2015–2016 production funding approvals

April 2016

AUSTRALIA DAY
Hoodlum Active Pty Ltd
Executive Producers Nathan Mayfield, Tracey Robertson, Leigh McGrath, Deanne
Weir
Producers Nathan Mayfield, Tracey Robertson, Leigh McGrath, Edward Herbert
Director Kriv Stenders
Writer Stephen M. Irwin  
Australian Distributor Foxtel
International Sales ZDF Enterprises
Synopsis Australia Day; a Day United, a Nation Divided. On Australia's most controversial national holiday, the lives of three Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds will collide, illuminating contemporary issues of racial tension and national identity that simmer beneath the surface of modern Australia.

NEWTON’S LAW – A Tale of Equal & Opposite Forces
Every Cloud Productions Pty Ltd
Producers Fiona Eagger, Deb Cos, Anna Molyneaux 
Executive Producers Fiona Eagger, Deborah Cox
Writers Belinda Chayko, Chris Corbett, Elizabeth Packett, Elizabeth Coleman, Ellie Beaumont
Australian Distributor ABC Commercial
International Sales ABC Commercial
Synopsis With her low-flying Solicitor’s practice incinerated by a disgruntled client, her marriage collapsing and motherhood fast losing its charm, Josephine Newton attempts to leave her lame ducks behind and return to the Bar.

CLEVERMAN SEASON 2
Goalpost Pictures
Producers Rosemary Blight, Ryan Griffen, Sharon Lark, Jane Allen
Executive Producers Ben Grant, Kylie du Fresne, Angela Littlejohn
Directors Wayne Blair, Leah Purcell
Writers Stuart Page, Jane Allen, Justine Gillmer, Ryan Griffen
Australian Distributor ABC, eOne
International Sales Red Arrow
Synopsis Season Two, six months on, brothers Koen and Waruu West once again find themselves diametrically opposed in how to defend their people and protect their Dreaming.

THE FAMILY LAW SEASON 2
Matchbox Pictures
Producers Julie Eckersley, Sophie Miller
Executive Producers Tony Ayres, Debbie Lee
Writers Benjamin Law, Kirsty Fisher, Lawrence Leung
Australian Distributor SBS
International Sales Universal Media Studios International
Synopsis With their harrowing summer firmly behind them, the now-wiser Law family are exploring fresh careers, fresh ambitions, even fresh romances... but nothing stays fresh for long in the Queensland sun.

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
FremantleMedia Australia
Executive Producers Jo Porter, Anthony Ellis
Writers Elizabeth Coleman, Pip Karmel
Australian Distributor Seven Network
International Sales FremantleMedia International
Synopsis The story of Olivia Newton-John follows the remarkable personal and professional journey of one of the world’s most successful and enduring stars through one of the world's toughest industries: her face to the world, and the private woman.

BOND
CJZ
Producer Paul Bennett
Executive Producers Nick Murray, Michael Cordell, Jo Rooney, Andy Ryan    
Director Mark Joffe
Writer Sarah Smith
Australian Distributor Nine Network
International Sales Cordell Jigsaw Distribution
Synopsis BOND tells the rags to riches to rags tale of controversial business tycoon Alan Bond – a man with an insatiable appetite for the excesses of life - women, fame, money, crime and everything in-between.

Children's Television

LITTLE LUNCH SPECIALS
Little Lunch Holdings Pty Ltd
Producers Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope, Ben Grogan
Director / Writer Robyn Butler
Australian Distributor ABC
International Sales ACTF
Synopsis The Little Lunch Christmas Special and The Little Lunch Halloween Special transport the hit mockumentary comedy to two deeply significant events in the school calendar.

November 2015

ROSEHAVEN
Guesswork Television Pty Ltd
Producer Andrew Walker
Executive Producers Kevin Whyte, Rick Kalowski, Brett Sleigh
Writer Luke McGregor, Celia Pacquola
Distributor Guesswork Television
Synopsis Daniel returns home to his small town to take over the family real estate business with a stowaway - his best (city) friend Emma.

SEVEN TYPES OF AMBIGUITY
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Amanda Higgs
Executive Producer Tony Ayres
Writers Jacqueline Perske, Marieke Hardy, Jonathan Gavin
Australian Broadcaster ABC 
International Sales NBCUniversal
Synopsis A psychological mystery told from the perspective of seven characters following a convoluted chain of events triggered when a child is taken and relationships are thrown into crisis.

DOCTOR DOCTOR
Essential Media and Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers Ian Collie, Claudia Karvan and Tony McNamara 
Directors Peter Salmon, Jeremy Sims, Kriv Stenders, Daina Reid, Tony McNamara
Writers Tony McNamara, Liz Doran, Alice Bell, Tamara Asmar 
Australian Distributor Roadshow Entertainment
International Sales FremantleMedia International
Synopsis When he is knocked off his pedestal and on to the Impaired Registrants Program, prodigal Sydney surgeon and party boy Hugh Knight must return to his family home in rural Whyhope where he might learn to swallow his pride and mend his ways – or not.

PAUL HOGAN
FremantleMedia Australia Pty Ltd
Executive Producers Jo Porter, Anthony Ellis
Director Kevin Carlin
Writer Keith Thompson, Marieke Hardy
Australian Distributor Seven
International Sales FremantleMedia International
Synopsis The story of Paul Hogan's life from Sydney Harbour Bridge rigger to Oscar-nominated superstar.

THE WRONG GIRL
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Producers Judi McCrossin, Tome Hoffie
Executive Producers David Taylor, David Maher
Writers Judi McCrossin, Michael Lucas, Christine Bartlett
Australian Distributor Ten
International Sales Sony Pictures Entertainment
Synopsis Lily is pretty certain she’s been doing everything right, which is depressing seeing as everything has started going wrong. Either she has to change or everyone else in the world has to. From Lily’s point of view, it’d be a lot easier if it were everyone else.

Children's Television

YOU’RE SKITTING ME SERIES 3
Jigsaw Entertainment (CJZ Group)
Executive Producers Toni Malone, Nick Murray, Damian Davis 
Writers Ray Matsen, Mark O’Toole
Australian Distributor ABC 3
International Sales ACTF
Synopsis YOU’RE SKITTING ME is a sketch comedy for kids. The sketches are an edgy mix of great characters observing real-life, tackling the funny, the strange and the serious as well as television parodies and offbeat animations.

NOWHERE BOYS Series 3
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Beth Frey
Executive Producers Tony Ayres, Michael McMahon
Writers David Hannam, Guila Sandler, Kris Mrksa, Marieke Hardy, Jessica Brookman, Rhys Graham
Australian Distributor ABC
Australian and International Sales NBCUniversal
Synopsis The multiverse is all out of balance, and a mega-demon threat looms large over Bremin, setting the Nowhere Boys off on a new adventure.

August 2015

WANTED (working title)
Matchbox Pictures Pty Ltd and R&R Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Action Adventure, Drama
Producers Andy Walker, Richard Bell
Executive Producers Rebecca Gibney, Tony Ayres
Director Shirley Barrett
Script Producer Timothy Hobart
Writers Timothy Hobart, John Ridley, Kirsty Fisher
Cast Rebecca Gibney
Broadcaster Seven Network
Domestic/International Sales Universal Media Studios International
Synopsis When two strangers intervene in a deadly car jacking, they are swept up in a roller coaster chase across Australia in a car full of money.