Screen Australia has announced $5.6 million in production and development funding across 44 documentary projects.
It spotlights what it describes as a sector “unafraid to innovate and to speak with authentic and diverse voices”.
The slate spans feature documentaries, major broadcast series and digital-first formats, reflecting both established creatives and emerging talent.
A diverse slate across broadcast, features and digital
Among the projects receiving support is TAMPA: The Ship That Turned the Tide from Mint Pictures, examining the 2001 “Tampa crisis” and its political reverberations.
TAMPA: The Ship That Turned the Tide Image: Screen Australia
The series has major production investment from the ABC and Screen Australia, with support from Screen NSW.
Atomic Paradise, a cinematic feature co-production between Australia and New Zealand, reclaims the Pacific’s nuclear testing history through a First Nations lens.
It is directed by John Harvey and produced by Sally Aitken, with local distribution by Umbrella ANZ.
Empire In Colour, an Australian-Canadian co-production, will use newly colourised archival footage to explore the legacy of the British Empire.
The four-part series is developed with SBS and Canadian broadcaster TVO, with international sales handled by Fremantle.
Other projects include Tina Arena: Unravel Me, tracing five decades of the pop icon’s career; The Man Who Ate a Succulent Chinese Meal, exploring the life behind the viral arrest meme; and This is Amy Taylor, following the frontwoman of Amyl and the Sniffers.
The Wombat Guy Image: Screen Australia
The funding also extends to digital-first storytelling, including YouTube series Tastes of Africa and the 24-part social media project The Wombat Guy.
Innovation and authentic voices
Richard Huddleston
Screen Australia Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston said the funded projects reflect both creative ambition and cultural diversity.
“From brave historical interrogations and intimate character studies to timely geopolitical examinations, natural history epics and fresh digital-first storytelling, these stories reflect a sector unafraid to innovate and to speak with authentic and diverse voices,” Huddleston said.
He added that the projects demonstrate “the curiosity, craft and ambition of Australian documentarians”, supporting teams to bring unique perspectives to local and global audiences.
Development funding was also awarded to MOONSHOT, a hybrid cli-fi documentary set in 2033 that investigates whether the super-rich are building a colony on the dark side of the Moon.
Full lists of production and development titles are available on Screen Australia’s website.
Top Image: Screen Australia