2024 10 10 – Media release
LR: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching You creators Alexei Mizin and Ryan Van Dyk, and Alisa Trueu of the online development project Level Up (Photo by Mathias Scherrer).
Screen Australia has announced more than $8.1 million in production funding for 15 projects across feature film, television and online content. This significant investment reflects Screen Australia’s continued commitment to fostering innovative storytelling and content that engages audiences across genres and platforms.
Among the projects funded is Zack Power, a new animated family film from Flying Bark Productions and Cheeky Little Media based on the popular book series of the same name. Leviticus is the latest release from Causeway Films, the same company behind the worldwide success Talk to Me. Romantic comedy “Adjacent to Love”. Stan’s psychological thriller series “Watching You.” Hoops is an online series from the creative team behind the popular TikTok documentary Transathletica.
Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said: “These latest projects reflect the depth of creative storytelling that defines the Australian film industry. We support projects that entertain and resonate with audiences. Our goal is to , to champion authentic local voices and ensure our sector remains at the forefront of global storytelling.”
“In the 2023/24 financial year, Screen Australia will invest more than $85 million across all 57 funding programs, including more than $5.5 million from the Department of Indigenous Peoples, and a total of $413 million through producer offsets. We have issued 205 final certificates worth $1 million. Demand for OnScreen Australia’s support remains high, with the agency supporting just under a third of all applications received. We will prioritize audience connection, industry values, and cultural relevance and continue to find ways to provide impactful support within our limited capacity.”
Over the past year, Australian projects have received global attention, with 61 Australian projects selected for international film festivals and events. Among these titles, the online series Videoland won Best Comedy Series at the prestigious festival Series Mania, the critically acclaimed debut film Shayda won the Sundance Audience Award, and Furiosa and The Australian-Irish co-production The Surfer, starring Nicolas Cage, led Australia’s special hosting Worlds. Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Continuing to focus on funding that reflects and connects stories, in 2023/24 the station will continue to invest in drama series ‘Top End Babu’, feature film ‘JIMPA’ and ‘Don’t Watch This Show’. We supported a wide range of titles highlighting local screen talent, including new children’s content including “. is an animated adaptation of the popular children’s book series by comedian and author Andy Lee.
“Our focus is firmly on the future. We are building a sustainable screen economy that adapts and inspires. We are thrilled that our story has been recognized internationally. We are excited about the pipeline of projects scheduled for release by the end of the year, including the films Memoir of a Snail and The Moogai, and the series Thou Shalt Not Steal, Four Years Later, and The Moogai. Plum – I can’t wait for Australians to experience Plum,” Brennan continued.
Projects funded for production include:
Chasing Millions: A crime drama set in 2004 Belfast. Although Northern Ireland has had peace for six years, old hostilities and mistrust remain. Chasing Millions is the story of the biggest bank robbery in Irish, British (and Australian) history. Diana, an ambitious Australian police officer, and Crawford, a surly veteran detective from Northern Ireland, are reluctant partners to investigate and solve cases. Navigating the minefield of fragile peace. An official Irish-Australian co-production, helmed by Irish director Stephen Burke (The Maze), based on a screenplay by Stephen Burke and Catherine Thomson (Chappelle, The Hancocks). Producers are Jane Doolan (The Maze, Wolf) of Ireland’s Mammoth Films and Michael Wren (Audrey) of Australia’s Invisible Republic. With major production investment from Screen Ireland, Bonsai Films is handling domestic distribution and Level K is handling international sales. Displaced: A six-part comedy sci-fi series on YouTube about a dysfunctional physicist who is accidentally transported back in time. In the process, she tries to fix her future by mentoring her younger self. Displaced is a comedy about depression, queerness, trouble, healing the inner child, and being noticed. From writer/director Molly Daniels (The InBESTigators, Wispy), writer/producer Jem Splitter (Galacticare), and producer Rachel Morrow. Displaced is produced and developed in partnership with VicScreen and is funded with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Hoops: From Transathletica’s team on TikTok, Hoops chronicles the journey of transgender basketball player Lexi Rogers and her battle to qualify to play on the NBL1 South team. After suffering a major setback in 2023, Lexi spent the year jumping through hoops, ignoring all odds of playing in the 2024 season. “Hoops” is produced by Eliza Bourne (“A Letter to the King”) in collaboration with writer/director Hannah McElhinney, screenwriter Rudy Gene Rigg and TransAthletica executive producer Jamie