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PROGRAM
GUIDE
AUSTRALIAN 1-4 MARCH 2020
INTERNATIONAL STATE LIBRARY
DOCUMENTARY VICTORIA
CONFERENCE MELBOURNE
WELCOME04
AIDC DELEGATE HUB07
SCREENRIGHTS
INDUSTRY LOUNGE09
LEADING LIGHTS10
ACCESS11
01
THE FACTORY15
SPECIAL PITCHES57
DECISION MAKERS69
CANADIAN DELEGATION87
VISITOR INFO97
02 VENUES98
SCREENINGS & TALKS99
MAPS100
SCHEDULE102
APP110
CREDITS111
01 SMALL ISLAND BIG SONG
COVER: 02 BOWLED OVER
03 FIRESTARTER – THE STORY OF BANGARRA 03 THE CAVE
WELCOME
TO AIDC 2020
COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE
As we come together to celebrate AIDC 2020, we do so
with a bittersweet awareness of how the recent past has
shaped the present moment. This conference, established
by a group of documentarians over 30 years ago, is the
product of the hard work and support of many Australians.
As we launch this year’s event, we want to recognise all
the people who prepared and planned for it amidst the
smoky haze of the Australian bushfires, itself an unrelenting
reminder of the tragic and unprecedented loss of human,
ALICE BURGIN MARTIN FOLEY MP CAROLINE PITCHER FIONA GILROY & SUSIE JONES
CONFERENCE DIRECTOR animal and plant life that has marked this period. MINISTER FOR CREATIVE CEO CO-CHAIRS
AIDC INDUSTRIES FILM VICTORIA AIDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The overwhelming local and global community response
to Australia’s plight is a shining example of what has
As we head into a new decade, Documentary films are real Welcome to the 33rd AIDC.
guided us in developing our motif for the year. ‘Collective quality factual content and stories with the power to create This year’s conference theme
Intelligence’ incorporates ideas around collective courageous storytelling are more dialogue, encourage action of ‘Collective Intelligence’ brings
movements, of coming together to solve problems, and important than ever. and change lives. a focus on shared wisdom,
a shared sense of ownership and responsibility. It reflects international funding, content
AIDC brings together the most It is due to the immense talent distribution and how technology
notions of custodianship, collaboration and shared
exciting creators and leaders and passion of Australian factual blends into the human
wisdom—all the things vital to our continued survival working in the global documentary content filmmakers that our experience. With delegations
as an industry, and, in a much larger sense, as a species. space today, with a program set most important global and local from Canada and decision
Over these four days, we encourage you to join us in to challenge and inspire. stories reach and inspire makers from around the world,
taking a step closer to one another, with a view to audiences around the world and we hope you will be inspired
Victoria is proud to host AIDC this vibrant conference is often to look at production and funding
creating new alliances, sharing knowledge, working 2020 at our newly transformed the place where it all begins. opportunities from a fresh and
together and cooperation. State Library, and to be global perspective.
investing in the future of our Every year at AIDC new
THE AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIDC is a place for nurturing ideas that become stories. screen industry. partnerships are formed, brilliant We are also delighted that this
DOCUMENTARY CONFERENCE ideas are hatched and incredible year’s pitching initiatives offer
ACKNOWLEDGES THE AUSTRALIAN We encourage you to use this time to take in your
Wishing you an enjoyable and experiences are shared and over $500,000 in project funding
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT surroundings, to think about the cultures that have come productive few days. we’re thrilled to be Principal to help support our industry.
ISLANDER PEOPLES AS THE FIRST
INHABITANTS OF THE NATION AND before, and to imagine how we can all work—collectively Partner again in 2020. The board of the AIDC thank all
THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS —towards the future we want, and how we can use the our generous sponsors—
OF THE LANDS WHERE WE LIVE,
LEARN AND WORK. power of story to bring this shared vision to life. particularly Film Victoria and ACMI
—and our Executive team and
volunteers led by Alice Burgin.
04 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 05
NEED TO REFUEL OR REFRESH?
HEAD TO THE AIDC DELEGATE HUB
IN MR TULK WHERE YOU’LL FIND
DELICIOUS FOOD, COFFEE, TEA AND
MORE. SHOW YOUR LANYARD TO
GET 10% OFF YOUR PURCHASE.
AIDC
DELEGATE MR TULK,
HUB STATE LIBRARY
VICTORIA
OPENING HOURS
SUNDAY 1 MARCH –
WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH
8AM – 5PM
COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 07
ACMI Re/new
THE BUSINESS HUB OF AIDC
JOIN US FOR INFORMATION SESSIONS AND EVENTS
PROMOTING INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT AND BUSINESS
OUTCOMES FOR AIDC DELEGATES.
