28 01 2020 - Media release

Screen Australia and Snapchat to develop two scripted series

Snap Original Two Sides created by Australian filmmaker Hannah Lehmann

Screen Australia and Snapchat have today announced a new initiative aimed at developing and producing premium Australian, vertical mobile series for a global audience on Snapchat. The Snapchat + Screen Australia initiative will initially provide up to two teams of filmmakers $15,000 AUD in development funding as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to Snapchat HQ in Los Angeles to workshop their concepts.

Screen Australia and Snapchat are seeking projects suitable for short form, fictional series that are creatively outstanding, and able to be told in 10 episodes of up to 5 minutes per episode. Concepts can be of any scripted narrative genre.

The initiative’s intent is to encourage creators with a strong track record of producing compelling and distinctive content to create series that are specifically conceived to be produced for mobile. Applicant teams must consist of at least two people with the roles of writer, producer and director covered. All team members must be available to attend the workshop which will be held the week of 18 May 2020 in Los Angeles. After the development period is complete, the selected teams will then have the opportunity to apply for production funding from Screen Australia and Snapchat to make their series.

Online Investment Manager at Screen Australia, Lee Naimo said, “This is a remarkable opportunity for Australian content creators to make a project that has the ability to reach a massive global audience. We’re looking forward to receiving applications from creators with compelling scripted narratives that will take advantage of Snapchat’s format and present a bold concept suitable for 18 to 24 year olds.”

Snapchat is a global platform with 210 million daily users. It has a history of launching high quality and successful content including The Dead Girls Detective Agency, Endless Summer and Two Sides which was created by Australian filmmaker Hannah Lehmann.

“We’re committed to creating opportunities for emerging creators not just in front of the camera, but behind the camera too," said Erin Keating, Senior Development Manager of Snap Originals at Snap Inc. "We're thrilled to partner with Screen Australia and find new voices to bring Snapchatters more scripted shows made just for mobile."

To apply, teams will need to submit a three minute vertical pitch video, a pitch document, links to examples of previous work and a script sample from a previous project.