Screen Australia announced production investment of over AU$1.7 million in five new projects as part of its International Documentary Programme on April 23, triggering over AU$6.8 million in production.
Screen Australia Senior Manager Documentary Liz Stevens said, “With two single-hour projects, two series and a feature-length project funded this round, it is a strong and diverse finish for the end of the financial year. In addition, working with international partners is a great way to grow the pie for Australian producers. These producers will work with American, Irish, English and German broadcasters on some exceptional programmes.”
The projects funded through the International Documentary Programme include After the Wave: The World’s Greatest Forensic Detective Story, from writer/director Amanda Blue, recounting one of the most devastating natural disasters in modern times – the Boxing Day tsunami – which fatally impacted 13 countries and killed over 200,000 people. The documentary will be produced by Lavinia Riachi for SBS and Discovery (UK).
Roar Film’s Death or Liberty, written by Tony Moore, Steve Thomas and Keith Farrell, and directed by Steve Westh and Keith Farrell, is the story of how political activists exiled to Australia during the 19th century helped to create the world’s first true democracy. It will be produced by Steve Thomas, Kath Symmons, Anna Grieve and Rebecca O’Malley for ABC TV.
Writer/producer Todd Sampson’s acclaimed programme Redesign My Brain returns with a second series, investigating ways to train the brain to be resistant to the psychological problems faced by humans today. The three-part series is directed by Jeff Sibbery and also written by Paul Scott and produced by Isabel Perez for ABC TV, Discovery Network International, and Discovery Science USA.
Truck It follows road train drivers as they battle against the odds on some of the toughest and most demanding journeys across Australia, and is directed by Roger Power and produced by Ed Punchard and Julia Redwood for Seven Network Australia.
From writer/director Wain Fimeri and producer Sonya Pemberton, Uranium – Twisting the Dragon’s Tail tells the untold story of the most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth in a three-part series for SBS Australia and PBS.
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMME
AFTER THE WAVE: THE WORLD’S GREATEST FORENSIC DETECTIVE STORY
75 mins
Flaming Star Films Pty Ltd
Producer: Lavinia Riachi
Executive Producer: Sharyn Prentice
Writer/Director: Amanda Blue
Broadcaster: SBS, Discovery (UK)
Sales: TVF International
Synopsis: The Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 was the most devastating natural disaster in modern times, killing 228,000 people across 13 countries in just a few hours. On that perfect day, from Indonesia to Thailand, Sri Lanka and as far afield as the Maldives, this catastrophic collision between the natural world and humankind would have far-reaching consequences on humanity and science forever.
DEATH OR LIBERTY
57 mins
Roar Film Pty Ltd
Producers: Steve Thomas, Kath Symmons, Anna Grieve, Rebecca O’Malley
Executive Producers: Craig Dow Sainter, Stephen Rooke
Directors: Steve Westh, Keith Farrell
Writer: Tony Moore, Steve Thomas, Keith Farrell
Broadcaster: ABC TV
Sales: TVF International
Synopsis: Death or Liberty is the story of how political radicals exiled to Australia during the 19th century helped to create the world’s first true democracy.
REDESIGN MY BRAIN SERIES 2
3 x 60’
Mindful Media Pty Ltd
Producers: Isabel Perez, Todd Sampson
Executive Producer: Paul Scott
Director: Jeff Sibbery
Writers: Paul Scott, Todd Sampson
Post-producer: Mark Barlin
Broadcasters: ABC TV, Discovery Network International, Discovery Science USA
Sales: Discovery Communications
Synopsis: Redesign My Brain series 2 shows how we can train the brain to be resilient against the many psychological problems facing humanity today.
TRUCK IT
44 mins
Prospero Productions Pty Ltd
Producers: Ed Punchard, Julia Redwood
Director: Roger Power
Broadcaster: Seven Network Australia
Sales: NGTI
Synopsis: Truck It follows road train drivers as they battle against the odds on some of the toughest and most demanding journeys across Australia.
URANIUM – TWISTING THE DRAGON’S TAIL
3 x 60’
Genepool Productions Pty Ltd
Producer: Sonya Pemberton
Executive Producers: Sonya Pemberton, Michael Cordell
Director/Writer: Wain Fimeri
Broadcaster: SBS Australia, PBS
Sales: SBS International
Synopsis: An epic journey through the untold story of the most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth.