MONDAY 11:30 –17:15
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY 9:30 –17:15
ISABELLA FRASER ROOM, STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA
INDUSTRY LOUNGE
SCREENRIGHTS
THE SCREENRIGHTS INDUSTRY LOUNGE WILL BE OPEN
FOR PRIVATE MEETINGS FOR AIDC DELEGATES PENDING
AVAILABILITY. SEE THE INDUSTRY LOUNGE HOST FOR
DETAILS, LOCATED AT THE LOUNGE ENTRANCE DURING
OPENING HOURS.
We are undergoing a major rebuild to transform CANADA CONNECT BREAKFAST
PRESENTED BY ONTARIO
DESIGN FOR DOCUMENTARIES
PRESENTED BY 21-19
CREATES TUESDAY 3 MARCH
our museum, reopening in mid 2020. MONDAY 2 MARCH
8:00 – 9:00
11:00 –11:30
Follow our story: acmi.net.au/renew MAXIMISING THE FOREIGN MEET THE COMMERCIALS
DOLLAR CO-PRESENTED BY
PRESENTED BY XE MONEY NINE NETWORK & FOXTEL
TRANSFER TUESDAY 3 MARCH
MONDAY 2 MARCH 13:15 –13:45
11:00 –11:30
WHO’S WHO PART 2: STREAMING THOUGHTFUL
SALES & DISTRIBUTION ENTERTAINMENT
MONDAY 2 MARCH PRESENTED BY KANOPY
13:15 –13:45 TUESDAY 3 MARCH
15:30 –16:00
FLAME STOCK: THE NEW TELLING STORIES
PLAYERS IN STOCK FOOTAGE THAT MATTER
PRESENTED BY FLAME STOCK PRESENTED BY SCREENRIGHTS
MONDAY 2 MARCH WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH
15:30 –16:00 11:00 –11:30
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(AGM)
WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH
13:00 –14:00
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 09
ACCESS IS AIDC’S FAST-TRACK PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM,
DESIGNED TO GIVE FILMMAKERS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THEIR SKILLS AND IDEAS
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
Through priceless mentoring with industry professionals from
around the world, ACCESS allows six applicants to hone their skills
and incubate an original idea in early development over four days
of sessions and one-on-one mentoring.
LIGHTS
LEADING
ACCESS
WE BELIEVE THAT FUNDS PLEDGED FOR THE ACCESS PRIZE
5 PRACTITIONERS:
A WIDE VARIETY At the end of the program, one participant is selected for the
– ABC
OF VOICES AND ACCESS Prize: the opportunity to undertake a one-month
PERSPECTIVES IS paid internship with leading international production company
FUNDS PLEDGED FOR Beach House Pictures in Singapore.
VITAL FOR A HEALTHY 3 PRACTITIONERS:
SCREEN INDUSTRY. – FULCRUM MEDIA FINANCE AIDC also partners with Sheffield Doc/Fest to offer a second
ACCESS participant a complimentary Festival Pass to the UK’s
Leading Lights is AIDC’s most prestigious documentary festival.
FUNDS PLEDGED FOR
philanthropic funding program 2 PRACTITIONERS:
for early career, Indigenous and
– AFTRS
CALD (culturally and linguistically – BBC STUDIOS
diverse) practitioners to attend – CJZ 2020 ACCESS PARTICIPANTS
AIDC for the first time. – FIRST AUSTRALIAN
COMPLETION BOND Barbara Taylor
– FREMANTLE Steven Alyian
Contributions to the fund come – NORTHERN PICTURES Lauren Beck
from Australia’s leading – PROJECTOR FILMS
Corinne Innes
production houses and media – UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT
– WILDBEAR ENTERTAINMENT Travis Beard
businesses. Jared Nicholson
The goal is to bring new voices FUNDS PLEDGED FOR
1 PRACTITIONER:
to the table, enrich the
practitioner community, and – BRINDLE FILMS
– CLOSER PRODUCTIONS
build the foundations for the – DEMAND FILM
future of the industry. – EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY
– MARSHALL + DENT + WILMOTH
Since its inception, the program – NAGLE ACCOUNTING
– PRINCESS PICTURES
has supported 102 new – PROSPERO PRODUCTIONS
practitioners to attend the – SEVEN STUDIOS
conference. – WEIR ANDERSON
– UNITED FINISHING ARTISTS
AIDC would like to thank new
and returning donors to the
Leading Lights Fund in 2020.
