Funding Approvals
IN THE ARCHIVE
2020-2021 production FUNDING

JUNE 2021

THE MESSENGER
8 x 60 mins
Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Mystery
Director TBA
Writers Sarah Lambert, Kirsty Fisher, Kim Wilson, Magda Wozniak
Producers Jason Stephens, Sarah Lambert
Executive Producers Helen Bowden, Markus Zusak, Dominika Zusak
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales All3Media
Synopsis Adapted from the award winning novel by Markus Zusak, Ed Kennedy’s life is one of peaceful routine until playing cards inscribed with cryptic tasks start to arrive in the mail. Choosing to care, Ed makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains - who's behind Ed's mission?

MARCH 2021

SAVAGE RIVER
6 x 57 mins
Aquarius Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Crime
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse
Writers Giula Sandler, Franz Docherty, Belinda Bradley, Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford
Producers Polly Staniford, Angie Fielder
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales Dynamic Entertainment
Synopsis When Miki Anderson returns to her hometown in rural Victoria after 8 years in prison, she’s determined to finally move on with her life. But the close-knit community of Savage River is not about to let her forget the past that easily and when a murder rocks the town, Miki immediately becomes a focus of everyone’s suspicion. With the police closing in, she sets out to prove her innocence, uncovering long-buried secrets that will cast doubt on everything she thought she knew.

FEBRUARY 2021

ANYONE’S DAUGHTER 
4 x 60 mins
Screentime Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Director Peter Andrikidis
Writers Michaeley O’Brien, Justin Monjo
Producers Kerrie Mainwaring, Peter Andrikidis, Jamie Hilton
Broadcaster Seven Network
International Sales Banijay International
Synopsis The story of a police investigation into the disappearance of young women.

UPRIGHT SEASON 2
8 x 30 mins
Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Director TBA
Writers Tim Minchin, Niki Aken, Ian Meadows, Natesha Somasundaram
Producer Jason Stephens
Executive Producers Tim Minchin, Helen Bowden
Broadcaster Foxtel
International Sales Entertainment One
Synopsis Trading the desert for the steamy tropics of Far North Queensland, Lucky and Meg hit the road – and the river – on a mission.

BAD BEHAVIOUR 
4 x 50 mins
Matchbox Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Director Corrie Chen
Writers Pip Karmel, Magda Wozniak
Producer Amanda Higgs
Broadcaster Stan
International Sales NBCUniversal Global Distribution
Synopsis Bad Behaviour is a visceral ride into the epicentre of our teenage years where the most crucial decision of the day is to bully or be bullied. We’ve all been there, and we’re glad we got out unscathed. Or so we thought.

MAY 2021

BUMP SERIES 3
10 x 30 mins
Roadshow Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy drama
Writers Kelsey Munro, Jessica Tuckwell, Tim Lee, Mithila Gupta, Steven Arriagada, Fernanda Penaloza
Producers John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Dan Edwards
Broadcaster Stan
International Sales ITV
Synopsis Life. Not What You Planned.

LOVE ME
6 x 43 mins
Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia in association with Aquarius Films
Genre Drama, Comedy 
Writers Alison Bell, Leon Ford, Blake Ayshford, Adele Vuko 
Producers Polly Staniford, Angie Fielder
Executive Producer Hamish Lewis, Michael Brooks
Broadcaster Foxtel
International Sales DCD Rights
Synopsis When Clara’s mother passes away unexpectedly on the night of her parent’s 40th wedding anniversary, it pushes each member of the family to a romantic crossroads, forcing them to accept that love can pop up at the most inconvenient times, and that life goes on, whether we’re ready or not.

APRIL 2021

SURVIVING SUMMER
10 x 30 mins
Werner Film Productions Pty Ltd.
Genre Drama
Directors Ben Chessell, Charlotte George, Sian Davies
Writers Josh Mapleston, Magda Wozniak, Keir Wilkins, Gemma Crofts, Kirsty Fisher
Producer Joanna Werner
Executive Producers Joanna Werner, Stuart Menzies
Broadcaster Netflix
International Sales ZDFE
Synopsis Brooklyn, USA. Great Ocean Road, Australia. Worlds apart. Thrown together. Surfing is the easy bit.

FEBRUARY 2021

BUMP SERIES 2
10 x 30 mins
Roadshow Productions
Genre Drama
Writers Kelsey Munro, Jessica Tuckwell, Tim Lee, Mithila Gupta, Steven Arriagada
Producers Claudia Karvan, John Edwards, Dan Edwards
Broadcaster Stan
International Sales ITV
Synopsis Life. Not what you planned.

NOVEMBER 2020

THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS SERIES 2
6 x 60 mins
Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Director Jennifer Leacey
Writers Sarah Walker, Michael Robotham, Sarah Bassiuoni
Producer Helen Bowden 
Executive Producers Jason Stephens, Sarah Walker
Broadcaster Network 10
Synopsis The mystery at the core of the second season of The Secrets She Keeps will see the lives of Meghan Shaughnessy and Agatha Fyfle colliding again - with a dramatic twist that will unleash new secrets and spark shockwaves for their families in a thrilling study of intergenerational trauma.

