Funding Approvals
IN THE ARCHIVE
2019-2020 development funding

GENERATE

HIGHWAY
Goalpost Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Thriller, Mystery, Science fiction
Writer/Director Vanessa Gazy
Producers Kylie du Fresne, Liam Heyen
Synopsis A young woman wakes up on the side of a highway with no recollection of who she is, and is unknowingly forced into a testing series of events that question what makes us human. Based on the award winning short film.

MOONGIRL (WORKING TITLE)
Arenamedia Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Writer/Director Santilla Chingaipe
Producer Chloe Brugale
Executive Producers Robert Connolly, Liz Kearney, Robert Patterson
Synopsis Tash, a Melbourne schoolgirl, travels to Zambia for the first time to visit family and encounters more than she'd anticipated - including a rocket scientist uncle.

THE FOX
Causeway Films Hq Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy
Writer/Director Dario Russo
Producers Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings
Synopsis In this blackly comic folktale, an affable foxhunter encounters a shape-shifting fox who offers him an opportunity to transform his partner into the perfect woman and in doing so take control of the natural world.

AUDREY
Invisible Republic Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Director Natalie Bailey
Writer Louise Woodruff Sanz
Producer Michael Wrenn
Synopsis Ronnie is a frustrated mother who lives vicariously through the dreams she seeks to install in her two daughters so when Audrey ends up in a coma Ronnie believes she has no choice but to become her daughter.

INVASION OF THE KILLER NATIVES
Noble Savage Pictures
Genre Comedy, Horror
Writer/Director Bjorn Stewart
Producers Majhid Heath, Hayley Johnson
Synopsis A British couple try to make their new life in a new world, but zombie natives won't make it easy.

NO EXIT
Rodd Rathjen
Genre Comedy, Drama
Writer/Director Rodd Rathjen
Synopsis In the early 1960's, the west is undergoing a hysteria of middle class status anxiety influenced by advertising, television and comic books. A young writer who resists these forms of charm, descends into his own frustrated hysteria as he tries to retain his soul.

SHAYDA
Porchlight Films 
Genre Drama
Writer/Director Nora Niasari
Producer Vincent Sheehan
Synopsis A young Iranian mother finds refuge in a women’s shelter where her search for freedom brings her face to face with the violence from which she has fled.

VESNA
Sweetshop&Green
Genre Drama
Writer/Director Sara Kern
Producer Gal Greenspan
Synopsis After her mother’s sudden death, Nika (10) becomes the unexpected grown-up of her fragmented family, trying to bring her troubled older sister and distant father together.

DIGGER
Bluebird Productions
Genre Comedy
Writer/Director Dave Wade
Producer Alexandra Blue
Executive Producer Marian MacGowan
Synopsis Residents of a small town celebrate and embrace a mysterious stranger who is digging a hole in the middle of the desert.

MONSTER FACE
Leonie Savvides
Genre Drama, Psychological horror
Writer/Director Leonie Savvides
Synopsis Monster Face is a film about two young women, friends whose obsessions with image culture lead them into dark and strange territory.

PETROL
Arenamedia
Genre Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Writer/Director Alena Lodkina
Producer Kate Laurie
Synopsis As Aurelia begins her film studies in Melbourne, she is reminded by her migrant parents to value her freedom to pursue her creative ambitions. When she falls under the influence of a charismatic performance artist Mia, Aurelia’s ideas of what freedom means are profoundly challenged.

THE BORDER
Eryk Lenartowicz
Genre Comedy, Drama, Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Science fiction
Writers Eryk Lenartowicz, Yvette Underwood
Director Eryk Lenartowicz
Synopsis Humanity is reduced to the last city left on Earth, absurdly overpopulated. It is entirely surrounded by a forest, inhabited by a mysterious creature that feeds off human sacrifices to maintain population balance. Matylda (32) a shy and low-ranking government worker illegally falls pregnant after an awkward one-night stand. In order to avoid punishment she is forced to confront her reality, and question the value of life.

