Traditional distribution pathways may have been upended by Covid-19, but in some ways, the pandemic has strengthened the landscape for social impact documentary.
That’s according to Leeanne Torpey, Jungle Entertainment’s communications and impact manager, who has led the impact campaign for the company’s doco Big Deal, about the influence of money on politics.
“Community connections are becoming more important. And if [a project] is addressing a real need in the community, then an audience is going to exist passionately whether or not it’s convenient to get to the cinema,” she tells If.
Big Deal, directed by Craig Reucassel and presented by Christiaan Van Vuuren, marks Jungle’s first social impact documentary. Aline Jacques produces, while executive producers include Jason Burrows, Jen Peedom, Bridget Callow-Wright, Malinda Wink, and Paul Wiegard.
The project follows Van Vuuren as he meets with a host of prominent parliamentary and media figures to understand...
That’s according to Leeanne Torpey, Jungle Entertainment’s communications and impact manager, who has led the impact campaign for the company’s doco Big Deal, about the influence of money on politics.
“Community connections are becoming more important. And if [a project] is addressing a real need in the community, then an audience is going to exist passionately whether or not it’s convenient to get to the cinema,” she tells If.
Big Deal, directed by Craig Reucassel and presented by Christiaan Van Vuuren, marks Jungle’s first social impact documentary. Aline Jacques produces, while executive producers include Jason Burrows, Jen Peedom, Bridget Callow-Wright, Malinda Wink, and Paul Wiegard.
The project follows Van Vuuren as he meets with a host of prominent parliamentary and media figures to understand...
- 10/19/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Eva Orner’s Burning is the winner of Sydney Film Festival’s inaugural Sustainable Future Award.
Selected from eight nominees, the $10,000 cash prize will be presented to the Amazon Australian Original for deepening the knowledge and awareness of the impact of the global climate emergency.
The award, which has been funded by climate activists, is philanthropically motivated.
Burning, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), looks
at the unprecedented and catastrophic Australian bushfires of 2019-2020 from the perspective of victims of the fires, activists and scientists.
Produced by Propagate Content, Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films and Amazon Studios, the film marks Amazon’s first feature-length Australian documentary commission. In addition to directing, Orner produces with Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, and Jonathan Schaerf.
Burning was selected as the winner by a jury of filmmakers and climate advocates: school student and Strike4Climate activist Natasha Abhayawickrama; documentary filmmaker Bettina Dalton...
Selected from eight nominees, the $10,000 cash prize will be presented to the Amazon Australian Original for deepening the knowledge and awareness of the impact of the global climate emergency.
The award, which has been funded by climate activists, is philanthropically motivated.
Burning, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), looks
at the unprecedented and catastrophic Australian bushfires of 2019-2020 from the perspective of victims of the fires, activists and scientists.
Produced by Propagate Content, Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films and Amazon Studios, the film marks Amazon’s first feature-length Australian documentary commission. In addition to directing, Orner produces with Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, and Jonathan Schaerf.
Burning was selected as the winner by a jury of filmmakers and climate advocates: school student and Strike4Climate activist Natasha Abhayawickrama; documentary filmmaker Bettina Dalton...
- 10/10/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
By his own admission, Christiaan Van Vuuren is no political expert.
Despite this, the perspective of the Soul Mates and Bondi Hipsters comedian is central to Big Deal, a two-part ABC factual series examining Australia’s billion-dollar political lobbying industry.
As the presenter of Craig Reucassel’s directorial debut, Van Vuuren sits down with a host of prominent parliamentary and media figures, including Jason Falinski, Sam Dastyari, Scott Ryan, Kate McClymont, Andrew Leigh, Helen Haines, Jacqui Lambie, Katharine Murphy, Linda Burney, and Zali Steggall.
He told If the distance of departure from his previous work was not lost on him.
“It was pretty terrifying,” he said.
“There is an emotional safety when you have control of an edit and you’re in character and it’s comedic.
“This is scarier because you are a bit more out there. It was challenging in that I was talking to people who know...
Despite this, the perspective of the Soul Mates and Bondi Hipsters comedian is central to Big Deal, a two-part ABC factual series examining Australia’s billion-dollar political lobbying industry.
