Funding Approvals
In the archive
2016–2017 development funding

Story Development  |  Features Matched Marketplace  |  Special Initiatives

Story Development

A CHILD’S BOOK OF TRUE CRIME
Julia Berg Films
Genre thriller, crime, mystery
Producers Julia Berg, Melanie Coombs
Executive Producers Maven Pictures
Writer Emily Ballou
Synopsis Based upon Chloe Hooper's award winning novel, which interweaves an unsolved murder from the past with an illicit affair in the present, A Child's Book of True Crime follows two women - a young school teacher and an investigative journalist - whose lives become inextricably linked by an imaginative child, and by the grisly crime.

ANDORRA
Jump Street Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, mystery
Producers Jamie Bialkower, Lizzette Atkins, Fred Schepisi
Executive Producers Natalie Miller, James Ivory Hengameh Panahi
Director Fred Schepisi
Writers Peter Cameron, Jamie Bialkower
Synopsis A decadent romantic thriller set against a dreamscape where nothing is as it appears.

ANGEL OF MINE
SixtyFourSixty Pty Ltd / Garlin Pictures Inc.
Genre Psychological thriller
Producer Su Armstrong, Brian Etting, Josh Etting
Director Kim Farrant
Writer Luke Davies
Synopsis Two women. Two worlds. One truth.

ANIMALS
Closer Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Producers Rebecca Summerton, Sophie Hyde, Sarah Brocklehurst
Director Sophie Hyde
Writer Emma Jane Unsworth
Synopsis Laura and Tyler are best friends and drinking buddies – but their hedonistic existence falls under the creeping horror of adulthood when Laura gets engaged to Jim, an ambitious pianist who decides, unfathomably, to become a teetotaler.

BLACKWOOD
Goliath Productions Australia Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Thriller
Producers Raquelle David, Tait Brady
Writer Charlie Clausen, Gemma Lee
Director Gemma  Lee
Synopsis In the aftermath of a disastrous storm, a headstrong but naïve teenager sets out to fulfil her mother’s dying wish to locate a father she has never met, but becomes stranded on a mountain with two men, both hell-bent on survival.

THE BLUE TIN
Country Road Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Crime
Producer David Jowsey
Director Adrian Wills
Writer Stephen Sewell
Synopsis Deaths in Custody – a love story.

BUEN CAMINO
B:J Films Pty Ltd
Genre Romantic comedy
Producer Bill Bennett
Director Bill Bennett
Writer Bill Bennett
Synopsis An ensemble comedy following a group of people of all ages, and from all around the world, as they attempt to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

BUOYANCY
Causeway Films HQ Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton
Director Rodd Rathjen
Writer Rodd Rathjen
Synopsis An innocent Cambodian boy is enslaved on a Thai fishing trawler and soon realises that his only hope of freedom is to become as violent as his captors.

THE BURIAL
Renegade Films (Australia) Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Western
Producer Lucy Maclaren
Director Jasmin Tarasin
Writer Polly Watkins
Synopsis The Hunter Valley 1921. On a quest for freedom and a home, outlaw Jessie Payne must elude both the law and the mob who seek revenge… and unexpectedly find love and a family.

CELESTIAL BLUE
8th in Line Productions / Arenamedia Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Thriller, Science Fiction
Producer Liz Kearney
Director / Writer Zak Hilditch
Synopsis A Flight Attendant is forced to reconcile with the recent death of her Mother in order to survive a deadly pandemic that suddenly breaks out on-board a plane.

CHANTOU
Happening Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Jannine Barnes
Director Grant Scicluna
Writer Ben Pfeiffer, Grant Scicluna
Synopsis A Melbourne-based gay couple discover their adopted Cambodian daughter's past is not as they believed.

CRAZY FUN PARK
Nicholas Verso T/A Asphodol Pty Ltd
Genre Horror, Coming-of-age
Director Nicholas Verso
Writer Nicholas Verso
Synopsis Crazy Fun Park. Where the fun never stops… ever.

DINGO
Cornerstone Pictures Pty Ltd, Maximo Entertainment
Genre Indigenous Supernatural Thriller
Producers Liliana Munoz, Neal Kingston
Director Catriona McKenzie
Writer Mike Jones
Synopsis Matilda Cooper is a professional shooter disconnected from her Indigenous heritage. When she's recruited to lead the search for a pack of dingoes mistakenly blamed for a string of human disappearances on Fraser Island (K'Gari), a haunting Dark Spirit is awakened and Matilda’s ultimate protector may just be the beast she was hired to kill.

THE DROVER’S WIFE
Oombarra Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Mystery, Crime, Western
Producer David Jowsey, Bain Stewart, Greer Simpkin
Director Leah Purcell
Writer Leah Purcell
Synopsis A reimagining of Henry Lawson's classic short story "The Drover's Wife" by Leah Purcell.

