Four feature films, three television dramas and one virtual reality project will share in over $6.5 million of production funding from Screen Australia.
The projects include a second season of Foxtel’s AACTA Award-winning series Upright from Tim Minchin, and an adaptation of Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel The Messenger for the ABC. Funding has also been announced for a new feature film from Rolf de Heer called The Mountain; and Gracie Otto’s feature film directorial debut Seriously Red, executive produced by Rose Byrne.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, The Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said, “Government funding via Screen Australia plays a critical role in supplying targeted support to the development and production of quality Australian screen content, and we congratulate these successful applicants, reflecting the talent and diversity of the local screen sector.”
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said, “We are proud to announce this impressive slate from some of Australia’s most celebrated talent including Rose Byrne and Tim Minchin, as well as fresh new voices. Shot all over the country and showcasing a range of genres including relationship drama, mystery, crime, science fiction and comedy, these projects are set to bring engaging and uniquely Australian stories to both big and small screens.”
“This year is proving to once again be incredibly challenging but it’s heartening to see there is no shortage of fantastic ideas that we are thrilled to support and help bring to life. We are impressed by the sustained resolve of the Australian industry through the pandemic, and it’s encouraging to see work continuing on screen projects across the country.”
The Feature Film Projects Are:
Photo Booth – This relationship drama centres on Jean Bouchet, a renowned performance artist past her prime childbearing years who desperately wants to be a mother – so much so that she is willing to adopt the baby born of her husband’s infidelity.
Of An Age – Set in Melbourne in the summer of 1999, Of An Age follows an unexpected and intense 24-hour romance between a 17-year-old Serbian ballroom dancer and his best friend’s older brother. A decade later the pair meet for a bittersweet reunion.
Seriously Red – The story centres on Red, a vivacious, but at times misguided red-head who pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9 to 5 career in real estate, for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator.
The Mountain – The Mountain tells the story of BlackWoman, who is abandoned in a cage in the middle of the desert. Following her escape, she travels across lands and walks through pestilence and persecution, to find those who left her to die.
The blocklines for feature film production funding are available here
The Television Projects Are:
Anyone’s Daughter – A four-hour miniseries for the Seven Network about the police investigation into the disappearance of young women.
The Messenger – An eight-part adaptation of Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel of the same name for the ABC, from Lingo Pictures. The drama follows Ed Kennedy, whose life is one of peaceful routine until playing cards inscribed with cryptic tasks start to arrive in the mail.
Upright Series 2 – Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock returning as Lucky and Meg. Trading the desert for the steamy tropics of Far North Queensland, Lucky and Meg hit the road – and the river – on a mission.
The blocklines for television production funding are available here
The Online Series Is:
Lustration VR: An animated four-part virtual reality series for Facebook Reality Lab’s Media Studio.
The blocklines for online production funding are available here
Top Image: Tim Minchin, Milly Alcock, Rose Byrne