As the presenter of Craig Reucassel’s directorial debut, Van Vuuren sits down with a host of prominent parliamentary and media figures, including Jason Falinski, Sam Dastyari, Scott Ryan, Kate McClymont, Andrew Leigh, Helen Haines, Jacqui Lambie, Katharine Murphy, Linda Burney, and Zali Steggall.
He told If the distance of departure from his previous work was not lost on him.
“It was pretty terrifying,” he said.
“There is an emotional safety when you have control of an edit and you’re in character and it’s comedic.
“This is scarier because you are a bit more out there. It was challenging in that I was talking to people who know...
- 10/8/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Presented by comedian Christiaan Van Vuuren and directed by Craig Reucassel, Big Deal takes a look at Australia’s billion-dollar political lobbying industry. For every federal politician, there’s millions of dollars devoted just to swinging their opinion, or their vote.
The two-part factual series Big Deal premieres on the ABC October 19 following its theatrical run via Madman Entertainment, with both episodes instantly available to binge on ABC iview.
In the series, Christiaan meets with a range of politicians, journalists, and experts, such as Malcolm Turnbull, Jason Falinski, Sam Dastyari, Scott Ryan, Kate McClymont, Dr Andrew Leigh, Helen Haines, Jacqui Lambie, Katharine Murphy, Linda Burney, and Zali Steggall, to ask, ‘Is Australia’s democracy for sale?’
Big Deal is produced by Aline Jacques, and executive produced by Jen Peedom, Bridget Callow-Wright, Jason Burrows, Malinda Wink and Paul Wiegard. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Screen Nsw.
The...
The two-part factual series Big Deal premieres on the ABC October 19 following its theatrical run via Madman Entertainment, with both episodes instantly available to binge on ABC iview.
In the series, Christiaan meets with a range of politicians, journalists, and experts, such as Malcolm Turnbull, Jason Falinski, Sam Dastyari, Scott Ryan, Kate McClymont, Dr Andrew Leigh, Helen Haines, Jacqui Lambie, Katharine Murphy, Linda Burney, and Zali Steggall, to ask, ‘Is Australia’s democracy for sale?’
Big Deal is produced by Aline Jacques, and executive produced by Jen Peedom, Bridget Callow-Wright, Jason Burrows, Malinda Wink and Paul Wiegard. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with Screen Nsw.
The...
- 9/24/2021
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Jen Peedom’s River and Ben Lawrence’s Ithaka add to the already strong contingent of local films bound for August’s Melbourne International Film Festival, which unveiled its full program today.
Miff 2021 will include a hefty 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 Xr experiences. Among them are 40 world premieres; the most in the festival’s 69 year history.
Some 62 of those films will be available nationally via Miff Play, the festival’s online screening platform, with the festival reimagined this year as a hybrid event.
“This year, Miff continues to evolve — to meet the moment, and to meet audiences where they are,” said artistic director Al Cossar.
“What will not change is the extraordinary lineup of cinematic adventures, from home and afar, waiting for them. These are anticipated festival blockbusters, experimentations, breakthrough discoveries, and a huge lineup of incredible Australian talent. We will again share a world of cinema, reignited, to...
Miff 2021 will include a hefty 283 titles, including 199 features, 84 shorts and 10 Xr experiences. Among them are 40 world premieres; the most in the festival’s 69 year history.
Some 62 of those films will be available nationally via Miff Play, the festival’s online screening platform, with the festival reimagined this year as a hybrid event.
“This year, Miff continues to evolve — to meet the moment, and to meet audiences where they are,” said artistic director Al Cossar.
“What will not change is the extraordinary lineup of cinematic adventures, from home and afar, waiting for them. These are anticipated festival blockbusters, experimentations, breakthrough discoveries, and a huge lineup of incredible Australian talent. We will again share a world of cinema, reignited, to...
- 7/12/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Jennifer Peedom and Rowan Woods will lead this year’s Screenworks Directing Intensive, a two-day workshop to be held in late July.
Put on with support of the Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg), the duo will advise up to 12 selected regional screen directors from Nsw and Queensland on technique, skills and project development for drama and documentary.
“We’re so excited to have Jen and Rowan on board for this directing intensive,” says Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch.
