Screen Australia has announced a A$350,000 production investment in three animated short films through its Short Animation Production Program which is intended to assist the career progression of strong and distinctive animation filmmakers and to showcase their work to an international audience. 

The production investment will aid to fund The Nightingale and the Rose – a collaboration between two-time Archibald-winning artist Del Kathryn Barton and Brendan Fletcher, both of whom will co-direct and write; Lost Property Office – a stop-motion animation from writer, director and animator Daniel Agdag and producer Liz Kearney; and writer, director and animator Simon Cottee’s The Duck – a touching, fable-like story about the improbable love between a duck and a rock.

Screen Australia’s Head of Development, Martha Coleman, said, “Each of these animations is evocative, emotional and innovative, driven by exciting, strong voices at different stages in their career. The diverse range of teams and projects in this round continues to reflect the breadth and calibre of talent in the Australian film and animation industries.”