THE MOOGAI
Causeway Films HQ Pty Ltd and No Coincidence Media Pty Ltd
Genre Horror, Thriller
Producers Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings, Mitchell Stanley
Writer/Director Jon Bell
Synopsis The Moogai is the story of a family terrorised by a child-stealing spirit.

PREMIUM

THE STRANGERS
Contact Films
Genre Drama
Directors Larissa Behrendt, Bentley Dean
Writers Larissa Behrendt, Bentley Dean, Janita Suter, Allen Madden
Producers Janita Suter, Martin Butler, Michael Cody
Synopsis When more than a thousand white strangers bearing deadly weapons and diseases arrive in Wa-ran in 1788, people must chart an unprecedented course between diplomacy and war.

UNTITLED CHRISTMAS MOVIE
Every Cloud Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Family
Director Christiaan Van Vuuren
Writers Gretel Vella, Elliot Vella, Timothy Walker
Producer Mike Jones
Executive Producers Fiona Eagger, Deb Cox
Synopsis The lives of a struggling family are upended when a runaway criminal dressed as Santa Claus crashes onto their farm.

BLOWING THE WHISTLE
See-Saw Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Writer Sarah Walker
Producers Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Rachel Gardner
Executive Producers Lesley Williams, Tammy Williams
Synopsis The inspiring true story of an indefatigable Murri woman, Lesley Williams' hard-fought journey to self-empowerment and dignity in proud defiance of a lifetime of disenfranchisement, that would change not only her life but the lives of thousands of fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

IN MY BODY
Truant Pictures
Genre Horror, Thriller
Writer/Director Miranda Nation
Producer Zareh Nalbandian
Synopsis At a prestigious Parisian acting school, a young woman fights to keep her sanity as the rigorous classes, merciless instructors and cut-throat co-students turn her success into a matter of life or death.

IRMA VOTH
Closer Screens Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Director Sophie Hyde
Writer Tilda Cobham-Hervey
Producers Bryan Mason, Rebecca Summerton, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Sophie Hyde
Synopsis An isolated young Mennonite woman in Mexico agrees to be the translator for a visiting film crew in order to escape her community and save her sister. An adaptation of the novel by Miriam Toews, Irma Voth is a humorous, dark and uplifting story of a woman who is not recognised by those around her, learning to recognise herself.

NO FRIEND BUT THE MOUNTAINS
Aurora Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Writer Ákos Armont
Producers Ákos Armont, Gal Greenspan, Antony Waddington, Kerrin McNeil
Story Consultant and Associate Producer Behrouz Boochani
Executive Producer Tracey Robertson
Synopsis Imprisoned without a crime, on an island hidden from view, Kurdish refugee journalist Behrouz Boochani weaponises WhatsApp to rally the world, behind the cause of those in offshore detention.

SHEILA
Revlover Films and Goalpost Pictures
Genre Drama, Romance
Writers Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Samantha Strauss
Producers Martha Coleman, Rosemary Blight
Synopsis Based on the best-selling book by Robert Wainwright, Sheila tells the true story of the Australian beauty who stole the heart of the future King of England.

SIGNAL
Truant Pictures
Genre Action adventure, Science fiction
Writer Anya Beyersdorf
Producers Zareh Nalbandian, Todd Brown, Casey Walker
Synopsis In the near future, a street orphan discovers her uncanny ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves. When dangerous factions attempt to exploit her power she sets off on a perilous journey into lawless lands to track down her infamous mother, a woman who holds the secret to her power and the key to her survival.

TALK TO ME
Causeway Films HQ Pty Ltd
Genre Horror
Directors Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou (RackaRacka)
Writers Danny Philippou, Michael H Beck
Producers Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton
Synopsis Feisty teenager Mia becomes hooked on the thrills of conjuring spirits through an ancient disembodied hand. But when she is confronted by a soul claiming to be her dead mother, a plague of supernatural predators is unleashed, and she must decide whether to trust the dead or the living.