“Both have excelled in the field of directing – Rowan in drama and feature films and Jen in documentary filmmaking – and they will bring extraordinary advice and mentoring to the twelve regional screen directors who are selected to take part in this workshop. We’re very grateful to the Australian Directors Guild for recommending them as tutors.”
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate some experience directing content for screen and must be living in regional Nsw or regional Queensland.
Put on with support of the Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg), the duo will advise up to 12 selected regional screen directors from Nsw and Queensland on technique, skills and project development for drama and documentary.
“We’re so excited to have Jen and Rowan on board for this directing intensive,” says Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch.
“Both have excelled in the field of directing – Rowan in drama and feature films and Jen in documentary filmmaking – and they will bring extraordinary advice and mentoring to the twelve regional screen directors who are selected to take part in this workshop. We’re very grateful to the Australian Directors Guild for recommending them as tutors.”
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate some experience directing content for screen and must be living in regional Nsw or regional Queensland.
- 5/18/2021
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia, together with its Gender Matters Taskforce, has used International Women’s Day to unveil two initiatives aimed at supporting women and gender-diverse practitioners.
These include a series of webinars presented by women working in key creative roles and a mentoring program.
Hosted by Screenworks, the Gender Matters Webinars will engage with representatives from the Gender Matters Taskforce and the wider industry, leveraging their expertise and connections to advocate for change in each of their individual areas of speciality.
Gender Matters Taskforce chair and producer Joanna Werner, director Corrie Chen, documentary filmmakers Jen Peedom and Yaara Bou Melhem, and screenwriter Sarah Bassiuoni will join moderato, dean of Rmit University’s School of Media and Communication, Lisa French, in speaking at the sessions.
There is also Gender Matters Connect, a mentoring program delivered by Women in Film and Television Australia (Wift Australia) and Screen Australia.
Among those sharing their expertise...
These include a series of webinars presented by women working in key creative roles and a mentoring program.
Hosted by Screenworks, the Gender Matters Webinars will engage with representatives from the Gender Matters Taskforce and the wider industry, leveraging their expertise and connections to advocate for change in each of their individual areas of speciality.
Gender Matters Taskforce chair and producer Joanna Werner, director Corrie Chen, documentary filmmakers Jen Peedom and Yaara Bou Melhem, and screenwriter Sarah Bassiuoni will join moderato, dean of Rmit University’s School of Media and Communication, Lisa French, in speaking at the sessions.
There is also Gender Matters Connect, a mentoring program delivered by Women in Film and Television Australia (Wift Australia) and Screen Australia.
Among those sharing their expertise...
- 3/8/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
A documentary offering insights into the juvenile justice system and another showcasing Australia’s own ‘horse whisperer’ have been selected to receive funding under a joint initiative between Screen Australia and The Guardian.
Charby Ibrahim’s Juvie and Pete Ward’s Movement at the Station will stream for free on the news site later in the year as part of the doco program, designed to help Australian filmmakers reach an international audience.
Focusing on young people with first-hand experience of the juvenile justice system, Juvie brings together animation, stylised interviews, and observational material to delve into the life circumstances of a young person leading up to their arrest, the social context surrounding their behaviour, and their prospects on the outside after release.
Ibrahim, whose short documentary Bright Lights launched on The Guardian last month, teams up with producer Britt Arthur (Paper Trails) and executive producer Jen Peedom (Mountain) to bring the project to life.
Charby Ibrahim’s Juvie and Pete Ward’s Movement at the Station will stream for free on the news site later in the year as part of the doco program, designed to help Australian filmmakers reach an international audience.
Focusing on young people with first-hand experience of the juvenile justice system, Juvie brings together animation, stylised interviews, and observational material to delve into the life circumstances of a young person leading up to their arrest, the social context surrounding their behaviour, and their prospects on the outside after release.
Ibrahim, whose short documentary Bright Lights launched on The Guardian last month, teams up with producer Britt Arthur (Paper Trails) and executive producer Jen Peedom (Mountain) to bring the project to life.
- 2/23/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Director Jennifer Peedom is set to re-team with her Mountain collaborators, the Australia Chamber Orchestra’s (Aco) Richard Tognetti and writer Robert Macfarlane, on new a theatrical documentary, River.
