Screen Australia’s First Nations Department has announce its latest funding slate, including two documentaries for NITV spanning sport and politics.
In total, 19 new screen projects will receive over $3 million in funding including 16 funded for development, from creatives including Kodie Bedford, Tasma Walton, Chloe Rickard, Adrian Russell Wills, Imogen Banks, Tanith Glynn-Maloney and more.
Screen Australia’s Head of First Nations Angela Bates said, “Our First Nations creatives are at the forefront of Australian storytelling, with many incredible projects being celebrated on the world stage and even more in development. The demand for our funding has never been higher, which is a positive sign for the industry. Across the 23/24FY, our Department invested over $7.1 million of funding including 105 opportunities across development, production, initiatives, attachments and market support – highlighting the incredible talent and rich narratives within Indigenous communities. With films like Wolfram and documentaries Dreaming Big and One Mind, One Heart, I’m inspired by the depth of powerful screen stories authored by First Nations Australians.”
“It’s an exciting time for First Nations content creators, and we’re witnessing a new wave of talent. Looking ahead, we will continue to create pathways for these storytellers to thrive and expand their careers in the competitive global marketplace, collaborating with industry to enhance project visibility and impact,” said Bates.
Dreaming Big: This six-part series for NITV takes an intimate look into the lives of gifted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian youths on the cusp of becoming the nation’s next generation of sports stars. Each episode highlights two young elite athletes, showcasing their relentless pursuit to reach the pinnacle of their chosen field as they navigate family and cultural obligations while remaining focused on their goals. The series will be directed by Andrew Dillon (Le Champion) and Abraham Byrne Jameson (One by One), with writer/producer Richard Jameson (Strait to the Plate season 2) and producer Veronica Fury (And We Danced) also attached. It is financed in association with Screen Queensland.
One Mind, One Heart: In this feature-length documentary for NITV, a historic political Yirrkala bark petition is discovered and makes its way home to Yolgnu country, evoking the spirit of decades of activism for change. The repatriation provides the opportunity to track the long political campaign – through petition, song, dance, campaigning – to keep culture strong and to have a voice for country. One Mind, One Heart is from writer/director Larissa Behrendt (The First Inventors) and producer Michaela Perske (Larapinta). It is financed in association with Screen NSW, with support from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Spectrum Entertainment, Documentary Australia and Philanthropy via the Shark Island Institute.
Documentary Production
Dreaming Big
6 x 30 mins
Wirrim Media Pty Ltd
Directors Abraham Byrne Jameson, Andrew Dillon
Writer Richard Jameson
Producers Richard Jameson, Veronica Fury
Synopsis Dreaming Big follows a group of young talented athletes all striving to be at the top of their game.
One Mind, One Heart
1 x 80 mins
Bark Project Pty Ltd
Writer/Director Larissa Behrendt
Producer Michaela Perske
Synopsis An historic political bark petition is discovered and makes its way home to Yolgnu country, evoking the spirit of decades of activism for change.
TV Development
After Story
6 x 60 mins
Jungle Entertainment
Genre Drama, Mystery
Writer/Director Larissa Behrendt
Executive Producers Larissa Behrendt, Chloe Rickard, Shay Spencer
Synopsis When an Indigenous mother and daughter journey from their Australian homeland to the UK, they discover that the past is never quite behind them, and have to find their way back to each other to overcome their dark family secrets. Based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Larissa Behrendt.
Landgrabbers
8 X 45 Mins
Kindling Pictures
Genre Comedy, Drama, Family
Writer/Director Adrian Russell Wills
Producers Imogen Banks, Emelyne Palmer
Synopsis After winning the largest prize pool in True Blue Lotto history, Wankamurra Wommnarua grandmother Eunice becomes torn between helping her dysfunctional family, buying back her land, or becoming Dubbo’s newest entrepreneur.
Long Story Short
6 x 30 mins
Unless Pictures
Genre Comedy
Writer/Director Tanith Glynn-Maloney
Producer Meg O’Connell
Synopsis After her husband leaves her for a white woman, Sandra embarks on a dating rampage through the small town of Alice Springs and ends up discovering more about herself than her husband ever did.
Serpentine
6 x 60 mins
Arenamedia
Genre Drama, Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Creators Kodie Bedford, Tasma Walton
Writer Kodie Bedford
Producer Liz Kearney
Executive Producers Kodie Bedford, Tasma Walton
Synopsis Feisty Aboriginal detective Allie investigates a missing Aboriginal girl in her hometown of Serpentine, uncovering a community fractured and a poisoned country seeking revenge.
Documentary Development
Descendants
1 x 90 mins
GARUWA Creative Pty Ltd
Director Genevieve Grieves
Producers Laurrie Mansfield, Kieran Satour
Synopsis Descendants brings black and white Australians together in a reckoning with our nation’s violent past.
Fire Country
6 x 28 mins
WildBear Entertainment Pty Ltd
Directors John Harvey, Jason De Santolo
Writers John Harvey, Jason De Santolo, Victor Steffensen
Producer Kate Pappas
Executive Producer Michael Tear
Synopsis A journey in fire…Fire Country is a transformative exploration of Indigenous fire knowledge and wisdom. It is a co-production between WildBear Entertainment and Brown Cabs.
Indesign
6 x 60 mins
Future Homes Project Pty Ltd
Co-Writers Mitchell Stanley, Georgia Birks
Producers Mitchell Stanley, Michaela Perske, Nha-Uyen Chau
Researcher Kim Steblina
Synopsis Presented by Georgia Birks, InDesign explores the contemporary and sustainable approach to architecture and design in Australia.
Native Kitchen
4 x 52 mins
Boardwalk Pictures Pty LTd.
Writer/Director Jack Steele
Producer Michael Hilliard
Synopsis Native Kitchen is a documentary series that explores the connection between First Nations people and bush tucker – the challenges of connection to country, of maintaining and passing on cultural knowledge, native ingredients in fine dining, and turning culture into economic pathways for First Nations communities.
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