Paul Damian Williams.
Screenwest has secured an industry coup with the appointment of highly awarded documentary film director Paul Damian Williams as its new documentary manager.
Williams, a writer, director and editor is best known for his acclaimed feature documentary Gurrumul, chronicling the life and music of Indigenous singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. The multi-award winning film secured in excess of $1 million in the Australian box office.
“Paul’s wealth of experience will be a great asset for the factual screen sector in WA,” said development and production executive Franziska Wagenfeld.
Bringing over 15 years’ experience in producing and directing documentaries to Screenwest, Williams also has extensive experience filming in developing nations and remote Australia. A screen multi-disciplinarian, Williams early career was devoted to film editing which he then switched to directing and writing.
In his new Screenwest role, Williams will oversee Screenwest’s factual funding programs, including the Documentary Production Fund and the Documentary Development Investment Fund. Williams will join Wagenfeld and Matthew Horrocks in the Screenwest Development and Production team.
“I’m really looking forward to working with WA’s talented and dynamic documentary and factual community in this exciting new role,” Williams said.
His appointment comes after a restructure in the Screenwest development and production team in July in a bid to adequately resource the surge in production activity and new initiatives in Western Australia.
The agency is still recruiting for a drama manager in development and production.
Screenwest has also opened applications for the Documentary Production Fund and the Documentary Development Investment Fund. The Documentary Production Fund provides grant support to WA based producers for feature length documentary films and factual series with significant marketplace attachments from traditional and new online platforms and distributors. Applications close October 28.
The Documentary Development Investment Fund is designed to support Western Australian companies and individuals by investing in the development of documentary and factual programming. Successful applicants can receive up to a maximum of $25,000. Applications close November 4.