Co-commissioned by the ABC and BBC Arts, the project is a partnership between Stranger Than Fiction Films and the UK’s Arrow Pictures which will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and explore the relationship between humans and rivers.
Set to span six continents and boast “extraordinary contemporary cinematography”, including satellite filming, the film promises to show rivers on scales and from perspectives never seen before.
“As Mountain drew its audience up to the highest world’s most formidable summits, so River will draw its audiences in to explore the arteries of the planet,” Peedom said.
“This is not a traditional theatrical documentary. The phenomenal global success of Mountain shows that audiences worldwide have a huge appetite for a different kind of experience.
Co-commissioned by the ABC and BBC Arts, the project is a partnership between Stranger Than Fiction Films and the UK’s Arrow Pictures which will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and explore the relationship between humans and rivers.
Set to span six continents and boast “extraordinary contemporary cinematography”, including satellite filming, the film promises to show rivers on scales and from perspectives never seen before.
“As Mountain drew its audience up to the highest world’s most formidable summits, so River will draw its audiences in to explore the arteries of the planet,” Peedom said.
“This is not a traditional theatrical documentary. The phenomenal global success of Mountain shows that audiences worldwide have a huge appetite for a different kind of experience.
- 2/23/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Given the subject matter of Jen Peedom’s first narrative feature, it is somewhat fitting the project has been included in Higher Ground’s production slate.
The production company, owned by Barack and Michelle Obama, will partner with the filmmaker and Netflix on Tenzing – a feature film based on the true story of Tenzing Norgay, the man who first reached the summit of Everest along with Sir Edmund Hillary.
Luke Davies (Lion) wrote the script based on the book Tenzing: Hero of Everest by Ed Douglas.
Peedom, who operates Stranger Than Fiction Films alongside Jo-anne McGowan, will produce with Davies alongside Higher Ground Productions. David Michôd (The King) and Norbu Tenzing Norgay, who is Tenzing Norgay’s eldest son, will executive produce.
The director, whose previous credits include documentaries Sherpa and Mountain, has known Tenzing’s family since 2003, and has been working on working on the feature about his life since 2016.
Jen Peedom.
The production company, owned by Barack and Michelle Obama, will partner with the filmmaker and Netflix on Tenzing – a feature film based on the true story of Tenzing Norgay, the man who first reached the summit of Everest along with Sir Edmund Hillary.
Luke Davies (Lion) wrote the script based on the book Tenzing: Hero of Everest by Ed Douglas.
Peedom, who operates Stranger Than Fiction Films alongside Jo-anne McGowan, will produce with Davies alongside Higher Ground Productions. David Michôd (The King) and Norbu Tenzing Norgay, who is Tenzing Norgay’s eldest son, will executive produce.
The director, whose previous credits include documentaries Sherpa and Mountain, has known Tenzing’s family since 2003, and has been working on working on the feature about his life since 2016.
Jen Peedom.
- 2/9/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Anya Beyersdorf.
Prolific screenwriter Anya Beyersdorf says her excitement level has gone through the roof as she collaborates with director Rachel Ward on one of the segments of the ABC’s female-driven Shakespeare Now anthology.
Enjoying a career high, Beyersdorf is also working on an Every Cloud Productions’ drama and developing multiple projects with writer-director Miranda Nation, Aquarius Films, Truant Pictures and US director Alexis Ostrander.
“I have had a privileged, lucky lockdown,” she tells If. “I think I would have gone mad if I didn’t have all these scripts and virtual writers’ rooms. It’s kept me connected and doing meaningful things.”
Hoodlum Entertainment and Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment are developing Shakespeare Now, consisting of fresh re-interpretations of Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, The Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night.
“Rachel is such a generous, clever, cool woman,...
Prolific screenwriter Anya Beyersdorf says her excitement level has gone through the roof as she collaborates with director Rachel Ward on one of the segments of the ABC’s female-driven Shakespeare Now anthology.
Enjoying a career high, Beyersdorf is also working on an Every Cloud Productions’ drama and developing multiple projects with writer-director Miranda Nation, Aquarius Films, Truant Pictures and US director Alexis Ostrander.
