Press release from Screen Australia
Screen Australia today announced $1.8 million investment in seven documentary projects triggering $4.8 million in production.
Among the projects to receive investment are two projects from the National Documentary Program: Grey Man, a one-hour ABC documentary, and the SBS series Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl.
Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl is a landmark four-part series about Lebanese migrant settlement in Western Sydney which follows the hugely successful Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta that screened early this year on SBS. The series will be produced by Tim Toni and executive produced by Sue Clothier.
“I’m thrilled to announce investment in the SBS series Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl,” said Screen Australia’s Documentary Manager Liz Stevens. “This important series will again strongly resonate with the local community.”
“It’s really encouraging to see that one-off documentaries still have a place in broadcasters’ schedules and I’m sure audiences will find the six powerful and unique films announced today compelling viewing,” said Ms Stevens.
Grey Man follows serving and former Australian soldiers and police who rescue children from the sex trade in Thailand. The film will be produced, written and directed by Luigi Acquisto and also produced by Stella Zammataro.
Documentaries to receive investment from the General Documentary Program include Licence to Kill from producer/director Terry Carlyon who will seek answers to the tragic chain of events set in motion when police use firearms in the course of duty. This ABC documentary is also produced by Robyn Miller.
Writer/director/producer John Hughes’s ABC documentary Love and Fury looks at one of the best-kept secrets in Australian literary and political public life – the 25-year clandestine relationship of Judith Wright and HC ‘Nugget’ Coombs. Producer Philippa Campey and writer Penelope Chai are also attached to this project.
Producer Laurie Critchley and writer/director Aviva Ziegler’s ABC documentary Plumpton High Babies: 10 Years On will focus on four teenage mums who revisit the success of a radical experiment to keep them at school>
The Sunnyboy is an ABC documentary from producer Tom Zubrycki and writer/director Kaye Harrison about schizophrenia told through the story of the lauded singer/songwriter of the 80s band ‘The Sunnyboys’ on the eve of their comeback.
SBS documentary The Surgery Ship will follow a team of Australian doctors and nurses over a year who sail to one of the poorest nations on earth to provide life-saving medical supplies and services. The film will be produced and directed by Madeleine Hetherton and will also be produced by Rebecca Barry.
NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM (NDP)
GREY MAN
57 mins
FairTrade Films Pty Ltd
Writer/Director/Producer Luigi Acquisto
Producer Stella Zammataro
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis This powerful, suspenseful documentary embeds itself with a daring group of serving or former Australian soldiers and police as they rescue children from the sex trade in Thailand, often from the reach of Australian paedophiles.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN PUNCHBOWL
4 x 52 mins
Northern Pictures
Executive Producer Sue Clothier
Series Producer Tim Toni
Broadcaster SBS
Synopsis Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl is a landmark television series about Lebanese migrant settlement in Western Sydney.
GENERAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM
LICENCE TO KILL
57 mins
DD & B Productions Pty Ltd
Producer/Director Terry Carlyon
Producer Robyn Miller
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis Licence to Kill seeks answers to the tragic chain of events that is set in motion when police use firearms in the course of duty – tragedy for both the shooting victims and the police who pull the trigger.
LOVE AND FURY
27 mins
Early Works
Writer/Director/Producer John Hughes
Producer Philippa Campey
Writer Penelope Chai
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis On 1 January 2009, the National Library of Australia lifted an embargo on the private correspondence between Judith Wright and HC ‘Nugget’ Coombs, making public their clandestine relationship of 25 years, one of the best-kept secrets in Australian literary and political public life.
PLUMPTON HIGH BABIES: 10 YEARS ON
57 mins
Australian Documentaries Pty Ltd
Producer Laurie Critchley
Writer/Director Aviva Ziegler
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis Four teenage mums revisit the success of a radical experiment to keep them at school.
THE SUNNYBOY
56 mins
Jotz Productions
Producer Tom Zubrycki
Writer/Director Kaye Harrison
Broadcaster ABC
Synopsis A film about schizophrenia told through the story of the lauded singer/songwriter of the 80s band ‘The Sunnyboys’ who are about to make a comeback.
THE SURGERY SHIP
52 mins
Media Stockade
Producer/Director Madeleine Hetherton
Producer Rebecca Barry
Broadcaster SBS
Synopsis A team of Australian doctors and nurses on board a unique ship, crammed with medical supplies, is sailing to one of the poorest nations on earth to provide life-saving medical services – they have just one year.