THE BEST OF
New Sparta Productions & Vocab Films
Genre Drama, Romantic comedy
Director Toni Colette
Writers Mark Watson, Graeme Simsion
Producers Toni Colette, Christopher Simon
Co-Producer Jen Turner
Synopsis Amateur-musician-turned-IT-specialist Adam Sharp has a stable, albeit dull, life in Norwich with his matter-of-fact wife, Claire. But when his first love, Angelina, gets in touch with an offer of reuniting, Adam must choose between the fantasy of a life unlived, or the reality of his marriage in its quiet beauty.

THE CALLIGRAPHER
Bronte Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Romantic comedy
Director PJ Hogan
Writers PJ Hogan, Charlie Carman
Producers Blake Northfield, Cecilia Cordeiro
Synopsis A young calligrapher is commissioned to recreate the love poems of John Donne. He didn't expect that the works would transition into reality.

THE WHITE MOUSE
Easy Tiger Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Mystery
Writer Sarah Lambert
Producers Ian Collie, Rob Gibson, Peter Glover
Executive Producer Katherine Langford
Development Producer Rachael Turk
Synopsis Her passion made her the most ferocious female spy in history… at the cost of her one true love.
Funding for this project was revoked in June 2022.

LENNIE & GINGER MICK
Stranger Than Fiction Films
Genre Drama, Family
Director Lisa Matthews
Writer Reg Cribb
Producers Jo-anne McGowan, Jennifer Peedom
Synopsis In 1932, a 9 year old boy makes history by riding his horse 600 miles to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge - alone.

RUNAWAY
Porchlight Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Writer/Director Mirrah Foulkes
Producer Liz Watts
Executive Producers Jane Chapman, Jane Campion
Synopsis Fearing the unravelling of her relationship, a young woman leads her husband into a complex and dangerous world of sexual fantasy that entangles the lives of her older neighbours.

THE CREEK (WORKING TITLE)
Bazmark Inq Ltd
Genre Coming of Age Drama
Writer/Director Baz Luhrmann
Producers Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Knapman, Paul Watters, Schuyler Weiss
Synopsis A coming of age story set in a small country town.  

THE WEDDING OFFICER
Revlover Films
Genre Drama, Romantic comedy
Writers Hannie Rayson, Andrew Knight
Producer Martha Coleman
Synopsis When 25 year old Captain Gould is sent to allied occupied Naples to vet the romantic liaisons between British soldiers and Neapolitan women, he upsets the local mafia and his allied kinsmen with his naive, by-the-book approach. Livia Pertini is sent to awaken him to the Neapolitan way with her incredible cooking. He learns more than he expected and is changed forever. A sensuous tale of food, passion - and multiculturalism. Based on the best selling book by Anthony Capella.

UNTITLED ORPHANAGE PROJECT
Aquarius Films
Genre Drama
Writers Sinet Chan, Anya Beyersdorf
Director Jen Peedom
Producers Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford
Synopsis After being wrenched from her family as a child and enduring years of abuse in a corrupt orphanage, a determined Cambodian orphan teams up with an Australian voluntourist. Together, they uncover the dark and dangerous secrets of an exploitative orphanage industry and fight to end the era of child trafficking. An incredible true story about the life of Sinet Chan.

UNTITLED MATT OKINE PROJECT
Aquarius Films in association with Wooden Horse
Genre Comedy, Drama, Family
Writer Matt Okine
Producers Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford
Executive Producer Jude Troy
Synopsis Loosely based on Matt Okine’s experiences of growing up in Brisbane, this film is a journey back to 1998, when 12-year-old African-Australian Mike Amon struggles with entering high school, finding first love, twisting his testicle – and learning that his mother has been diagnosed with late stage cancer.

APARNA
Felix Media Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Musical
Director S. Shakthidharan
Writers S. Shakthidharan, Jeyasingham Jeyamohan (Tamil dialogue)
Producer John Maynard
Executive Producer Bridget Ikin
Synopsis  Separated during Sri Lanka’s civil war, a mother and son are re-united in modern day Sri Lanka.