PRESENTED BY
10 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 11
Proud supporter of
Australian documentaries
The Australian Dream
Al Jazeera Proud Sponsor of AIDC =;=;
Witness, Al Jazeera’s award winning documentary series
Immerse yourself in stories beyond the headlines
ST. LOUIS SUPERMAN
Bruce Franks Jr., a Ferguson activist and battle rapper who was elected to the
overwhelmingly white and Republican Missouri House of Representatives, must
overcome both personal trauma and political obstacles to pass a bill critical for his
community.
screenaustralia.gov.au
Aljazeera.com
FACTORY 2020 IS AIDC’S CENTREPIECE
INTERNATIONAL PITCHING PROGRAM FOR
DOCUMENTARY, FACTUAL AND UNSCRIPTED
SCREEN CONTENT.
Comprising three targeted strands—Forum Pitches,
the New Talent Pitch, and Rough Cut Sessions—
FACTory 2020 brings documentary producers
2020
FACTORY
face-to-face with the most relevant decision makers
from around the world.
Watch and learn as producers present directly to
commissioners, buyers, funders and distributors in dynamic
live-pitching sessions, obtaining expert feedback and
potentially sealing deals on the spot.
ROUGH CUT SESSIONS MONDAY 2 MARCH
PRESENTED BY 9:00 –10:45
THE POST LOUNGE KALEIDE THEATRE
INVITATION ONLY
FORUM PITCHES TUESDAY 3 MARCH
PRESENTED BY CONVERSATION QUARTER
FILM VICTORIA
ARTS & CULTURE
9:30 –10:45
SOCIETY & POLITICS
11:30 –13:00
SCIENCE & NATURAL HISTORY
14:00 –15:15
OPEN TO ALL AIDC PASSES
NEW TALENT PITCH TUESDAY 3 MARCH
PRESENTED BY 16:00 –17:15
FILM VICTORIA CONVERSATION QUARTER
OPEN TO ALL AIDC PASSES
PITCHING FORUM
INTERNATIONAL
PRESENTED BY
COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 15
DIRECTOR PRODUCER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
LARISSA BEHRENDT AO SAM GRIFFIN ANNA HOWARD
Director Larissa Behrendt is an Producer Sam Griffin is the Head Cinematographer Anna Howard
award-winning writer/director of Documentary and Specialist ACS started in the Australian
and author of fiction and Factual at Essential Media Film Industry in 1981. Her credits
nonfiction with a passion for Group. Prior to this, she was an include: Machine (2018), Rabbit
telling the stories of Indigenous investment manager at Screen (2018), Errors of the Human Body
Australia. She won the Australian Australia, where she was involved (2012), South Solitary (2010),
Directors Guild Award for her in the development, funding Rake (2010), Marking Time (2003),
documentary After the Apology, and management of a slate of and Women He’s Undressed
which premiered at Adelaide award-winning documentaries, (2015). Anna Howard ACS is
Film Festival in 2017. Larissa also nationally-significant television a respected cinematographer
wrote and directed the Walkley- series, and emerging filmmaker and a campaigner for equal
nominated documentary initiatives. Before returning opportunities. Anna was awarded
Innocence Betrayed, which aired to Sydney in 2010, Sam worked ACS Accreditation in 2004
on NITV in 2014. Her short film, in New York where she was and Inducted into the ACS Hall
Under Skin, In Blood, screened a producer, overseeing editorial of Fame in 2019.
at Sydney Film Festival and and production of hundreds
Melbourne International Film of hours of fashion and arts
Festival in 2015. factual content.
THE FIGHT TOGETHER
(WORKING TITLE)
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF A MAN A group of NRL greats got together to invent a Culture, Sport Production company: Sam Griffin
DRIVEN TO SHARE HIS CULTURE new pre-game ceremony, a response to the Essential Media +61 (0)423285324
Maori Haka but also a new ceremony to celebrate Country of production: sam.griffin@essential.media
WITH THE WORLD.
Aboriginal cultures and counter racism in rugby Australia
league. They now want to use that dance to Director: Larissa Behrendt AO
change the hearts and minds of all Australians. Producer: Sam Griffin
This feature documentary follows one man’s journey Executive Producers:
to make that happen. Brendan Dahill, Paul Wiegard
Estimated Duration: 75 mins
Stage of Production:
Late Development
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Feature Total budget: AUD $900,000 essential.media
Secured finance: AUD $600,000
Shortfall: AUD $300,000
Financiers: NITV, Madman,
Producer Off-set
ARTS & CULTURE
16 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 17
PRODUCER DIRECTOR
FOREST IAN ETSLER IL-HA LEE
Forest Ian Etsler is a USA-born Born in Korea, Il-ha moved to
producer-director based in Japan in 2000 to study film.
