10 05 2022 - Media release

Screen Australia announces $5.5 million of production funding for eight projects

Online series No Ordinary Love

Screen Australia has announced $5.5 million of production funding for two feature films, two children’s series and four online projects.

Writer/director Mirrah Foulkes (Judy & Punch) is teaming up with See-Saw Films (The Power of the Dog) on psychological thriller Runaway, and lovable were-poodle Freddy Lupin will return to the big screen in feature film 200% Wolf (working title). Plus new seasons of hit children’s series The PM’s Daughter and Little J & Big Cuz will return to ABC and NITV.

The online projects include a hybrid narrative-natural history series It’s A Jungle Out Here! from the producers of Playing with Sharks for ABC ME; TikTok series Cool Mum about a non-binary teenager coming out to their mum; along with K-drama inspired romantic comedy No Ordinary Love and Salma’s Season about a mother pursuing her dream of winning the Australian Open, both for YouTube.

Screen Australia’s Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon said, “We’re delighted to announce these projects including some stellar children’s content, which demonstrates the ability of Australian creators to produce high calibre, original IP that connects with young viewers. It’s very special that Little J & Big Cuz is engaging children around the country in-language and we are proud to support another series of this ground-breaking production.”

“The team behind riveting feature thriller Runaway have an exceptional track record, and we are pleased to support Mirrah Foulkes on her second film. It’s also encouraging to see new, smart online storytellers finding their niche. These creators know their audiences and how to reach them on the right platforms, and we are confident these series will captivate viewers.”

The funded feature films are:

• 200% Wolf (working title): A sequel to the 2020 animated family feature 100% Wolf from Flying Bark Productions, and following the popular ABC series of the same name. When pink were-poodle Freddy Lupin goes on a mission to save a baby moon spirit, he finds himself caught up in the magic of a werewolf sorceress. The creative team sees the return of director Alexs Stadermann, writer Fin Edquist, producers Barbara Stephen and Alexia Gates-Foale and co-producer Francesca Hope, with producer Carmen Perez-Marsa Roca (Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb) joining the team. The film is financed in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest with support from Siamese. It is being distributed by StudioCanal with Studio 100 Film managing international sales.
• Runaway: The second feature film from writer/director Mirrah Foulkes (Judy & Punch) teaming up with the Academy Award-winning See-Saw Films (Lion, The Power of the Dog). Runaway follows a Carla, a young woman immersed in an unravelling relationship who attempts to save her marriage by leading her husband, Clark, into a complex and dangerous world of sexual fantasy that entangles the lives of her older neighbours, Sylvia and Leon. It is a psychological thriller based on the Nobel Prize winning author Alice Munro's short story of the same name about control, innocence and where true salvation lies. Runaway is produced by Liz Watts (The King), Emile Sherman and Iain Canning (The Power of the Dog) of See-Saw Films and executive produced by Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) and Jan Chapman (Babyteeth). Transmission Films is distributing in Australia and international sales are by Cross City Films. 

The full list of feature film production funding blocklines are available here

The funded children’s television projects are:

• Little J & Big Cuz Series 4: A fourth season of the ground-breaking animated children’s series for NITV and the ABC, centred on 5-year-old Little J and his 9-year-old cousin Big Cuz, a couple of lively First Nations Australian kids who live with their Nanna and their Old Dog. Whether it’s at school, in the backyard or beyond the fence, Little J and Big Cuz find out about culture, community and country with the help of Nanna and their teacher Ms Chen. Little J & Big Cuz director Tony Thorne again teams up with producer Ned Lander (Last Cab to Darwin) and writers Dot West (The Heights), Erica Glynn (Redfern Now), Sam Paynter (Thalu), Danielle MacLean (Barrumbi Kids) and Adam Thompson (author of Born Into This). This project is financed with support from the ABC, NITV, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation with VicScreen, Screen Tasmania and ACER.
• The PM’s Daughter Series 2: A 10-part second series of the popular live action children’s drama for ABC. This series follows Cat who has found her groove as the Prime Minister’s daughter, but her school and home life are upended when she discovers an unexpected crush, begins a feverishly competitive internship, and outs a shocking parental secret – all leading to the unmasking of a brand new conspiracy. Series 2 sees the return of writers Lou Sanz (6 Festivals), Hannah Samuel (Rock Island Mysteries), Gemma Bird Matheson (The Power of the Dream) and Craig Irvin (Itch), and co-executive producer Kieran Hoyle. They are joined by writers Jess Paine (The Heights), Alexandra Cullen (The Heights) and Nikki Tran (Girl, Interpreted), series producer Tim Powell (Rock Island Mysteries), co-producer Yingna Lu (Love Bug) and executive producer Warren Clarke (Mustangs FC). This project is financed with support from the ABC and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

