases
A Midweek Hub for Blak Sport
Flagship NRL program Over The Black Dot moves to Wednes...
02/03/2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia launch joint UK market initiative 2 March 2026
Ausfilm and Screen Australia have announced Partner with Australia (UK), a new init...
27/02/2026
Screen Australia announces Rachel Perkins as Director of First Nations Strategy 27 February 2026
Screen Australia has today announced the appointment of Rachel...
18/02/2026
SBS brings Australians together to mark Ramadan and Eid with communities nationw...
16/02/2026
SBS's Powerhouse Current Affairs Line-up is Back with the Conversations and ...
12/02/2026
Our Medicine S2: Frontline Medicine Through A Blak Lens
12 February, 2026
Media releases
A Bigger, Bolder Second Series showcasing First Nations Frontline ...
11/02/2026
ABS Strengthens Ku-Band Capacity and Expands Regional Reach Through Strategic Pa...
10/02/2026
World-first opt-out function now fully integrated on SBS On Demand
10 February, 2026
Media releases
SBS has announced a suite of audience-first enhancement...
09/02/2026
SBS Media Sustainability Challenge returns for 2026
9 February, 2026
Media releases
The challenge offers brands and agencies $500,000 in advertising invent...
04/02/2026
Queer Renegades: SBS Audio's new podcast reclaiming Australia's queer hi...
03/02/2026
The smash-hit series The Hospital: In the Deep End returns to shine a spotlight ...
02/02/2026
SBS's High-Flying Drama The Airport Chaplain casts Hugo Weaving alongside Th...
30/01/2026
Introducing the NEW Techtel.tv! | FEB 5% OFF Offer
30 Jan Written By Suzanne Costello
Our Website & Online Store: Now Unified for a Seamless Experience.We&#...
07 08 2019 - Media release Screen Australia announces development funding for 17 projects 