ESCAPE FROM YEAR ZERO
Armand De Saint-Salvy
Genre Drama, True story
Writer Armand De Saint-Salvy
Synopsis Cambodia, 1975 - the remarkable true story of a young couple, married by arrangement, who must flee the Khmer Rouge genocide to save their young family.

FEAR IS THE RIDER
Triptych Pictures Pty Ltd & Lingo Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Thriller
Producers Kristian Moliere, Helen Bowden
Director Kriv Stenders
Writer Belinda Chayko
Synopsis Two travellers meet by chance in an outback pub. When they end up being pursued across the desert by a monstrous feral man intent on killing them, they soon discover they are also capable of unleashing the monsters that lurk within themselves in order to survive. From Kenneth Cook, author of the Australian classic Wake in Fright.

FEARLESS HEART
Fearless Heart Rights Co
Genre Drama, Crime
Producers Matteo Grasso, Rob Gibson
Writers Matteo Grasso, Matthew Hall
Synopsis After finding his life's calling in the boxing ring, a young man's childhood demons derail his career and lead him into violent crime and drug abuse, until tragedy sets him on a course back to the top of the world boxing rankings.

FOR HER BLUES
Cyan Films Pty. Ltd.
Genre Drama, Musical
Producer Julie Ryan, Michael Wrenn
Writer David Field
Synopsis In the Australian desert two people from two vastly different worlds accidentally save each other and fall in love,  and then just as accidentally almost destroy each other.

FROM THE CUTTING ROOM OF BARNEY KETTLE
Whoa Flamingo Pty Ltd, Midwinter Films & Field Theory 
Genre Comedy, family 
Producers Bridget Callow-Wright, Philippa Campbell
Director Darren Ashton
Writer Kate De Goldi 
Synopsis When control freak Ren Kettle is commissioned to make a film with her megalomaniac brother Barney Kettle about their colourfully eclectic high street, they are unaware a force of nature will have an irreversible effect on the production, the street and their lives.

FRUIT PICKERS
Canvas Collective Pty Ltd
Genre Drama 
Directors / Writers Sam McKeith, Tom McKeith
Synopsis Two exploited foreign workers on a fruit farm become friends and rely on each other to make it through a bitter harvest.

GOLD
Anthony Hayes Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Thriller, Western
Producers Anthony Hayes, John Schwarz, Michael Schwarz
Director/ Writer Anthony Hayes
Synopsis Two men find an enormous gold nugget buried in the heart of the desert. One leaves to procure evacuation equipment, the other stays behind to defend the discovery.

HEARTS AND BONES
Night Kitchen Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Matt Reeder
Director Ben Lawrence
Writers Ben Lawrence, Beatrix Christian
Synopsis A shell-shocked photojournalist, haunted by what he has witnessed on assignment in Africa, returns home to Sydney on the eve of becoming a father.  When one of his photographs threatens to destroy a Sudanese refugee’s new life, the two men are reunited by nightmare events from the past. In the wake of a tragedy, a startling revelation forces each survivor to help the other find hope again.

HONEY TRAP
Emerald Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Psychological thriller
Producer Sheila Jayadev
Director / Writer Sophie Miller
Synopsis A dangerous friendship between two teenage girls leads to a murder that fractures their close bond, with devastating consequences.

HOW TO PLEASURE A WOMAN
Feisty Dame Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Producer Tania Chambers
Director / Writer Renee Webster
Synopsis When her start-up sexy housecleaning business gets out of control, a mature woman must embrace her own sexuality if she is to make a new life for herself.

IN VITRO
Fictious
Genre Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama
Producers Will Jaymes, Talia Zucker, Tom McKeith
Directors Tom McKeith, Will Jaymes
Writers Talia Zucker, Tom McKeith, Will Jaymes
Synopsis A woman kept in isolation on a remote cattle ranch discovers the disturbing truth about her existence.

JIRGA
Felix Media Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer John Maynard
Writer Benjamin Gilmour
Synopsis A former Australian soldier returns to Afghanistan looking for the family of a man he killed during the war in order to confess his crime and suffer the consequences.

LITTLE MONSTERS
Eddie Wong Films Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Horror
Producer Jodi Matterson
Writer Abe Forsythe
Synopsis This movie is dedicated to all the Kindergarten teachers out there who motivate our children to learn, instill them with confidence and stop them from being devoured by Zombies.

THE LOST SWIMMER
Film Art Media Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Sue Maslin
Writer Ann Turner
Synopsis A suspenseful drama about the consequences of love and trust.

