Screen Australia, NZ On Air and TikTok have announced that the Every Voice initiative to support creatives with diverse and distinct voices is returning in 2022.
Every Voice aims to help a new generation of online storytellers expand their vision and ambition, and cultivate original Australian and New Zealand content that will resonate with global audiences. The initiative is for TikTok creators or creators who want to expand to working on TikTok.
Australian and New Zealand applicants will be eligible to apply for up to AUD $75,000 per project, with up to ten successful projects set to receive funding.
Screen Australia’s head of online, Lee Naimo said, “In the last twelve months since the Every Voice initiative was launched, TikTok has become the destination for a whole new generation of short-form content creators looking for new ways to tell their authentic stories. In partnership with NZ On Air and TikTok we are ecstatic to once again be supporting Australian and New Zealand creators to share their content with the vast, highly-engaged global community on TikTok.”
Projects must comprise of episodic content designed to be told in 6 to 15 episodes of no more than one minute each, aimed at audiences aged between 16 and 35. Projects can be of any genre of scripted or documentary content. Successful teams must also be available to attend an in-person workshop in Sydney from December 5 -7.
The successful teams from Australia and New Zealand from 2021 received up to $50,000 in funding to cover development and production costs for their project. This included the Australian TransAthletica 15 part-documentary series, which explores the barriers trans athletes face in sports, from the creators of Rainbow History Class.
@transathletica.series Ready To Launch??️⚧️ #IDAHOBIT #auspol #filmtok #trans ♬ original sound – transathletica.series
Amie Mills head of funding said, “Funding high-quality local content that appeals to and connects with audiences where they are is a core focus for NZ On Air.
“We’re thrilled that our ongoing partnership with Screen Australia and TikTok will ensure that New Zealand and Australian audiences continue to see their unique experiences reflected on a global stage, and that emerging creatives will have the opportunity to hone their storytelling skills in a dynamic and highly-receptive environment.”
Director of content partnerships and community at TikTok Australia and New Zealand Felicity McVay said, “We’re excited to be taking part in this initiative for another year with Screen Australia and NZ On Air for Every Voice. We’re passionate about providing a platform for emerging and diverse voices who can express themselves authentically and give fresh perspectives on the cultural diversity of Australia and New Zealand and the world beyond. Investing in helping creators find new audiences on TikTok is a key initiative to help us support and nurture talented Aussie and Kiwi creatives.”
To participate in the initiative this year, applicants must firstly submit a short one minute pitch video and post the video on their public TikTok account, between June 27 and July 21, including the hashtag #everyvoice, as well as providing their contact details via an online entry form.
Teams must consist of between two to five members, with roles of writer, director and producer filled across these team members. Applicants must not be employed full time at a State or Territory screen agency.
This partnership supports a range of screen projects from Australia and New Zealand, and is intended for creators from under-represented backgrounds including First Nations, Māori, Pacific Peoples, Pan-Asian, LGBTQIA+, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), female or trans/gender diverse, people with disability and creators based in regional and remote areas.
Applications close at 5pm AEST Thursday, July 21 and creators can apply here.