BARONS
8 x 55 mins
Shore Dump Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Creators Michael Lawrence, John Molloy, Liz Doran 
Writers Liz Doran, Marieke Hardy, Matt Cameron
Producers John Molloy, Michael Lawrence, Justin Davies
Executive Producers Chris Oliver-Taylor, Nick Cook, Taylor Steele, Liz Doran, Jon Adgemis, Michael Gudinski
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales FremantleMedia International
Synopsis At a time when the rest of the world was blowing itself up – a few beautiful, brave, crazy people tuned into the ocean, dropped out, went looking for paradise – found it, lost it – then spent the rest of their lives trying to get it back.

FIRES
6 x 55 mins
Tony Ayres Productions
Genre Drama
Writers Belinda Chayko, Jacquelin Perske, Mirrah Foulkes, Steven McGregor, Anya Beyersdorf
Producer Elisa Argenzio
Executive Producers Tony Ayres, Andrea Denholm, Liz Watts, Belinda Chayko
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales NBCUniversal Global Distribution
Synopsis Inspired by extraordinary accounts from people who survived the catastrophic fire season of 2019/20, Fires is a serialised anthology that weaves character studies based on true stories into a narrative about the biggest fires of this century, if not in history. Each episode is based around reports from ordinary people caught in the unimaginable and the impossible choices they were forced to make. From volunteer firefighters risking everything, to families who lost homes and loved ones; from people who had to make agonising decisions about whether to stay or flee, to those who found themselves responsible for the lives of friends and strangers - Fires tells the story of how one summer changed us forever.

SPREADSHEET
8 x 30 mins
Northern Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy
Directors TBC 
Creators Kala Ellis together with Darren Ashton and Northern Pictures
Writers Kala Ellis, Romina Accurso, Rhys Nicholson, Darren Ashton, Matilda Brown, Michelle Law,
Producer Andy Walker
Executive Producer Catherine Nebauer
Broadcaster ViacomCBS
International Sales ITV Studios
Synopsis Can recently divorced, hectically busy mother-of-two Lauren really have it all? If by all we mean casual sex, a career, a family and her sanity? F@#k knows, but she’ll give it a shot!

SEPTEMBER 2020

A SUNBURNT CHRISTMAS
Every Cloud Productions in association with Highview Productions
Genre Comedy, Family
Director Christaan Van Vuuren
Writers Gretel Vella, Elliot Vella, Timothy Walker
Producer Lisa Scott
Co-Producer Mike Jones
Executive Producers Fiona Eagger, Deb Cox, Drew Grove
Distributor STAN
International Sales TBA
Synopsis The lives of a struggling family are upended when a runaway criminal dressed as Santa Claus crashes onto their drought-stricken farm.

CHILDREN'S TELEVISION

JUNE 2021

100% WOLF: THE BOOK OF HATH
26 x 22 mins
Flying Bark Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama, Family
Director Jacquie Trowell
Writers Fin Edquist, Tess Meyer
Producers Barbara Stephen and Alexia Gates-Foale
Executive Producer Michael Bourchier 
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales Paco Leadstar / Studio 100
Synopsis Starting with the appearance of a Polar Bear in the woods outside Howlington school and ending with the defeat of the terrifying Hath in 825AD, nothing is going to be easy for Freddy and his werewolf friends.

CRAZY FUN PARK
10 x 30 mins
Werner Film Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Horror
Director Nicholas Verso
Writers Nicholas Verso, Magda Wozniak, Craig Irvin, Fury, Enoch Mailangi
Producer Joanna Werner
Executive Producers Stuart Menzies, Joanna Werner
Broadcaster ABC ME
International Sales ACTF
Synopsis When an introverted teen loses his best friend at an abandoned theme park, he must step into a ghoulish neverland and discover how much he’ll risk to keep the friendship alive.

APRIL 2021

BEEP AND MORT
10 x 22 mins
Windmill Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Family
Director Rosemary Myers
Writers Simon Butters, Lorin Clarke, Charlotte Rose Hamlyn, Wendy Hanna, Hunter Page-Lochard, Amy Stewart
Producers Kaye Weeks, Rosemary Myers
Executive Producer Greg Sitch
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales ABC Commercial
Synopsis Beep and Mort are two best friends from different worlds learning to solve their daily dilemmas and unexpected challenges through invention, play and adventure.

TOM WEEKLY VERSUS…
40 x 12 mins and 20 x 30 mins
Northern Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Family
Director TBC
Writers Guy Edmonds, Matt Zeremes, Amy Stewart, Kala Ellis, Erica Harrison, Nayuka Gorrie, Tristan Bancks, Penny Greenhalgh 
Script Producer Fin Edquist
Producer Joe Weatherstone
Executive Producer Catherine Nebauer
Broadcaster ViacomCBS Australia
International Sales Viacom International
Synopsis Everything is true, except the stuff I make up. Based on the books by Tristan Bancks.
Funding for this project was revoked in December 2021.