“I have had a privileged, lucky lockdown,” she tells If. “I think I would have gone mad if I didn’t have all these scripts and virtual writers’ rooms. It’s kept me connected and doing meaningful things.”
Hoodlum Entertainment and Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment are developing Shakespeare Now, consisting of fresh re-interpretations of Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, The Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night.
“Rachel is such a generous, clever, cool woman,...
- 8/12/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Rachel Okine.
Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford’s Aquarius Films has stepped up its feature film and TV drama development slate, collaborating with such creatives as Justine Flynn, Del Kathryn Barton and Huna Amweero, Clementine Ford, Anya Beyersdorf, Roger Monk and Rhys Graham.
The production company gained momentum after hiring former eOne and Hopscotch Features executive Rachel Okine in the newly created role of managing director.
Okine joined in March, just as the pandemic struck. After a pause when, she says, Aquarius’ focus on growth switched to survival mode, the development pace picked up.
The Unusual Suspects, a four-part crime caper for Sbs co-funded by Screen Australia starts pre-production next week. A whodunit set in the Filipino domestic worker community in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, it’s scripted by Jessica Redenbach, Roger Monk (Nowhere Boys) and Vonne Patiag (Halal Gurls).
Parent Up, a Korean/Australian kids spy comedy, is in...
Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford’s Aquarius Films has stepped up its feature film and TV drama development slate, collaborating with such creatives as Justine Flynn, Del Kathryn Barton and Huna Amweero, Clementine Ford, Anya Beyersdorf, Roger Monk and Rhys Graham.
The production company gained momentum after hiring former eOne and Hopscotch Features executive Rachel Okine in the newly created role of managing director.
Okine joined in March, just as the pandemic struck. After a pause when, she says, Aquarius’ focus on growth switched to survival mode, the development pace picked up.
The Unusual Suspects, a four-part crime caper for Sbs co-funded by Screen Australia starts pre-production next week. A whodunit set in the Filipino domestic worker community in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, it’s scripted by Jessica Redenbach, Roger Monk (Nowhere Boys) and Vonne Patiag (Halal Gurls).
Parent Up, a Korean/Australian kids spy comedy, is in...
- 8/6/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Baz Luhrmann.
A new feature film from Baz Luhrmann, set in a small Australian country town, is among the 18 projects to recently receive story development funding from Screen Australia.
The agency announced today it will share $620,000 between 11 films, five TV series and two online projects.
These projects come from both the existing Premium and Generate development funds. Generate Fund is for lower budget projects with an emphasis on new and emerging talent, or experienced talent wanting to take creative risks. The Premium Fund is for higher budget projects of ambition and scale from successful screen content makers.
Projects pitched for Premium Plus funds – the additional development funding the agency announced in response to Covid-19 – are still being assessed.
Screen Australia head of development Nerida Moore said: “With many productions temporarily halted it is more important than ever for us to support the development of Australian stories for all platforms. I...
A new feature film from Baz Luhrmann, set in a small Australian country town, is among the 18 projects to recently receive story development funding from Screen Australia.
The agency announced today it will share $620,000 between 11 films, five TV series and two online projects.
These projects come from both the existing Premium and Generate development funds. Generate Fund is for lower budget projects with an emphasis on new and emerging talent, or experienced talent wanting to take creative risks. The Premium Fund is for higher budget projects of ambition and scale from successful screen content makers.
Projects pitched for Premium Plus funds – the additional development funding the agency announced in response to Covid-19 – are still being assessed.
Screen Australia head of development Nerida Moore said: “With many productions temporarily halted it is more important than ever for us to support the development of Australian stories for all platforms. I...
- 5/12/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Australia Come Fly With Me’ (Photo credit: WildBear Entertainment).
Australia’s documentary makers are less affected by production shutdowns than most other sectors of the screen industry – apart from the large cohort of animators who are still working remotely.
While some productions have been delayed or suspended, filming continues on a sizable number of projects and many are in post.
WildBear Entertainment, which has has 85 people working remotely, is delivering five shows including Australia Come Fly With Me for Sbs, Demolition Downunder for Network Ten and France’s Mediawan, and Bushfire Animal Rescue for PBS and Arte/Zdf.
