Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Screen Australia announces $12 million of production funding for 9 projects

31/08/2022

31 08 2022 - Media release Screen Australia announces $12 million of production funding for 9 projects

Total Control

Screen Australia has announced four feature films, three television dramas and two children's projects that will share in $12 million of production funding, from the Scripted and First Nations Departments. Total Control is back for series 3 on ABC; Made Up Stories is producing romantic comedy Addition; and an exciting team of writers will bring WWII dramedy While the Men Are Away to SBS.

The projects also include psychological horror The Moogai from director Jon Bell and Causeway Films (You Won't Be Alone); North Shore, a crime drama set around Sydney Harbour for Paramount ; and feature film Little Bird based on Australian pilot Nancy Bird Walton.

Minister for Arts Tony Burke said, Showcasing Australian stories particularly First Nations stories is a central part of what I want to do as Arts Minister. Shining a spotlight on Australian stories, is so important, not just for those in the arts sector, but all of us as Australians. These stories contribute to our national identity, and I know these projects will showcase the incredible talent and creativity of our actors, writers, producers, directors and post-production workers here in Australia and right around the world.

Screen Australia's Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon said, We know there is an appetite for fun, joyful drama content in the international market right now and we're pleased to announce a number of distinct Australian dramedies and romantic comedies that will engage global audiences as part of this mix. We are also proud to support Australian creatives expanding their skillset, including Northern Pictures producing their first feature film Little Bird and Arcadia bringing to life their first episodic drama with While the Men Are Away for SBS.

We have a solid pipeline of impressive applications coming through this financial year. In our first round alone we received applications that exceed our total budget for the entire year, and the remarkable calibre of projects means it's incredibly competitive, Brunsdon continued.

Screen Australia's Head of First Nations Angela Bates said, We are proud to announce two premium dramas today including a new season of Total Control which continues to not only captivate viewers but also provide important opportunities for emerging filmmakers above and below the line. Jon Bell's short film The Moogai won the Midnight Shorts Jury Prize at SXSW 2021 and now we're thrilled that he is expanding it as a feature film. These compelling projects explore important themes of intergenerational trauma, colonisation and power.

In 2021/22 Screen Australia supplied over $44 million of production funding for feature films, television dramas and children's television. Through the First Nations Department, the agency provided another $6 million to drama productions.

The projects receiving funding through the First Nations Department are:

The Moogai: A psychological horror from writer/director Jon Bell (Redfern Now) teaming up with producers Mitchell Stanley (We Are Still Here) and Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings of Causeway Films (You Won't Be Alone). The film follows Sarah and Fergus, a hopeful young couple who give birth to their second baby. But what should be a joyous time of their lives becomes sinister when Sarah starts seeing a malevolent spirit she is convinced is trying to take her children. Fergus desperately wants to believe her but grows increasingly worried as she becomes more unbalanced. The Moogai is financed with support from Screen NSW. Australian distribution is by Maslow Umbrella 387 Entertainment with Bankside managing international sales.

Total Control Season 3: A six-part third series of the ground-breaking drama for ABC starring Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths. In the corridors of power, adversaries Alex Irving and Rachel Anderson battle to control their political destinies. Season 2 writers Stuart Page and Pip Karmel team up again with producers Darren Dale, Erin Bretherton and Rachel Griffiths. They are joined by writers Julia Moriarty (Barrumbi Kids), Meyne Wyatt (Heartbreak High) and Debra Oswald (Offspring). Total Control Season 3 is financed with support from the ABC, with All3Media managing international sales.

The funded feature films are:

Addition: The debut feature film from writer Becca Johnstone (Open Slather) and director Marcelle Lunam (Jimmy Little Messenger) teaming up with producers Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson of Made Up Stories (Nine Perfect Strangers, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), and Cristina Pozzan of Buon Giorno Productions (Carla Cametti PD). This romantic comedy follows 30-something-year-old Grace who has a thing for numbers and the inventor Nikola Tesla. But when an average guy, Seamus, comes along, Grace falls for Seamus and her meticulously ordered life begins to unravel around her. To let this love in, she must let go of the things she's been holding onto. Addition will be distributed in Australia by Roadshow Films with WME managing international sales.