THE LUCKY COUNTRY
See-Saw Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Crime
Producers Rachel Gardner, Emile Sherman
Director John Hillcoat
Writer Shaun Grant
Synopsis A social injustice story, told through the eyes of two detectives.

THE MEDIATION
Nicholas Lathouris (sole trader)
Genre Drama
Writer Nicholas Lathouris
Synopsis A disgraced lawyer must negotiate a century-old vendetta to save her father’s life, redeem her integrity, and restore family honour.

PANYEE FC
RevLover Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Martha Coleman
Director Matt Devine
Writer Natasha Pincus
Synopsis When the kids on the beautiful, man-made, floating island of Koh Panyee start a football team everyone laughs at them, but their pursuit of the impossible leads to good things for the tight knit island community and enables 12 year old Bo to finally let go of his demons.

POSTIE CAM
Steve Kearney, Kmunications Pty Ltd
Genre Family
Producer Steve Kearney
Writer Peter Ivan
Synopsis The true story of an eccentric postman who helped spread Christmas cheer, engaging at-risk kids by dressing as Santa's helper and covering his bike in Christmas decorations.

THE PROSPECTOR
Blackfella Films Pty Ltd
Genre Western, Crime, Mystery
Producers Darren Dale, Miranda Dear
Writer Craig Silvey
Director Rachel Perkins
Synopsis In the heart of the Western Australian gold rush a woman risks everything to find her missing husband.

RELIC
Carver Films Pty Ltd
Genre Psychological horror 
Producers Sarah Shaw, Anna McLeish
Director Natalie Erika James
Writer Natalie Erika James. Christian White  
Synopsis Creeping dread turns to sheer panic as a mother and daughter search an isolated town for their missing grandmother. To survive they must confront their worst fears and face a sinister manifestation of aged dementia.

THE RENOVATORS DREAM
Kojo Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, mystery  
Producers Kate Croser, Sandy Cameron, Georgina Isles, Tenille Kennedy 
Director / Writer Richard Vilensky 
Synopsis A DIY home renovator named Stan turns DIY detective after he and his house fall victim to an anonymous vandal with a predilection for penis graffiti. Consumed by paranoia, Stan’s life begins to unravel as his investigation leads him into a bizarre suburban conspiracy.

THE SENTENCE
George El Basha (sole trader)
Genre Drama
Producer George Basha, David Field
Director George Basha, David Field
Writer George Basha
Synopsis Tommy avoiding life through drugs and alcohol is sentenced to 1000 hours of community service in a disability home. The characters he meets force him to confront the very thing he has run from.

SHEILA
Revlover Films & Goalpost Pictures
Genre Drama
Producers Martha Coleman, Rosemary Blight
Writer Samantha Strauss
Synopsis Based on the bestselling book by Robert Wainwright, Sheila tells the true story of the Australian beauty who stole the heart of the future King of England.

SLAM
Invisible Republic Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Michael Wrenn
Director Partho Sen Gupta
Writer Partho Sen Gupta
Synopsis Ricky Mansour is a young Australian whose peaceful suburban life is turned on its head when his hijab-wearing sister Ameena disappears without a trace.

STINGRAY
Anthony Hayes (sole trader)
Genre Action adventure, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Producers Anthony Hayes, John Schwarz, Keith Kjarval
Executive Producer Michael Schwarz
Director Anthony Hayes
Writer Anthony Hayes
Synopsis When a young man caught up in organized crime accidentally kills the brother of a powerful crime figure in his small town, he must kill one of his own family in the next two days to pay off his debt.

SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS
Arenamedia Pty Limited
Genre Drama
Producer Robert Connolly, Liz Kearney
Director Brendan Fletcher
Writer Brendan Fletcher
Synopsis The groundbreaking true story of a young South Sudanese refugee who used basketball to bring peace and purpose to his restless community in Western Sydney.

THUNDER
Kmunications Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Musical, Family
Producer Steve Kearney
Writer Franz Docherty, Belinda Bradley
Synopsis A washed up tragic 90's rock legend connects with a teenaged boy suffering from a severe traumatic brain injury, and together they fight to get to the “Air Guitar World Finals” in Finland.

THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
See-Saw Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producers Rachel Gardner, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning
Writer Jan Sardi
Synopsis The true story of Padre David Railton’s quest to create the first Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and how it helped heal a nation drowning in grief in the aftermath of the Great War. Based on a script by Robert De Segundo.

UNTITLED JULIA LEIGH PROJECT
Lindesay Island Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Director / Writer Julia Leigh  
Synopsis A contemporary tale of loot and plunder.