“We had five projects that were about to commence shooting and these have been delayed, around 25 hours in total,” WildBear CEO Michael Tear tells If. We have another 19 projects in post or very close to delivery. On seven we are experiencing interruption or requiring some form of change to production methodology.
“We...
Australia’s documentary makers are less affected by production shutdowns than most other sectors of the screen industry – apart from the large cohort of animators who are still working remotely.
While some productions have been delayed or suspended, filming continues on a sizable number of projects and many are in post.
WildBear Entertainment, which has has 85 people working remotely, is delivering five shows including Australia Come Fly With Me for Sbs, Demolition Downunder for Network Ten and France’s Mediawan, and Bushfire Animal Rescue for PBS and Arte/Zdf.
“We had five projects that were about to commence shooting and these have been delayed, around 25 hours in total,” WildBear CEO Michael Tear tells If. We have another 19 projects in post or very close to delivery. On seven we are experiencing interruption or requiring some form of change to production methodology.
“We...
- 4/2/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Trisha Morton-Thomas will write/direct ‘History Bites Back’ for Nitv.
Screen Australia today announced $2 million of production funding for eight documentaries through the Producer program and two through the Commissioned program.
The slate includes a recently commissioned Sbs feature doc about the unsolved Bowraville Murders; a Dr Michael Mosley-fronted Sbs series examining Australia’s diabetes epidemic and Jen Peedom’s River, her follow up to box office hit Mountain, which will combine visuals and orchestral music to explore the relationship between humans and rivers.
“This is an exciting line up of documentaries that will provide fascinating insights into contemporary Australia on themes of the environment, health and human behaviour, as well as examining aspects of our history. We’re particularly thrilled to support a number of Indigenous stories in this slate,” Screen Australia head of documentary Bernadine Lim.
“Even under normal circumstances, the timeframe between a project being funded...
Screen Australia today announced $2 million of production funding for eight documentaries through the Producer program and two through the Commissioned program.
The slate includes a recently commissioned Sbs feature doc about the unsolved Bowraville Murders; a Dr Michael Mosley-fronted Sbs series examining Australia’s diabetes epidemic and Jen Peedom’s River, her follow up to box office hit Mountain, which will combine visuals and orchestral music to explore the relationship between humans and rivers.
“This is an exciting line up of documentaries that will provide fascinating insights into contemporary Australia on themes of the environment, health and human behaviour, as well as examining aspects of our history. We’re particularly thrilled to support a number of Indigenous stories in this slate,” Screen Australia head of documentary Bernadine Lim.
“Even under normal circumstances, the timeframe between a project being funded...
- 3/17/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Craig Reucassel’s ‘War on Waste.’
Making The Chaser franchise was such a collegiate effort the crew on the ABC satirical show used to jokingly refer to Craig Reucassel as the back-seat director.
The performer, writer and War on Waste star will take the front seat for the first time on Democracy Project, a feature documentary and two-part ABC program co-funded by Screen Australia’s Producer Program.
Marking a return to the factual genre for Jungle Entertainment, the show will investigate how money has infiltrated Australia’s democratic system, including corporate and political donations and the role of lobbyists.
The project germinated at a Shark Island Institute Story Development and Impact Lab last year attended by Jungle CEO Jason Burrows, Jen Peedom, Reucassel and Christiaan Van Vuuren.
“We developed the idea and at the end of the week it was decided I would be the director, which I did not intend to be,...
Making The Chaser franchise was such a collegiate effort the crew on the ABC satirical show used to jokingly refer to Craig Reucassel as the back-seat director.
The performer, writer and War on Waste star will take the front seat for the first time on Democracy Project, a feature documentary and two-part ABC program co-funded by Screen Australia’s Producer Program.
Marking a return to the factual genre for Jungle Entertainment, the show will investigate how money has infiltrated Australia’s democratic system, including corporate and political donations and the role of lobbyists.
The project germinated at a Shark Island Institute Story Development and Impact Lab last year attended by Jungle CEO Jason Burrows, Jen Peedom, Reucassel and Christiaan Van Vuuren.
“We developed the idea and at the end of the week it was decided I would be the director, which I did not intend to be,...
- 11/3/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
‘The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone’.
