SBS once again seeks ideas for original, bold, thought-provoking fact-forms from the $50,000 Fact Development Fund.
The May 4th entry of the initiative, launched at the 2024 Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), is a 3-4 x 1 hour episode, seeking the concept of an original factual form that matches the SBS charter.
This comes after Docudrama, who explored CJZ’s Robodebt scandal, became the fund’s first recipient, coinciding with the subject of inequality and social cohesion in Australia last year.
In an overview of this year’s comprehensive theme, SBS referenced the latest McKinnon poll. This is because more than half of the countries that think Australia is more divided than it was five years ago, believe it is highly divided into major political, economic and social issues.
“We are excited to shock us again, shock us and surprise our audience with something we’ve never seen before on screen,” said Bethan Arwel-Lewis, SBS’s de facto commissioning editor.
“As it is one of the most important social issues affecting the country as polarization increases, we are urging producers to break new ground in order to promote important national conversations and create a must-see television.
“We are looking for bold ideas to look into the political, social and cultural lines that divide our communities. What drives the rifts and disparities? Y, Y and which Australians feel they have the greatest impact? Is there a way to bridge this sector?
“From politics to socioeconomics, gender, race, religion or something else, it’s important to keep SBS charters at the heart of ideas, and the concepts need to show undeniable scale, boldness and ambition.”
You will need to send your ideas to SBS’s de factual pitching portal by emailing factual@sbs.com.au. Project proposals must be no more than 3 pages, and submissions must include titles, loglines and a single paragraph summary. All applications must be covered by a state/federal documentary funding program.