THE VANITY UNIT
Bison Films Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Producers Gil Adler, Clayton Jacobson, Belinda Bradley, Franz Docherty
Director Clayton Jacobson
Writers Belinda Bradley, Franz Docherty
Synopsis Based on a story concept created by Clayton Jacobson, Belinda Bradley and Franz Docherty, The Vanity Unit tells the story of Anton, the perfect host and Jerome, a retired Michelin chef, host a dinner party at their retirement village and what starts out as a celebration of culinary delights ends in a mystery that will reveal more than ‘who dunnit’.

THE VARIATIONS
Film Art Media Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Sue Maslin
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse
Writer Jocelyn Moorhouse
Synopsis The emotional, artistic and sensual bonds that existed between legendary 19th century musicians, Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, and Johannes Brahms created one of the most potent love triangles in music history.

WHEN THE BIRDS AREN’T FREE TO BE BURIED
Emerald Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producers Sheila Jayadev, Lyn Norfor
Writer Osamah Sami
Synopsis A magical and moving feature animation about 8-year-old Sami, an Arab refugee living in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, who longs to see his father again.

WHITE RABBIT
Revlover Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Martha Coleman
Executive Producers Claudia Karvan, Michael Ritchie, Steve Rogers
Director Rowan Woods
Writer Sarah Walker
Synopsis A woman searches for the baby she abandoned 45 years ago and is confronted by what she discovers.

WISH
Corner Table Productions Australia Pty Ltd
Genre Family
Producer Marion Pilowsky
Writers Marion Pilowsky, Lee A. Sellars
Synopsis Use magic to travel back in time, break out of jail and use a jet powered sled to save Christmas? Simples.

YARRABAH
Yarrabah Films Pty Ltd & Field Theory Ltd
Genre Musical, Drama
Producer Tim Sanders, Ian Ludwick
Writer Nicholas Parsons, Kodie Bedford|
Synopsis The revival of Australia's first ever Aboriginal Brass Band brings healing and hope to a divided community.

ZERO NIGHT
Essential Media and Entertainment Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Drama
Producer Ian Collie, Simonne Overend
Writer Yolanda Ramke
Synopsis The untold true story of a crack team of British and Australian soldiers who stage an ingenious escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp, and the efforts of The Comet Line, a female-led Belgian Resistance group who boldly come to their rescue.

Features matched marketplace

THE LINE
The Line (Aust) Pty Ltd & Sealion Films
Genre Drama, Action adventure, Western
Producers Greg Duffy, Graham Leader, Tim Duffy
Writer Tim Rose Price
Director Jeremy Sims
Synopsis John Dunraven, leader of a work-gang building the Overland Telegraph Line that will join Australia to its European mother, becomes enraptured by the indigenous culture that ‘The Line’ must inevitably decimate. As contact leads to conflict, Dunraven commits to destroying ‘The Line’, and with it, everything he has ever believed in.
Matched with Icon Films

THE WEDDING OFFICER
Revlover Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Martha Coleman
Director Jocelyn Moorhouse
Writer Andrew Knight   
Synopsis A young British officer is sent to allied occupied Naples to clean up corruption and curb the run of British soldiers marrying Neapolitan girls, so the locals - led by fiery Livia Pertelli - decide to corrupt him the best way they know how: with food.  Based on the best selling book by Anthony Capella.
Matched with eOne Films Australia

PANYEE FC
Revlover Films
Genre Drama
Producer Martha Coleman
Director Matt Devine
Writer Natasha Pincus
Synopsis Set on the beautiful floating island of Koh Panyee in Thailand, the inspiring true story of a group of young Thai football players who followed their dreams and changed their island forever.
Matched with Transmission Films.

RAMS
WBMC Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Comedy
Producer Janelle Landers, Aidan O’Bryan
Writer Jules Duncan
Synopsis Two farming brothers who haven’t spoken for 40 years must overcome their differences to save their flock and their community.
Matched with Roadshow Films

Special Initiatives

Family Film Forum

DINGO: THE DOG WHO CONQUERED A CONTINENT​
Pony Films Pty Ltd
Genre Family
Producer Dylan Blowen
Director Rachel Landers
Writer Keith Thompson
Consultant Producer Jodie Bell
Synopsis A boy and a 'rubbish dog' are blown out to sea in a canoe. When they crash onto a strange new land, they must work together to survive.

KELLY’S GOLD
Major International Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Family, Adventure
Directors / Writers Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes
Synopsis A spirited teenage girl joins forces with her grandfather and a brash city kid to find Ned Kelly’s hidden gold and bring her ailing town back to life. But a sinister relic hunter will stop at nothing to beat them to the prize.

THE SUMMER WE RULED THE WORLD
Werner Film Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Family
Producers Joanna Werner, Louise Smith
Writer Samantha Strauss
Synopsis Augie Butterball is part musical genius, part oddball… and he’s just written the song that will change the world.