Screen Australia has announced $2 million in production funding for 11 documentary projects, seven through the Documentary Producer Program and four through the Commissioned Program.
They include two projects for Sbs’s documentary strand Untold Australia, a digital series on the recent climate strikes for Junkee Media, a short doco following transgender activist Georgie Stone from director Maya Newell, as well as feature documentary Democracy Project, exploring money in politics, written and directed by Craig Reucassel and presented by Christiaan Van Vuuren.
The funding announcement comes as the agency revises its documentary programs; industry has until this Sunday to provide feedback on proposed changes to guidelines.
Screen Australia head of documentary Bernadine Lim said, “We are thrilled to support such a range of projects from all over Australia that shed light on a number of critical issues including climate change, human rights, inclusion and wildlife protection.”
“It...
Screen Australia has announced $2 million in production funding for 11 documentary projects, seven through the Documentary Producer Program and four through the Commissioned Program.
They include two projects for Sbs’s documentary strand Untold Australia, a digital series on the recent climate strikes for Junkee Media, a short doco following transgender activist Georgie Stone from director Maya Newell, as well as feature documentary Democracy Project, exploring money in politics, written and directed by Craig Reucassel and presented by Christiaan Van Vuuren.
The funding announcement comes as the agency revises its documentary programs; industry has until this Sunday to provide feedback on proposed changes to guidelines.
Screen Australia head of documentary Bernadine Lim said, “We are thrilled to support such a range of projects from all over Australia that shed light on a number of critical issues including climate change, human rights, inclusion and wildlife protection.”
“It...
- 10/23/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Claudia Karvan, Noni Hazlehurst and Stephen Curry. (Photo credit: Andreas Bommert)
Writer-director Jj Winlove could not have wished for a better cast for his debut feature June Again.
Now shooting in Sydney, the comedy-drama stars Noni Hazlehurst as June, a woman who experiences a medical miracle, after which she has only a few days to bring together her estranged children, save the family’s wallpaper business and rekindle an old flame.
Claudia Karvan and Stephen Curry are playing her children in the movie produced by Jamie Hilton, Michael Pontin, Drew Bailey and Isabel Stanfield for See Pictures.
The Wellington-born Winlove wrote the screenplay in 2017, aiming to appeal to older cinemagoers. His La-based agent, Verve’s Parker Davis, and his manager Scott Carr shopped the project and Hilton pounced.
He wrote several more drafts until the producers started the casting process via casting director Kirsty McGregor. The three leads all sparked...
Writer-director Jj Winlove could not have wished for a better cast for his debut feature June Again.
Now shooting in Sydney, the comedy-drama stars Noni Hazlehurst as June, a woman who experiences a medical miracle, after which she has only a few days to bring together her estranged children, save the family’s wallpaper business and rekindle an old flame.
Claudia Karvan and Stephen Curry are playing her children in the movie produced by Jamie Hilton, Michael Pontin, Drew Bailey and Isabel Stanfield for See Pictures.
The Wellington-born Winlove wrote the screenplay in 2017, aiming to appeal to older cinemagoers. His La-based agent, Verve’s Parker Davis, and his manager Scott Carr shopped the project and Hilton pounced.
He wrote several more drafts until the producers started the casting process via casting director Kirsty McGregor. The three leads all sparked...
- 2/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Margaret Morgan, Niki Aken and Taylor Litton-Strain.
Twelve female creators have been selected for a four-day genre masterclass, hosted by Bunya Productions and taught by Us writer/producer Raelle Tucker and Canadian director Jeremy Podeswa (Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale).
The Engendered Masterclass, supported as part of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters: Brilliant Careers program, will be held next week and see participants workshop their active projects directly with Tucker and Podeswa.
“Genre is what is really cutting through on TV at the moment, so the Engendered Masterclass funded by Screen Australia represents a tremendous opportunity for female creators,” said Bunya Productions’ Greer Simpkin.
“Jeremy and Raelle are masters of delivering premium genre, and furthermore when you think of the likes of The Handmaid’s Tale and Sacred Lies, they have made dramas that have proven the creative and commercial worth of female-led storytelling.”
“The 12 Australian creators selected...
