Funding approvals
In the archive
2015-2016 production FUNDING

TV Drama Production  |  Documentary Production

Indigenous TV Drama Production

THE WARRIORS
8 x 30mins
Arenamedia Pty Ltd 
Producers Robert Connolly, John Harvey, Liz Kearney  
Story Producer Justin Monjo
Writers Jon Bell, Tracey Rigney, Tony Briggs 
Directors Adrian Russell Wills, Beck Cole, Steven McGregor, Catriona McKenzie 
Australian Distributor ABC 
International Sales Entertainment One 
Synopsis Set in the world of Australian Rules Football, THE WARRIORS explores the elite world of professional sport through the eyes of new recruits – plucked from obscurity to fame and fortune. With temptation at every turn and a lot of football, there’s no guarantee these young men will run through the banner for the first game of the season.

Indigenous Documentary Production

BLUE WATER EMPIRE
3 x 57 mins
Bunya Productions Pty Ltd
Producers Aaron Fa’aoso, David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin
Director Steven McGregor
Writers Aaron Fa’aoso, Steven McGregor, John Singe
Broadcaster ABC TV
Synopsis A dramatised documentary series on the unique and astonishing history of the Torres Strait Islands.

CARRY THE FLAG, RUN IT UP THE FLAGPOLE
28 mins
Tamarind Tree Pictures Pty Ltd
Producers Anna Grieve, Danielle MacLean, Bernard Namok
Director Danielle MacLean
Writers Danielle MacLean, Bernard Namok
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis There is a rich and powerful story stitched into a few pieces of coloured fabric of a man whose design created meaning for a nation of people once invisible to the mainland of Australia.

SHADOW TRACKERS
4 x 26mins
WildBear Entertainment Pty Ltd & Inkey Media Pty Ltd
Producers Veronica Fury, Dena Curtis
Executive Producer Michael Tear
Director / Writer Dena Curtis
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis Shadow Trackers go where no Blackfella has gone before... spirit chasing!

SERVANT OR SLAVE
56mins
No Coincidence Media Pty Ltd
Producers Hetti Perkins, Mitchell Stanley
Executive Producer Michaele Perske
Director Steven McGregor
Writers Hetti Perkins, Mitchell Stanley
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis A depiction of domestic servitude in the 19th and 20th century from an Aboriginal perspective, which may well in fact be considered to be slavery.

Songlines Special Initiative

FINDING MAAWIRRANGGA
15mins
Diplin Arts Aboriginal Corporation
Producer Julia Morris
Executive Producer Fleur Parry
Director Dylan McDonald
Writer Tom E. Lewis
Synopsis Before re-connecting with the Dreaming of his Grandmothers’ country, Tom E Lewis must return home to seek permission from the Lawmen, learn and travel the Songlines, breaking years of haunting silence.

THE GREEDY EMU
15mins
Manmoyi Music Pty Ltd
Producer Mark T. Grose
Director Terrah Guymala
Writer Jill Ngandmirra
Synopsis Adults have a responsibility to care for their children and when they don't there are consequences.

MARRIMARRIGUN
15mins
Ramu Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Jodie Bell
Director Kimberley West
Writer Dot West
Synopsis Two young men out hunting get ripped from the mainland by ferocious tides.  Through this tragedy, the ancestors of the Yawuru people are born.

NIMINGARRA STORY
15mins
Broome Aboriginal Media Association Aboriginal Corporation & Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media
Producer Neil Turner
Director Curtis Taylor
Writers Desmond Taylor, Neil turner, Curtis Taylor
Synopsis Nimingarra spirit people pursued two snakes from Mukurtu in the east through to Lake Dora in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. They killed and cooked them there but all perished in an explosion of hot juices when the snake’s bladders were pierced. The Nimingarra spirits became the Warnman speaking people whose descendants live in the region today.

NJAMBI
15mins
Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Aboriginal Corporation & ARDS
Producer Benjamin Ward
Director / Writer Mark Watjana Ashley
Synopsis Following the spiritual, legal and economic significance of Ŋambi (stone spearhead), for the Wagilag clan of Arnhem Land, senior custodian Roy Wuyŋumbi Ashley shares an all-encompassing  story of identity, culture and law that only he can tell.

SESERE
15 mins
One Blood Hidden Image Entertainment Group Pty Ltd
Producer Patrick Mau
Director Benjamin Southwell
Synopsis An observational documentary about the origins of dugong hunting in the Torres Strait Islands.

YARRIPIRRI’S JOURNEY
15mins
Walpiri Media Association Inc.
Producer Anna Cadden
Executive Producer Michael Taylor
Directors / Writers Simon Fisher, Jason Japaljarri Woods
Synopsis Harry Jakamarra Nelson follows the epic journey of Yarripirri, the ancestral Serpent who brought songs, law and the Jardiwarnpa fire ceremony to Warlpiri country.

Moment in History Special Initiative

CONNECTION TO COUNTRY
55mins
Weerianna Street Media Pty Ltd
Producers Robyn Marais, John Moore
Executive Producer John Moore
Director Tyson Mowarin
Writers Robyn Marais, Tyson Mowarin, John Moore
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis Precious Pilbara Indigenous heritage is under attack from mining and industry and Pilbara Elders are fighting back to make sure any changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act are fair.

LITERACY FOR LIFE
63mins
Blackfella Films
Producer Darren Dale
Director / Writer Erica Glynn
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis Literacy for Life follows a bunch of Adult Aboriginal people as they take on the brave task of learning to read and write later in life.

OCCUPATION NATIVE
52mins
Brindle Films Pty Ltd
Producers Rachel Clements, Meredith Garlick, Trisha Morton-Thomas
Director / Writer Trisha Morton-Thomas
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis Getting all historical, Aboriginal filmmaker Trisha Morton-Thomas, bites back at Australian history.

WE DON’T NEED A MAP
85 mins
Barefoot Communications Pty Ltd
Producer Brendan Fletcher
Director Warwick Thornton
Writers Brendan Fletcher, Warwick Thornton
Broadcaster NITV
Synopsis An epic retelling of Australia’s history, told through our collective relationship to one stellar constellation.

Indigenous Feature Documentary Production – Special Initiative 

AFTER THE APOLOGY
80mins
Pursekey Productions Pty Ltd
Producer Michaela Perske
Director / Writer Larissa Behrendt
Synopsis Indigenous children are still being removed from their families at alarming rates. After the Apology tells the true stories of the fight to bring the children home.