The full list of television production funding blocklines are available here

The funded online projects are:

• Cool Mum: A 12-part comedy TikTok series that follows non-binary teen Pat who comes out to their excitable mother, Roz. Captured for TikTok by Pat's sister Stella, Roz throws a surprise "coming out party" to show her unwavering support. But is this "cool mum" support from Roz really what Pat needs and wants? Cool Mum stars Aiden Hawke, Roz Hammond and popular Australian TikTok performer Samantha Andrew. The series is co-written and co-directed by Jakob Grasa and Naoimh Healy and is produced by Stephanie Cole.
• It’s A Jungle Out Here!: A seven-part hybrid scripted-documentary series from WildBear Entertainment for ABC iview and ABC ME YouTube that weaves a funny live action narrative with quirky wildlife footage. The series follows aspiring filmmakers, 14-year-old Su and Pharrell behind the scenes of their fictional documentary series Australian Wild, as they try to find the best wildlife footage. The creative team features director Isaac Elliott (MaveriX) and writers Anita Punton (Open Slather), Danielle Walker and Lawrence Leung (Lawrence Leung’s Unbelievable), writer/script producer Mark O’Toole (Thalu) and series producer Kate Pappas (Playing with Sharks). It is executive produced by Pappas, O’Toole and Alan Erson (Playing with Sharks). It’s A Jungle Out Here! is financed with support from the ABC and VicScreen.
• No Ordinary Love: A five-part YouTube series that follows an ex-couple, Hyun Woo and Beck who broke up seven months ago and are thrust back together for Hyun Woo’s sister and Beck’s best friend, Hannah’s wedding. Still broken hearted, the exes are forced to work together to find the bride when she disappears before her impending nuptials. A love letter to K-dramas, this romance drama is written by Esther Fwati, Mina Kang and Helen Kim, and directed by Chase Lee (Born to Spy) and Mina Kang. The producers are Joanna Beveridge (Sydney Sleuthers), Esther Fwati and Helen Kim.
• Salma’s Season: A six-part series for YouTube from Blacksand Pictures. Determined to grab life by the balls and achieve her dream of playing at the Australian Open, 45-year-old Pakistani-Australian wife and mother Salma must battle family expectations, gender stereotypes and the reality that she’s never picked up a racket in her life. Writer/director/producer Kauthar Abdulalim (#MATCHED) teams with producers Sher-Li Tan (One Punch) and Lucy Maclaren (Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears) and executive producers Tony Jackson and David Collins whose credits include The People’s Republic of Mallacoota. This project received Screen Australia development funding through the Generate Fund.

The full list of online production funding blocklines are available here

Welcoming Screen Australia’s Investment & Development Managers

Kristen Hodges, Andrea Ulbrick

Screen Australia is pleased to welcome Investment & Development Managers Kristen Hodges and Andrea Ulbrick. Kristen Hodges, who started last month, is a producer whose credits include First Day, In Vitro, Ticketyboo, Australia Beyond 2020, Mother Mountain and Bent 101. She has also worked as Production and Development Producer for Seven West Media and in development management at Elevate Entertainment in Los Angeles.

Andrea Ulbrick joins the agency on 30 May from her role as Screen Investment Manager at Screen NSW where she has managed projects including The Stranger, Carmen, Mystery Road, Girls Can’t Surf and Playing with Sharks. Andrea previously worked as a commissioning editor at ABC Factual, and she has also produced and directed a range of international science and history co-productions for ABC TV, SBS, CBC, Arte France, BBC, Channel 4, WNET, National Geographic and Discovery.

Andrea and Kristen join Investment & Development Manager Seph McKenna and all report to Screen Australia’s Head of Scripted, Christopher Sharp in the agency’s Content Department.

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