Twelve female creators have been selected for a four-day genre masterclass, hosted by Bunya Productions and taught by Us writer/producer Raelle Tucker and Canadian director Jeremy Podeswa (Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale).
The Engendered Masterclass, supported as part of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters: Brilliant Careers program, will be held next week and see participants workshop their active projects directly with Tucker and Podeswa.
“Genre is what is really cutting through on TV at the moment, so the Engendered Masterclass funded by Screen Australia represents a tremendous opportunity for female creators,” said Bunya Productions’ Greer Simpkin.
“Jeremy and Raelle are masters of delivering premium genre, and furthermore when you think of the likes of The Handmaid’s Tale and Sacred Lies, they have made dramas that have proven the creative and commercial worth of female-led storytelling.”
“The 12 Australian creators selected...
- 12/11/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
‘Jirga’ won the Aacta for Best Indie Film.
Director Benjamin Gilmour’s Jirga took home the inaugural Aacta Award for Best Indie Film – designed to honour films made under $2 million – at the Aacta Industry Luncheon in Sydney yesterday.
The film, produced by John Maynard, beat out Strange Colours, Brothers’ Nest, West of Sunshine and The Second. Starring Sam Smith as a former Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan seeking forgiveness, Jirga is also Australia’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Some 35 awards were given away at yesterday’s Aacta event, hosted by actress Kat Stewart and comedian Nazeem Hussain. Other key feature film winners were Sweet Country and Ladies in Black, which each took home three gongs.
David Tranter and Steven McGregor won Best Original Screenplay for Sweet Country, while film’s director and Dop Warwick Thornton was honoured with the award for Best...
Director Benjamin Gilmour’s Jirga took home the inaugural Aacta Award for Best Indie Film – designed to honour films made under $2 million – at the Aacta Industry Luncheon in Sydney yesterday.
The film, produced by John Maynard, beat out Strange Colours, Brothers’ Nest, West of Sunshine and The Second. Starring Sam Smith as a former Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan seeking forgiveness, Jirga is also Australia’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Some 35 awards were given away at yesterday’s Aacta event, hosted by actress Kat Stewart and comedian Nazeem Hussain. Other key feature film winners were Sweet Country and Ladies in Black, which each took home three gongs.
David Tranter and Steven McGregor won Best Original Screenplay for Sweet Country, while film’s director and Dop Warwick Thornton was honoured with the award for Best...
- 12/3/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Russell Crowe and David Stratton. (Photo: Mark Rogers)
Two Australian productions, Stranger Than Fiction Film’s David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema and Endemol Shine Australia’s MasterChef Australia, are in contention for the 2018 International Emmy Awards.
Three-part series David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema, produced for the ABC, is nominated for the Arts Programming Award. It will compete against Canada’s Dreaming of A Jewish Christmas (Riddle Films), Dutch production Etgar Keret, gebaseerd op een waar verhaal (Baldr Film/Ntr Television) and Brazil’s Palavras Em Série (Words in Series) (Gnt/Hungry Man).
Stories of Australian Cinema, directed by Sally Aitken and produced by Jen Peedom and Jo-anne McGowan, sees the film critic and former co-host of ABC’s At The Movies and Sbs’s The Movie Show reflect on Australian films, including interviews from the likes of Nicole Kidman, Judy Davis, Russell Crowe and Jacki Weaver,...
Two Australian productions, Stranger Than Fiction Film’s David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema and Endemol Shine Australia’s MasterChef Australia, are in contention for the 2018 International Emmy Awards.
Three-part series David Stratton’s Stories of Australian Cinema, produced for the ABC, is nominated for the Arts Programming Award. It will compete against Canada’s Dreaming of A Jewish Christmas (Riddle Films), Dutch production Etgar Keret, gebaseerd op een waar verhaal (Baldr Film/Ntr Television) and Brazil’s Palavras Em Série (Words in Series) (Gnt/Hungry Man).
Stories of Australian Cinema, directed by Sally Aitken and produced by Jen Peedom and Jo-anne McGowan, sees the film critic and former co-host of ABC’s At The Movies and Sbs’s The Movie Show reflect on Australian films, including interviews from the likes of Nicole Kidman, Judy Davis, Russell Crowe and Jacki Weaver,...
- 9/28/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
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