AUSSIE RULES
Good Eye Deer Pty Ltd
Genre Romantic comedy, Female buddy
Writers John Meadows, Maria Jacquemetton, Andre Jacquemetton
Producers Olivia Olley, Gavin Banks, Andrew Miano, Dan Balgoyen
Synopsis Three relationship-challenged American women travel to Sydney in pursuit of the Great Australian Male only to land in the middle of Mardi Gras where, one-by-one, all preconceived ideas of Australia are turned upside down.

GRAH
Red Lamp Films Pty Ltd
Genre Family
Writer/Director Kim Mordaunt
Producers Sylvia Wilczynski, Ridley Scott
Executive Producer Zareh Nalbandian
Synopsis Based on the book Monster Nanny by Tuutikki Tolonen.

ONCE A QUEEN 
Rough Trade Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama 
Producer Lois Randall
Executive Producers Sue Maslin, Veronica Fury
Writer/Director Lawrence Johnston
Synopsis Once a Queen is a Cinderella story with a different edge that celebrates the beauty and tradition of three generations of women all connected to the magical town they love which is locked in time. Shirley wants to rule, Lana thinks she wants a prince, Sally just wants to be the Queen!

RISING ASH
Element Film Production Services Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Writer/Director Elissa Down
Producer Liliana Munoz
Executive Producers Scott Einbinder, Weinan Song, Mark Lazarus
Synopsis Based on the true story of world champion Amy Birch, an Australian girl flies to Thailand to pursue glory in the world of Muay Thai Boxing and discovers that other fighters are not all she has to defeat. 

THE UNKNOWN MAN
See-Saw Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Crime, Thriller
Writer/Director Thomas M. Wright
Producers Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Rachel Gardner, Joel Edgerton, Kerry Roberts, Kim Hodgert
Synopsis A tautly compelling and atmospheric crime thriller inspired by true events in the vein of Animal Kingdom and Insomnia, The Unknown Man marks the emergence of a bold new filmmaker on the international film landscape.

BMX BANDITS
Night Kitchen Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Comedy
Writer Steve Worland
Producer Matt Reeder
Synopsis A reboot of the classic 80s family favourite for a contemporary audience.

EMPTY EMPIRE
Corrie Chen
Genre Drama
Director Corrie Chen
Writers Corrie Chen, Penelope Chai
Synopsis After the death of her mother, a biracial woman travels to a mysterious city in China to track down her long-absent father. Instead, she finds an emerald metropolis inhabited by only a handful of guardians, all waiting for the great and powerful wushi to turn the city into a home.

HEARTS OF STONE
Full Circle Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Producer Stuart Quin
Executive Producer Stuart Quin
Writer Shirley Pierce
Synopsis A diverse group of lawyers of many races and creeds work to free people of colour falsely charged with murder.

HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN
Feisty Dame Productions Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama
Writer/Director Renée Webster
Producers Tania Chambers, Judi Levine
Synopsis When her all-male house-cleaning business gets out of control, a mature woman must embrace her own sexuality, if she is to make a new life for herself.

PETEY
Ludo Studio Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Science fiction
Writer/Director Daley Pearson
Executive Producers Charlie Aspinwall, Daley Pearson, Nick Boshier
Synopsis Twenty-five years after a daring, cheeky boy became best-friends-forever with a stranded extraterrestrial, the alien is back with a whole lotta baggage and its ready to start a kraktix (translation: family).

THE LAIRDBALOR
Asphodel Films
Genre Family, Fantasy
Writer/Director Nicholas Verso
Synopsis When an anxious young boy runs away from his estranged parents, he tumbles into a strange parallel world populated by creatures born from childhood nightmares. With only 13 hours to get home, he must brave the personifications of all his greatest fears come to life...or remain trapped for eternity.

TIME TRAP
Hopscotch Features 
Genre Action adventure, Comedy, Science fiction
Writer/Director Michael Shanks
Producers Andrew Mason, Maeva Gatineau, Troy Lum
Synopsis When an intergalactic traveller becomes stranded on the long-abandoned Earth, he joins forces with a teenage girl also lost in time, as they both try to return home.

PREMIUM PLUS