Apply now: No Ordinary Black short film initiative

18 March 2020 By Screen Australia

Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department and NITV are calling for applications for the No Ordinary Black short film initiative aimed at emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers.

Between Two Lines

In partnership with Screen NSW, Film Victoria, Screen Territory, South Australian Film Corporation and Screenwest, No Ordinary Black is designed to bring to the screen thought-provoking First Nation stories, authored and crafted by First Nations people. The initiative is for narrative content creation of any genre - documentary is not eligible. (See the Indigenous Department funding portal for documentary development and production opportunities).

Head of Indigenous at Screen Australia Penny Smallacombe said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for emerging filmmakers and I look forward to uncovering the next crop of Indigenous talent nationally. We are looking for bold projects, based on strong authentic characters and ideas that exhibit a high level of creative ambition.”

Senior Commissioning Editor Kyas Hepworth (nee Sherriff) at NITV said, “NITV is looking forward to partnering with Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department in their short film initiative for the first time.”

“This is a brilliant opportunity for emerging Indigenous filmmakers, and we encourage anyone with a great idea to come forward. Scripted screen stories have a huge amount of power in getting First Nations perspectives from our community out into wider Australia, and one that we always keep a keen eye out for in the NITV commissions department.”

The initiative will involve two phases. Eight to 10 creative teams will initially be selected to participate in the development phase, which in addition to development funds of up to $5000 includes attending a creative workshop in June 2020. From then, six creative teams will be selected to receive production funding to make their short, with up to $120,000 available per project.

Stories must be conceived by an Indigenous creative, with Indigenous Australians in key creative roles of writer, director, and producer. No experience in screenwriting or production is required, but a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in this field is essential.

Stories should incorporate a maximum of two characters and no more than two locations. Stories that include the use of First Nations languages are encouraged to apply.