BARRUMBI KIDS
10 x 26 mins
Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Comedy, Drama
Directors Grant Brown, Deb Brown, Ismail Khan
Writers Danielle MacLean, David Woodhead, Fin Edquist, Shontell Lee Ketchell, Julia Moriarity, Warren Coleman, Steve Abbot
Producers Monica O’Brien, Danielle MacLean
Co-Producer Julia Morris
Broadcaster NITV
International Sales ACTF
Synopsis Barrumbi Kids is a rollicking adventure story of two mischievous best mates growing up in community in Arnhem Land.

FEBRUARY 2021

TAYLOR’S ISLAND (working title)
20 x 22 mins
Fremantle Australia
Genre Family
Directors TBA
Writers Stephen Vagg, Sam Carroll, Alix Beane, David Hannam, Marisa Nathar, Natesha Somasundaram, Trent Roberts, Hannah Samuel
Producers Timothy Powell, Jonah Klein
Executive Producer Chris Oliver-Taylor
Broadcaster Network 10
Synopsis Taylor Young is fascinated by the phenomena surrounding a mysterious island ever since her uncle’s disappearance there. With her gang of friends, Taylor is determined to get to the bottom of the secrets and inexplicable events of the island. In the pursuit of the truth, the friends go on an adventure of a lifetime, facing endless beaches, hidden treasures, cryptic riddles, and thrilling legends waiting to be unravelled.

SEPTEMBER 2020

THE PM’S DAUGHTER
10 x 26 mins
Fremantle Australia
Genre Political comedy/drama
Creators Tristram Baumber, Matthew Allred
Directors Julietta Boscolo, Erin White, Alana Hicks
Writers Tristram Baumber, Lou Sanz, Hannah Samuel, Angela McDonald, Craig Irvin, Gemma Bird Matheson, Magda Wozniak
Producer Alice Willison
Co-Producer Kieran Hoyle
Executive Producers Chris Oliver-Taylor, Tristram Baumber
Broadcaster ABC
International Sales Fremantle International, Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Synopsis Catalina Parkes Pérez (Cat to her friends) is like any other teenager who wants to fight the powers that be. There’s just one complication: her mother is the Prime Minister of Australia.

DIVE CLUB
12 x 24 mins
Dive Club Season One Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Mystery, Young adult
Directors Rhiannon Bannenberg, Christine Luby, Hayley McFarlane
Writers Georgia Harrison, Claire Harris, Adrian Powers, Caera Bradshaw, Drew Jarvis
Producers Steve Jaggi, Spencer McLaren
Broadcaster Network 10, Netflix
International Sales Nicely Entertainment
Synopsis A group of teenage divers investigate the disappearance of their best friend, unravelling their town's darkest secrets.

Special Initiatives

The Kaleidoscope Project
(Screen Australia and ABC)

GUGU NAGOGO
Tsvaga Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama, Family
Writer/Director Taku Mbudzi
Producers Taku Mbudzi, Diana Ward
Synopsis In a tiny Australian town, a 12-year-old astronomer secretly opens the moon and posts letters to her Gogo (grandmother) who lives 10,802 kilometres away in Zimbabwe. When a lunar eclipse suddenly stops her late-night letter exchanges, the young stargazer has to mend the sky down under before her Gogo’s village is destroyed for good.

NAMASTE YOGA
Warrior Tribe Films
Genre Comedy, Drama
Director Ravi Chand
Co-Director Tony Briggs
Writer Ravi Chand
Co-Writer Llewellyn Michael Bates
Producers Ravi Chand, Damienne Pradier
Co-Producer Tony Briggs
Creative Producer Ana Tiwary
Executive Producers Karla Burt, Paul Walton
Script Editor Katrina Irawati Graham
Synopsis Shiv hates being Indian, but things begin to change when he has to spend three months trialling the school’s latest concept for detention: yoga.

VIV’S SILLY MANGO
Mary Tien Giang Tu Duong
Genre Comedy, Drama
Director Rachel Anderson
Writers Mary Duong, Rachel Choi
Producers Mary Duong, Rachel Choi
Synopsis Vivian Nguyen's world completely expands when Nikki Cheung, the rebellious new girl from Hong Kong, joins her school orchestra and shows her riot grrrl punk music. Torn between her impulse to befriend Nikki and disrupting the dynamic with her best friend Esther Kelly, Viv must amplify her voice or risk losing herself.

YAZ QUEENS
Lara Köse
Genre Drama, Family
Writer/Director Lara Köse
Producers Lara Köse, Barış Ulusoy
Synopsis When her dad arrives from Turkey after 8 years of being away, a rap music obsessed 10-year-old girl’s life is turned upside down. Now strangers, can they find common ground in their shared love of music before her first ever performance?