Went up the Hill: A psychological thriller, which is a three-hander played out between only two actors. The story follows Jack as he travels to remote New Zealand to attend the funeral of Elizabeth, the mother who abandoned him as a child. There he meets Jill, Elizabeth's widow. Both are searching for answers; Jack about why she deserted him and Jill about why she killed herself. But Elizabeth's spirit lingers and soon finds a way to possess both Jack and Jill's bodies at night. Caught in a life-threatening nocturnal dance, Jack and Jill must find a way to let go of Elizabeth's toxic hold, before she pushes them to the edge. This film is a New Zealand/Australian co-producti
LINK: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2022/08-31-twe...
See more stories from screenaustralia

More from Screen Aus

21/03/2024

Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry

21 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry Which Way Up: Galaxy Games Screen Australia has anno...

18/03/2024

Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative

18 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative LTR Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, K...

15/03/2024

The Creators 2024 Participants Announced

15 03 2024 - Media release The Creators 2024 Participants Announced The Creators program recipients. L-R Thomas Duncan-Watt, Vanessa Gazy, Sarah Lambert, Lea...

13/03/2024

Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan

13 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan Critical Incident: Akshay Khanna and Zoe Boe. Photo c...

28/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects

28 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects Willy Screen Australia has announced 23 feature fi...

27/02/2024

Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair

27 02 2024 - Media release Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair Michael Ebeid AM and Megan Brownlow The Hon. Minister for the Arts, Tony...

21/02/2024

Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce Applications Open for UNTAPPED 2024

21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...

15/02/2024

Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs

15 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs Liz Keogh Palmer (Australian Production Design Guil...

13/02/2024

Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Six Australian screen projec...

12/02/2024

Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9

12 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9 Uncovering Street Dance: Australia from Skip Ahead 8. Photographed by Ry...

08/02/2024

Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two

08 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two Marta Dusseldorp as Stella in Bay of Fires ABC, Screen Austr...

22/01/2024

Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US

22 01 2024 - Media release Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai Five Australian screen proj...

17/01/2024

Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Australia and ABC's new drama series Plum

17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...

14/12/2023

Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of production funding for 11 projects

14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...

12/12/2023

Applications open for The Creators program

12 12 2023 - Media release Applications open for The Creators program The Creators program Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have annou...

11/12/2023

Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023

11 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023 Enoch Mailangi, Noora Niasari, Hannah Carroll Chapman Screen Austr...

30/11/2023

Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2

30 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces 14 placements through BTL: Next Step Stage 2 Image courtesy: Screen Warriors Screen Australia has annou...

29/11/2023

Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries

29 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.7 million for seven documentaries Deeper Screen Australia has announced three documentaries fun...

23/11/2023

Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects

23 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $900,000 in development funding for 31 projects Wishes Screen Australia has announced 18 feature f...

10/11/2023

Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin

09 11 2023 - Media release Cameras roll in Canberra on new ABC comedy Austin Austin - Ben Miller, Michael Theo, Sally Phillips Screen Australia, ABC, ITV Stu...

10/11/2023

Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023

10 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV announce Digital Originals shortlist for 2023 Screen Australia Digital Originals Workshop. Image by ...

09/11/2023

Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series

09 11 2023 - Media release Kangaroo Beach to return for a third series Kangaroo Beach Series 3 Screen Australia and ABC are thrilled to announce that a third...

09/11/2023

Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Shaun Tan's Tales From Outer Suburbia

09 11 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce TV adaptation of Sh...

08/11/2023

Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program

08 11 2023 - Media release Applications Open for Screen Australia's Enterprise 2024 Program Behind the scenes of Total Control 3 - Wayne Blair, Jub Clerc ...

02/11/2023

Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions

02 11 2023 - Media release Drama Report 2022/23: $2.34 billion spent in Australia from 213 productions NCIS: Sydney, The New Boy, Ginger and the Vegesaurs. S...

