Australian titles to watch and play this Summer

17 December 2024 By Aimée Lindorff

Hear from Screen Australia’s Content team about their recommendations for what to watch and play this holiday season.

Looking for more Australian screen stories?

Check out the list of Screen Australia funded titles released in 2024 below, or head to the Screen Guide to find out Where to Watch Australian titles, wherever you are.

ANGELA BATES

Head of First Nations

Angela Bates hails from country New South Wales and is a proud Aboriginal and Māori woman. She has a background in journalism, working across broadcast news and current affairs at the ABC, SBS, Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), and the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) in Canada. As its inaugural Executive Producer, she was instrumental in establishing the first nightly National Indigenous News service in 2008, overseeing its rapid growth and free-to-air launch in 2012. Angela holds a Master of Arts Screen: Business and Leadership from AFTRS, and was previously Development and Investment Manger for Screen Australia’s First Nations Department.

WHAT AUSTRALIAN PROJECTS SHOULD PEOPLE WATCH THIS SUMMER AND WHY?

While I’m planning on reducing my screen time over the summer, there’s a couple of titles I’m very keen to watch – and rewatch!

Starting with a rewatch of Thou Shalt Not Steal, directed by Dylan River. A road trip series, which starts in Central Australia and takes you down to Adelaide in South Australia. It’s gritty, funny, and wild. The series dropped on Stan this year and it’s about a young girl Robyn (played by the incredible Sherry Lee Watson from Heartbreak High), who breaks out of Juvie to fulfil her dying maternal grandfather’s wish, and she stops at nothing to achieve that. I just love Sherry Lee Watson in this series; her character is tough and sassy, but she’s also playful, fun and sincere. I also like the choice of music, especially the Slim Dusty song, The Biggest Disappointment. It’s so apt.

Bran Nue Dae directed by Rachel Perkins or The Sapphires directed by Wayne Blair are both musicals and feel good movies (and classics). It really depends on the mood and I have so many favourites that I might watch something completely different.

Louise Gough

Director of Narrative Content

With a distinguished 30-year career spanning broadcast, production, funding bodies, and theatre environments, Louise brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Her dedication to nurturing talent and guiding stories from development through to market and audience is well recognised in the industry. Most recently, Louise was the Executive Producer for Samantha Strauss’ Picking Scabs, a collaborative venture with See-Saw Films.

WHAT AUSTRALIAN PROJECTS SHOULD PEOPLE WATCH THIS SUMMER AND WHY?

I cannot wait to see the adaptation of Alison Lester’s beloved book Magic Beach with the little ones in my life! I really recommend How To Make Gravy – it will make your heart explode over Christmas in an adaptation of Paul Kelly’s classic song, and also, Four Years Later - a romance? An Indian romance? Yes please, and expect more than just love.

Richard Huddleston

Head of Documentary

Richard has over 25 years of experience in the television industry, with creative and strategic leadership positions across Australia and the UK. Before joining Screen Australia, Richard was Acting Head of Factual and Culture at the ABC, where he oversaw the development, commissioning and production of an extensive slate including Stuff The British Stole, The Way We Wore, This Is Going To Be Big, Old People’s Home for Teenagers, and Tony Armstrong’s Extra-Ordinary Things. He spent over 10 years with ABC in various roles across Factual, Entertainment, Partnerships and Culture, and prior to that, Richard was involved with numerous award-winning series for Australian and international broadcasters. Starting his career in the UK, Richard worked at companies including Bazal, Endemol, Keo Films and RDF Media, on content for ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, National Geographic, and ABC America.

WHAT AUSTRALIAN PROJECTS SHOULD PEOPLE WATCH THIS SUMMER AND WHY?

With many of us heading to the ocean over the summer, Australia’s Ocean Odyssey is a spectacular journey from the Great Barrier Reef all the way down to Antarctica. The cinematography is mesmerising and along the way you will discover how the ocean currents are vital to supporting life, not just in the water but across Australia’s great southern land.

And at the cinema, Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story. This story of a former global tennis star is a real heart on the sleeve film that has been getting rave reviews. Unbreakable takes you into the eye of the storm of Jelena’s highly courageous and confronting relationship with her Father and is a must see for sport and non-sport fans alike.

Lee Naimo

Head of Online & Games

As Screen Australia’s first Head of Online, Lee oversees production funding for emerging Australian scripted and documentary creators for online platforms, as well as initiatives such as Skip Ahead with YouTube, Digital Originals with SBS and NITV, and Every Voice with TikTok and NZ On Air. Lee played a pivotal role in launching Screen Australia’s Games: Expansion Pack funding in early 2022 and has so far committed more than $4 million to 30 Australian games. Before joining Screen Australia, Lee was best known for his work in musical comedy trio The Axis of Awesome, who have over 150 million views online and a legacy of 10 years touring worldwide and seven studio albums.

WHAT AUSTRALIAN PROJECTS SHOULD PEOPLE WATCH THIS SUMMER AND WHY?

On TikTok, I’ll be watching Young Bloods, a brand new series following the QBE Sydney Swans Academy. Episodes are dropping at the moment and it’s got great access to a really interesting world.

I’ll also be playing a couple of great Australian indie games. Servonauts – from Queensland studio Maxart. This was funded in the first ever round of Games Expansion Pack, it’s a multiplayer game with big Overcooked/Moving Out vibes that I’ve been waiting a long time to play. Perfect to start some arguments with the family in the holidays!

And also Copycat, another game funded a little while ago. It won Best International Game at the Level Up South East Asia Awards earlier this year and is a beautiful narrative-lead game from a NSW team that I’ve been looking forward to finding some time to dive into.

Bobby Romia

Head of Development

Bobby Romia is the Head of Development at Screen Australia with over 15 years’ of industry experience. Prior to joining the agency, Bobby was Acting Senior Investment Manager at Screen NSW where he managed scripted projects including Bali 2002, Underbelly: Vanishing Act, After the Verdict, Bump, Upright, Here Out West, The Secret She Keeps, Frayed, June Again, The Drover’s Wife, True Colours and Hardball, and talent escalation initiatives such as Talent Camp NSW and the Emerging Writers’ Incubator. Bobby previously worked as a Commissioning Supervisor (Scripted Drama, Comedy & Entertainment) and Producer at SBS Australia and NITV (National Indigenous Television). He has also worked with Screentime Australia, Hopscotch Films, eOne Entertainment, and Screentime New Zealand in Auckland. Bobby holds a Master of Arts in Screenwriting at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

WHAT AUSTRALIAN PROJECTS SHOULD PEOPLE WATCH THIS SUMMER AND WHY?

A great watch for the Christmas Holidays is the heart-warming and hilarious family film Runt. Looking forward to rewatching with the niece and nephew in the cinema.

Excited to see Better Man, the semi-bio telling of recording artist Robbie Williams’ life and directed by Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey. Absolutely intrigued to see how Robbie is portrayed through the lens of a CGI monkey in the cinema.

And on the small screen, I’m enthusiastic to catch up with comedy series Austin starring Michael Theo, who’s best known for the award-winning Love on the Spectrum on ABC iView.  Big fan of Michael!

Screen Australia 2024 releases available to watch and play now:

Fresh Blood, featuring Bad Ancestors, Day Job, Fine Art, Going Under, I'm So Sorry For Your Loss, KingsLand, Ruby Rai P.I., Starship Q Star, Urvi Went To An All Girls School, and Westerners.

Go Figure

Growing Pains

Last Party of Summer

Long Head

Miss Ink: The Documentary Series

Uncovering Street Dance: Australia