By FilmInk staff
Screen Australia’s Indigenous Affairs department is pleased to announce its latest funding package, which includes Warwick Thornton’s Sweet Country sequel Wolfram and two powerful documentaries for NITV across sport and politics.
A total of 19 new projects will receive more than $3 million in funding, including 16 with development funding. This investment is in line with the Commonwealth Government’s National Cultural Policy Resurgence and its pillar of Indigenous First, which recognizes and respects the important place of Indigenous stories at the heart of Australia’s arts and culture. reflects our institution’s continued commitment to amplifying voices and stories.
Angela Bates, Head of First Nations at Screen Australia, said: “Our First Nations creatives are at the forefront of Australian storytelling, with many great projects celebrated on the world stage and many more. ” Our need for capital is higher than ever and this is a positive sign for the industry. In fiscal year 2023-24, our department will invest more than $7.1 million in funding, including 105 opportunities across development, production, initiatives, accessories and market support, to capitalize on the incredible talent and rich stories within Indigenous communities. focused on. Through films like Wolfram and documentaries Dreaming Big and One Mind, One Heart, we are inspired by the depth of powerful cinematic stories written by Australia’s Indigenous peoples. ”
“These are exciting times for Indigenous content creators and we are witnessing a new wave of talent. Looking forward, we are working with industry to increase the visibility and impact of our projects. “We will continue to create pathways for these storytellers to succeed and expand their careers in a competitive global marketplace,” said Bates.
This funding announcement follows a year of significant achievements in Indigenous stories and creatives. His feature films The New Boy and The Moogai have received international acclaim. The third series of ground-breaking drama Total Control captivated local audiences by becoming the most-watched Indigenous series of 23/24. In addition, ground-breaking children’s show Little J & Big Cuz returns for a fourth series on NITV and the ABC, featuring 17 language groups and bringing powerful voices to children across Australia. The feature-length documentary Kindred premiered on NITV in June, further highlighting the power of cultural connections.
Last year, the Department also invested $1 million in the Enterprise Program to support four Indigenous businesses and three private practices. In partnership with Instagram Australia, we launched the fourth installment of the Indigenous Creators Program to help emerging talent in the content creator economy build their skills in the digital space. The Department will also support six production projects through its First Facts: First Nations Factual Showcase initiative, inviting emerging and mid-career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers to produce 10-minute documentaries for Network 10. provided an opportunity.
Warwick Thornton, director of the Wolfram: A Sweet Country sequel, said: My great-grandmother and her daughters worked for the Whitefellas at Hatches Creek Mine. Now the truth is revealed and it’s called Wolfram. ”
Projects funded for production include:
Sequel to Wolfram: Sweet Country: Set three years after Sweet Country, Wolfram continues the story of Philomack, now 17 years old and still living under the watchful eye of his hot-tempered master Mick Kennedy. After meeting Max and Kidd, Philomack decides to flee to a desert country to free himself and his brothers from the brutality of white men. Along the way, they are assisted by Jimi and Wang Wei, a pioneer family of Chinese-Australian miners who help reunite the children with their estranged mother Pansy. ‘Wolfram’ is directed by Warwick Thornton and written by Stephen McGregor and David Tranter, whose credits include ‘Sweet Country’. Producing alongside Tranter are Sweet Country’s David Georgie and Greer Simpkin, as well as Cecilia Ritchie (Limbo). Funding is provided by Screen NSW and support from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund. Distribution is by Dark Matter Distribution, and international sales are managed by Memento. Dreaming Big: This six-part series from NITV delves into the lives of Australia’s talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who are on their way to becoming the next generation of sports stars. Each episode focuses on two young elite athletes and showcases their relentless pursuit to reach the pinnacle of their chosen field, navigating family and cultural obligations while remaining focused on their goals. The series is directed by Andrew Dillon (Le Champion) and Abraham Byrne Jameson (One by One), with writer and producer Richard Jameson (Straight to the Plate) Season 2) and producer Veronica Fury (And We Danced) will also be involved. Funded in partnership with Screen Queensland. One Heart, One Heart: In this feature-length documentary from NITV, a historic political Yirurkara bark petition is discovered and brought back to the Yorgnu nation, igniting the spirit of decades of activism for change. Masu. Repatriation provides an opportunity to track long-term political movements through petitions, songs, dances, and campaigning to keep cultures strong and have a voice for the country. One Mind, One Heart is the work of writer/director Larissa Behrendt (The First Inventors) and producer Michaela Perscu (Larapinta). The production is funded in partnership with Screen NSW with support from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Spectrum Entertainment, Documentary Australia and philanthropy through the Shark Island Institute.
Also announced today are three television dramas, 11 feature films and two documentaries that will share more than $540,000 in development funding. Projects include the feature film Native Gods from 2024 Enterprise Business winner Djali House; “Long Story Shorts,” a comedy series from writer and director Tanith Glynne-Maroney (“The Windcatcher”). The documentary Fire Country is an innovative exploration of Indigenous fire knowledge and wisdom. The feature film RED is about eight Indigenous Western Australian women who share the ugly secret of being surrounded by missing people.
Click here for a full list of projects funded by the Department of Indigenous Peoples for production and development throughout the 2023/24 financial year.
About Screen Australian Indigenous Affairs
Directed and staffed entirely by Indigenous Australians, the Department funds drama, documentary and children’s content across all platforms. The Department also identifies emerging Indigenous talent, champions representation, and funds skills development and career advancement opportunities. Click here for more information about the Indigenous sector and available funding.
Screen Australia is expanding its Indigenous division and is recruiting for the new position of Director of Indigenous Affairs. This is in line with the Agency’s commitment to support authentic Indigenous screen stories, further support industry practitioners and build opportunities for growth and visibility. Click here for more information about the role.