Searle. . Leviticus: The latest horror feature film from the box office hit production company, Talk to Me Leviticus follows two teenage boys, Naim and Ryan, from a conservative Christian community in rural Victoria. This is the story of When the local priest discovers that they are attracted to each other, they undergo a religious conversion ceremony that unwittingly frees the town from being terrorized. Leviticus comes from writer/director Adrian Chiarella (Totally Completely Fine), producer Hannah Ngo (Latecomers), and Causeway Films’ Samantha Jennings and Christina Seiton. Funded in partnership with Salmira Productions and developed and produced in partnership with VicScreen, which also supports post, digital and visual effects (PDV). PDV is also supported by Kojo Studio, with local distribution by Maslow Entertainment and international sales by Studio 301 Films. Love Adjacent: When top chef Ryan’s restaurant goes out of business due to a review written by food critic Maggie, he is forced to return home and start over from scratch. Maggie, who coincidentally was in the same town for her sister’s wedding, is offered the help of Ryan until a catastrophe occurs and Maggie desperately needs Ryan’s help to make her sister’s wedding happen. I am determined to keep getting rid of things. Love Adjacent is directed by Louise Alston (Back of the Net), written by Sarah Mayberry (Neighbors) and Christopher Gist (Broken Coast), and written by Kate. A romantic comedy co-starring Whitbread (“Caterpillar Wish”) and Spencer McLaren (“This Little Love”). Mine) produced. The film is produced in association with VicScreen and distributed domestically by Umbrella Entertainment, with international sales managed by Film Seekers. Afterlife: In this drama, horror feature film, Zoe returns to her estranged father to find a little peace after her life falls apart, but the discovery of a mysterious videotape reveals her late mother’s final moments. Everything she knew about could be undone. And her own birth. In their shared grief, Zoe and her father uncover long-buried events and come face to face with powerful supernatural forces that must be reckoned with. Posthumous is written by writer/director/producer Josh Tanner (“Wandering Soul”) and writer/producer Jade van der Ley (“Six Festivals”), with Joel Anderson (“Lake Mungo”) will serve as executive producer. Funded in partnership with Screen Queensland. Funding is supported by Gold Coast Screen Incentives and local distribution is provided by Kismet Movies. Saccharine: In this psychological horror film from Carver Pictures (Run Rabbit Run), a heartbroken medical student is terrorized by hungry ghosts after participating in a mysterious weight-loss fad that involves eating human ashes. . Saccharine hails from writer/director/producer Natalie Erika James and the Relic team of producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw. Produced in partnership with VicScreen, Maslow Entertainment will handle domestic distribution and XYZ Films will handle international sales. Watching You: Stan’s gripping six-part psychological thriller based on the novel “The Last Guests” by JP Pomare. Watching You is created for television by Alexei Mizin and Ryan Van Dyke and produced by Jason Stevens and Breanne Sykes. Helen Borden, Kyla Scobie and Alicia Brown will serve as executive producers. It has received major production investment from Stan and is funded with support from Screen NSW through the Made in NSW Fund. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. It was financed and distributed in association with ITV Studios. Zack Power: Based on the popular book series of the same name, Zack Power is a producer of Flying Bark Productions (200% Wolf, 100% Wolf) and Cheeky Little Media (Kangaroo Beach, Ginger and the Veggiesaurus) ) is a family-friendly animation work produced by The arrival of a talented new agent puts Zack Power’s status as a top teenage spy in jeopardy. When his recklessness allows an ostentatious supervillain to steal high-tech weapons, Zack is forced to confront his shortcomings and team up with his rival. The film was directed by Alex Staderman and David Webster, and written by Finn Edquist, John Armstrong, Lawrence Leon, and Erica Harrison. Funded in partnership with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.
Also announced today were 27 television dramas, 23 feature films and six online projects that will share more than $1.7 million in development funding. Of these, 24 projects are supported through the Generate Fund, 26 through the Premium Fund, and 6 through the Online Development Fund.
Projects include the online action-adventure series “Amy the Pirate.” The family music drama features Piano Moms, which follows a promising teenage pianist as she explores the power of music and the love of family. The Skip Ahead project “Life of Kea” has been developed into a television drama series. and the second season of the TikTok documentary series Sextistics, which continues to examine statistics to create a snapshot of gender, sexuality and identity within Australia.
See below for a list of projects funded across scripted feature films, scripted television, online and development in 2023/24.
Click here for details on the feature films that have been funded for production so far in the 2024/25 financial year.
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