In the final announcement of the Film Australia board this week, commissioning and production investment was approved for four National Interest Program productions about: Australia’s surfing culture; Australia’s connection to Charles Darwin’s definitive book ‘On the Origin of Species’; the ongoing longitudinal study reaches Life at 5; and a documentary about a family living through the experience of their teenage son being falsely accused of rape.
Darwin’s Brave New World is a major three-part international co-production that explores the role the Southern Hemisphere played in shaping Darwin’s theories. Inspired by an original thesis of Australian academic, Iain McCalman, the series will be screened on the ABC. Produced by the Becker Group in Australia (Executive Producer Sue Clothier) and Ferns Productions in Canada (Executive Producer W. Patterson Ferns), the series will be directed by Lisa Matthews, and written by Katherine Thomson, with Mark Hamlyn as Executive Producer for Film Australia.
The definitive story of surfing and its culture in Australia – and how it grew to have an importance in Australian society in the twentieth century and beyond, is the subject of Bombora. The two by 55 minute documentaries produced with the ABC, will be Executive Produced by Penny Robins, produced and directed by Paul Clarke and Greg Appel (Bombora Film and Music Co Pty Ltd).
Life At 5 is the third instalment for the ABC in the landmark cross platform series that follows 11 babies and their families for seven years to discover what it takes to give a child the best chance at life. Executive Producer will be Penny Robins, producer Jennifer Cummins (Heiress Films) and director Catherine Marciniak.
Every Family’s Nightmare sees a teenager falsely accused of rape. Eleven months go by while the wheels of justice grind through their process. The one-hour documentary is made with Screenwest for SBS. Executive Producers will be Penny Robins for Film Australia. Executive Producers and producers for Prospero Productions will be Ed Punchard and Julia Redwood. It will be directed by Michael Munz.
Film Australia CEO Daryl Karp said the projects continued Film Australia’s commitment to outstanding documentaries in the National Interest.
“Over the past four years we have more than doubled audiences through high quality productions, taking our viewer numbers from around five million annually to over 11 million a year – including two of the highest rating Australian programs ever for ABC and SBS with Who Killed Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler? and Who Do You Think You Are? These new films will continue a tradition of quality documentaries that engage with audiences.”
She thanked the many independent filmmakers and the broadcasters, state agencies and co-production partners, and staff who had worked with Film Australia to create a documentary record of the past 60 years.
“Documentary production is one of the most important means of creating a considered national record that extends beyond the reportage of news and current affairs. Good documentary programs interpret and contextualise, challenge and inform, inspire and entertain. They further understanding and provoke dialogue. Great documentaries promote democracy and leave a legacy and we expect this work to continue under the new Screen Australia,” Ms Karp said.
Details for National Interest Programs currently in production:
Big Stories, Small Towns
A collaborative media rich website featuring filmmakers-in-residence working in partnership with the community of Port Augusta, South Australia.
Executive Producer – Anna Grieve
Producer – Martin Potter
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with the Media Resource Centre and with the assistance of the South Australian Film Corporation.
Bombora
From bodysurfing in the 1890s to today’s billion-dollar surfwear industry, this two-part series looks at how Australia’s love affair with the sea lies at the heart of our national culture.
Executive Producer – Penny Robins
Producers – Paul Clarke, Greg Appel, Perry Stapleton (Line Producer)
Directors – Paul Clarke, Greg Appel
Duration – 2 x 1hr
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Bombora Film and Music. Developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Darwin’s Brave New World
How Charles Darwin’s journey to the southern hemisphere gave birth to one of the most revolutionary scientific theories of our age: natural selection.
Executive Producer Film Australia – Mark Hamlyn
Executive Producer The Becker Group – Sue Clothier
Executive Producer Ferns Productions – W Patterson Ferns
Producer – Sally Regan (Australia), Andrew Ferns (Canada)
Director – Lisa Matthews
Duration – 3 x 1hr
A Film Australia, Ferns Production, The Becker Group production. Produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A Film Australia National Interest Program. An Australia – Canada Co-production.
Every Family’s Nightmare
A teenager is falsely accused of rape. Eleven months go by while the wheels of justice grind through their process.
Executive Producer Film Australia – Penny Robins
Executive Producers Prospero Productions – Ed Punchard, Julia Redwood
Producers – Julia Redwood, Ed Punchard, John McCourt (development producer)
Director – Michael Munz
Duration – 1hr
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association Prospero Productions. Produced with the assistance of SBS and ScreenWest.
Feral Peril
The island state of Tasmania is one of the world’s last great wildlife havens but its native species are under threat from a feral fox invasion.
Executive Producer – Penny Robins
Producer – Ian Walker, Gina Twyble
Director – Andrew Sully
Duration – 1hr
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Magic Real, Screen Tasmania and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Life at 5
The story continues for the children of The Life Series as they reveal what it takes to give a child the best chance at life.
Executive Producer – Penny Robins
Producer – Jennifer Cummins
Director – Catherine Marciniak
Duration – 2 x 1 hours plus website
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Heiress Films. Developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
I Love a Sunburnt Country
Acclaimed filmmaker Dennis O’Rourke journeys around Australia to meet with poets great and small in the places where the words are written and heard – from schoolrooms to bush poetry festivals and inner-city poetry “slams”.
Executive Producer – Anna Grieve
Producers – Dennis O’Rourke, Helen Pankhurst
Director – Dennis O’Rourke
Duration – Feature length
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Camerawork, South Australia Film Corporation and the Pacific Film and Television Commission. Produced in association with SBS Independent.
Lost in Flanders
War historian Matt McLachlan and archaeologist Michael Molkentin discover the reality of life in the trenches as they unravel the story of five young soldiers who died on the Western Front 90 years ago.
Executive Producer – Penny Robins
Producer – Stuart Scowcroft
Director – Geoff Burton
Duration – 1hr
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Intomedia. Developed with the assistance of the New South Wales Film and Television Office and the Australian Film Commission. Developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
[Release by Avviso]