Funding approvals
IN THE ARCHIVE
2019-2020 Enterprise business & ideas

• For Film’s Sake, led by Sophie Mathisen, has launched Attagirl, an intensive narrative feature film development lab that will see up to 12 majority female identifying and/or non-binary creative teams participate in a 10-month incubator program, designed to support the development of narrative features in an increasingly digitally-focused marketplace. The course content centres on three major pillars – story, market and audience – with support provided by leading international film festivals and international screen agencies. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will be delivered online with support from evolving festival presentations including Toronto International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival.
• Documentary Australia Foundation (DAF) will develop their website into an enhanced digital platform under their Next Level Digital Project, building broader communities around documentaries by offering interactivity between DAF’s community of documentary filmmakers, funders, impact partners and supporters. The increased digital capability aims to create a hub for collaboration and engagement on documentary projects by allowing donors and supporters to interact with filmmakers more directly. It also aims to scale their impact by improving accessibility, offering more training and resources to filmmakers, and increasing the volume of donations received. 
• Ardiol Media, founded by Dan and Luke Riches (KGB), will engage a mentor and develop a business plan to cement the company as an Indigenous-led production business in the West Australian screen industry.
• Big Serious Studios, founded by David Peers (Happy Feet 2), Katrina Peers (Legend of the Guardians) and Charlotte Rose Hamlyn (Beat Bugs, Motown Magic), will bring together world-class experts from filmmaking, science, technology and education to create a new slate of children's entertainment that has global appeal. They aim to use animated storytelling and evidence-based educational approaches to encourage young viewers to become interested in STEM subjects.
• South Australian-based Closer Productions (The Hunting, In My Blood It Runs) will undertake business planning to explore partners in the international marketplace, with an aim to co-finance distinctive Australian projects that speak to global audiences. 
• Western Sydney’s Co-Curious will develop a business plan and engage a consultant to develop a sustainable strategy in order to viably support storytellers from underrepresented groups and facilitate strong marketplace partners for these stories.
• Western Sydney based Information + Cultural Exchange (ICE) and Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) will together undertake business planning and consultancy to deliver Diversity on Screen, an expansion of the successful Screen Cultures Program. The revised program will be rolled out nationally to help filmmakers from underrepresented communities forge pathways into the screen industry. Alongside this work they will also partner with LA-based Film Independent to run six pilot workshops online for Australian creative producers.
• Frame, a development program that will support Australian documentary filmmakers with projects for diverse media platforms, has received funding to engage consultants in business strategy. Led by VR producer Katy Morrison and AIDC CEO Alice Burgin, Frame is Australia’s first incubator program for creatives working with emerging technologies.
• Western Australian filmmaker Taryne Laffar, producer of acclaimed documentary Our Law, will develop a business plan for her new production company Pink Pepper.
• Damon Gameau and Anna Kaplan, whose credits include social impact documentaries 2040 and That Sugar Film, will develop a business model for their new production company Regen Studios, through which they will expand their slate of purpose-driven content and share their expertise as executive producers and consultants.
• Ljudan Michaelis-Thorpe of Zerodivide Productions is creating new social enterprise Three Wise Women with Bobbi-Lea Dionysius of Disruptor Studios. They will develop a business plan to be able to offer impact producing and mentoring support to emerging film practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds, with a focus on empowering Indigenous women and women of colour to advance their careers in the film industry.
• Australian India Engagement – Sense & Cents-Ability Pty Ltd. Funding for this project was revoked in July 2020.
• Media Stockade, the production company behind TV and feature documentaries including China Love and Frozen Lies, will develop a business plan and engage a mentor and consultant. They aim to expand their production of social impact formats for Australian audiences and international markets.