Six short films have received support from Screen Australia, it was announced today.
Through its Short Animation and Shorts Completion programs, a production investment of $446,000 has been made to support two animations and four shorts.
Screen Australia’s Head of Production, Sally Caplan, said, “Out of many applications, we are delighted to have been able to support these six projects. The filmmakers are all talented teams from diverse backgrounds, and the projects are an eclectic mix with distinctive stories. We are very much looking forward to seeing the finished works.”
The Short Animation program is supporting two projects: My Little Sumo and Revolution.
My Little Sumo comes from South Australian animation directors Ana Maria Mendez Salgado and Carlos Manrique Clavijo, and writer Lee Sellers. Supported by writer/producer Marion Pilowsky, the film follows the plight of Daisy, a little girl with mighty dreams – to become a professional sumo wrestler.
The former lead animator of UK smash Charlie and Lola, Joseph Brumm, will direct the quirky satirical short Revolution, in which a group of tiny creatures makes an attempt at creating a civilised society in the warmth of a giant lit cigarette. Laura DiMaio will produce.
Through the Shorts Completion program four projects will be funded.
Writer/director Dave Edwardz and producer Peter Magdas will complete their The Trophy Thief, which follows the story of a young soccer player who takes matters into his own hands to regain what he sees as rightfully his.
Red Rover, written and directed by Brooke Goldfinch and produced by Brietta Hague, will get a detailed edit with the help of the funding. The story follows two teenagers who break away from their fundamentalist families after being told the world was going to end.
Completion funds will also allow director Rudolf Fitzgerald-Leonard and producer John Tummino to find finish Coral, a piece that takes an oblique look at the conditions underpinning male violence.
Finally, writer/director Leonie Savvides and producer Elise Annetts will complete Black Cat, a story that explores an adolescent girl’s fascination with black magic as a means of dealing with her repressive masculine household.
SHORT ANIMATION
MY LITTLE SUMO
Genre Family
Directors Ana Maria Mendez Salgado, Carlos Manrique Clavijo
Producer Marion Pilowsky
Writers Lee Sellers, Marion Pilowsky
REVOLUTION
Genre Action/Adventure, Family
Writer/Director Joseph Brumm
Producer Laura DiMaio
SHORT COMPLETION
BLACK CAT
Genre Drama
Writer/Director Leonie Savvides
Producer Elise Annetts
CORAL
Genre Drama
Writer/Director Rudolf Fitzgerald-Leonard
Producer John Tummino
RED ROVER
Genre Drama
Director Brooke Goldfinch
Producer Brietta Hague
Executive Producer Erin Wakelin
THE TROPHY THIEF
Genre Drama
Writer/Director Dave Edwardz
Producer Peter Magdas