Screen Australia, SBS and National Indigenous Television (NITV) have opened applications for the Digital Originals initiative.

Now in its third year, the program is designed to develop short-form drama projects to premiere as a single episode program on SBS On Demand and NITV from screen creatives who are under-represented in the sector. This includes people who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations Australians, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTIQ+, and those who are located in regional and remote areas.

Up to 10 teams will be selected to attend an exclusive workshop from  May 17 – 19 that will focus on narrative writing skills, as well as developing the projects to align with the SBS Charter and SBS On Demand platform, culminating in a pitch to Screen Australia, SBS and NITV.

From these 10 teams, up to four will be chosen to take their projects into further development, and from these up to three will be chosen for production funding and commissioning with SBS, NITV, and Screen Australia.

Teams of either two or three members are eligible to apply and must include one writer. Teams outside of Sydney will receive flights and accommodation for up to three team members to attend the workshop.

Submissions should include an up to three-page pitch document outlining the details of the series and more information on the creative team; an up to three-minute pitch video outlining the creators’ personal connection to and reason for wanting to develop the project; and an up to 10-page script sample of previous work.

More information on the eligibility and application guidelines can be found here.