01/11/2023

Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new film We Bury the Dead in Western Australia

01 11 2023 - Media release Daisy Ridley set to star in Zak Hilditch's new fi...

31/10/2023

Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO

31 10 2023 - Media release Deirdre Brennan appointed as new Screen Australia CEO Screen Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Deirdre Brennan a...

31/10/2023

Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program

31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces participants in Access Coordinator Training Program Access Coordinator Training Program workshop in Sydn...

31/10/2023

Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil

31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and NITV announce Journey Home - David Gulpilil Writer/director/producers Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas, a...

30/10/2023

South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced

30 10 2023 - Media release South Australian-Made feature film With or Without You announced With or Without You stars Melina Vidler, Marta Dusseldorp and Albe...

30/10/2023

Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years

31 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and SBS announce new intoxicating romance Four Years L-R: Mithila Gupta (creator/writer), Nicole Reddy (writer), S...

17/10/2023

Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative

17 10 2023 - Media release Applications open for Fresh Cuts Documentary Pitch Initiative Screen Australia and the Australian International Documentary Confere...

09/10/2023

Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of 2023 First Nations Creator Program

09 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Instagram Announce Recipients of...

06/10/2023

Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollywood luminaries to SXSW Sydney

06 10 2023 - Media release Australians in Film and Screen Australia bring Hollyw...

05/10/2023

Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open

05 10 2023 - Media release Talent Gateway and Global Producers Exchange applications open Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) are delighted to anno...

03/10/2023

Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond

03 10 2023 - Media release Screen Australia launches new games funding for 2023 and beyond Neyyah: Defy Reality Entertainment Screen Australia is pleased to ...

25/09/2023

Screen Australia announces over $10 million of production funding for nine projects

25 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $10 million of produc...

14/09/2023

Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake

14 09 2023 - Media release Cameras Roll on Asher Keddie and David Wenham in Drama Series Fake Fake stars Asher Keddie and David Wenham Screen Australia and P...

13/09/2023

Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced

13 09 2023 - Media release Untapped 2023 Development Lab Participants Announced 2023 Untapped Participants Screen Australia and Australians in Film today an...

07/09/2023

Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs

07 09 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces applications are open for two below-the-line programs Screen Australia is pleased to announce two progra...

30/08/2023

Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series

29 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan announce three new drama series L-R: Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal), Bonnie Moir (Exposure), Nicholas...

28/08/2023

New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced

28 08 2023 - Media release New Original Drama Mix Tape Announced Mix Tape director Lucy Gaffy and writer Jo Spain BINGE, Screen Australia and Screen Ireland ...

28/08/2023

Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission

28 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Maggie Beer's Big Mission Maggie Beer s Big Mission Screen Australia, ABC and Screenwest hav...

24/08/2023

Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding

24 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $4.6 million in Enterprise funding Enterprise Business funding recipients Kauthar Abdulalim (Blac...

24/08/2023

Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever

24 08 2023 - Media release Cameras roll on new Screen Australia and ABC comedy, White Fever White Fever creator and actor Ra Chapman and actor Chris Pang. Ima...

18/08/2023

Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023

18 08 2023 - Media release Five Australian projects selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2023 Shayda Five Australian projects have been selected ...

16/08/2023

Screen Australia announces over $1.2 million of story development funding for 47 projects

16 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.2 million of story...

09/08/2023

Screen Australia and ABC announce Fresh Blood 3 teams

09 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Fresh Blood 3 teams Fresh Blood 3 teams in Sydney for the workshop on 8 August 2023 The ABC and ...

02/08/2023

Screen Australia announces over $2.2 million for five documentaries

02 08 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.2 million for five documentaries Mozart's Sister Screen Australia has announced three docum...

01/08/2023

Marc Fennell continues his global treasure hunt during Stuff The British Stole Season 2

01 08 2023 - Media release Marc Fennell continues his global treasure hunt durin...