PRESS RELEASE
Following the success of the first three series of OPENING SHOT, Screen Australia and ABC2 are pleased to announce that the fourth series of the groundbreaking documentary initiative for young filmmakers is open for submissions.
“In its first three series, OPENING SHOT has told some remarkable stories and launched some promising careers. These films are regularly amongst the most watched, most talked about and most shared stories on ABC2, so I’m thrilled that we’re about to start the process all over again with OS4”, said ABC TV Head of Factual, Phil Craig.
Screen Australia’s Senior Manager of Documentary, Liz Stevens said, “It’s such a pleasure to be working with the ABC on another series of OPENING SHOT. The first three seasons introduced Australian audiences to a collection of bold documentaries and passionate filmmakers through this exceptional initiative. It’s great to give new filmmakers the opportunity to establish a working relationship with the ABC and Screen Australia as they take their opening shot.”
OPENING SHOT 4 is a $400,000 initiative that aims to support talented documentary filmmakers aged 35 and under and provide an opportunity for their stories to reach a wide audience on ABC2.
Past OPENING SHOT titles include: Growing Up Gayby, The Vagina Diaries, Queen of the Desert, Suicide and Me, Meatwork, Gaycrashers, Skimpy and Defendant 5.
ABC2 will commission up to six one-off films to form an insightful and entertaining series that looks at stories that matter to younger Australians. Applicants can apply for up to $80,000 for each half-hour documentary.
Guidelines, online application and forms can be found here:
www.screenaustralia.gov.au/openingshot
www.abc.net.au/openingshot
Applications close at midnight on Monday, 16 February 2015.