Seoul, South Korea. He worked There he received an MFA at
as production assistant Nihon University, and a
on several feature-length Doctorate in Documentary
internationally co-produced Directing from Osaka University
documentaries, as well as of the Arts. While studying in
directing and producing several Japan, Il-ha experienced much
short documentary and narrative racial discrimination, and as a
films. He was awarded the Best result, has focused extensively
Pitch from Korea Documentary on this theme in his work. In
Festival in 2018 on the Ssing More Il-ha empathizes with the
Ssing ROK project and attended protagonist and wants to focus
the Sheffield Doc/Fest as a on the protagonist’s broken
member of the Korean delegation. wings. More will be Il-ha’s fourth
Forest has also worked on theatrical feature documentary.
Korean TV as producer, director,
and show-runner.
MORE
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
A GENDER NON-BINARY Meet Jimin—the boy who always dreamt of Arts, Society Production company: Forest Ian Etsler
PERFORMANCE ARTIST ACHIEVES becoming a ballerina. Both as a rural schoolboy Exposed Film +82 1042287354
interested in ballet and as a ballerino in South Country of production: forest.ian.etsler@gmail.com
PERSONAL ACCEPTANCE AND
Korea’s top art university, Jimin suffered abuse South Korea, USA, Russia
RECONCILIATION—AS CHRONICLED for harnessing his feminine side. Director: Il-ha Lee
THROUGH THE GENRE OF MUSICAL Producer: Forest Ian Etsler
DOCUMENTARY. Meet “More” (the ‘hairy mermaid’)—Jimin’s Estimated Duration: 75 mins
alter-ego, who has been for 20-plus years Seoul’s Stage of Production:
preeminent drag queen. As a performance artist, Production
More performs globally and has collaborated with
queer icons like John Cameron Mitchell,
of Hedwig and the Angry Inch fame.
While More gains acclaim and prominence,
Jimin—unable to marry his life-partner—struggles FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
for basic human rights. Only More can console
Jimin, and only Jimin can give More the validation Single / One-off Total budget: AUD $500,000
he requires. This documentary aims to take the Feature Secured finance: AUD $156,120
audience on a cathartic journey of self-acceptance Hour (52'/60') Shortfall: AUD $343,880
and reconciliation. 70+ mins Financiers: Busan International Film Festival AND Fund, Korean
Communication Agency, Korean Film Council, Seoul Film Commission
ARTS & CULTURE
18 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 19PRODUCER DIRECTOR
TARA RIDDELL JUSTIN HAWKES
Tara Riddell is an award-winning Justin directed New Zealand’s
film producer, with over 20 years first Netflix Original – David
experience in the industry as Farrier and Carthew Neal’s Dark
a producer. Her films have been Tourist. Mixing documentary
selected for Cannes, Venice with black comedy, one of
and New Zealand festivals and Justin’s episodes on ‘The Stans’
Art Basel, and she has won the has the highest viewer rating on
Grand Prix in Cannes Critics’ Dark Tourist’s IMDB listing.
Week. Tara is the Executive
Producer of Sydney-based This year Justin launched the
RASKOLS production company, two-part documentary, Patrick
managing a slate of established Gower: On Weed, which he
directors. Tara also owns Bamber directed and edited. It had
Films, specialising in long-form huge ratings and great viewer
moving image and working and critical feedback. It was
across feature films, shorts, the highest-rated show in New
television and gallery exhibitions. Zealand in 2019.
THE BUSHWHACKERS:
A LOVE STORY
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
THE BUSHWHACKERS WERE In the 1980s, Australasian tag team, Sport, Society Production company: Tara Riddell
SUPERSTARS OF WRESTLING. The Bushwhackers, were superstars of wrestling. Bamber Films +61 (0)433166194
Now in their seventies, the two best friends Country of production: tara@bamberfilms.com
NOW IN THEIR SEVENTIES,
reunite and embark on a farewell tour of Australia, New Zealand, USA
THE TWO BEST FRIENDS REUNITE America—against the advice of their doctor. Director: Justin Hawkes
AND EMBARK ON A FAREWELL Producer: Tara Riddell
TOUR OF AMERICA—AGAINST Estimated Duration:
THE ADVICE OF THEIR DOCTOR. 80-90 min
Stage of Production:
Early Development
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Feature Total budget: AUD $995,616 bamberfilms.com
Secured finance: AUD $5,000
Shortfall: AUD $990,616
Financiers: NZFC
ARTS & CULTURE
20 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 21WRITER, DIRECTOR WRITER, DIRECTOR PRODUCERS
EM BAKER JUHI SHARMA SAMANTHA DINNING
& PHILIPPA CAMPEY
Em’s debut feature Juhi Sharma is a New Philippa and Samantha are
documentary I Am No Bird York, Dallas and Chennai- producers at Film Camp. Their
premiered at Sydney Film based filmmaker working in recent documentary credits
Festival 2019 (nominated documentaries, fiction films, include ABC’s Art Bite Series
Best Australian Documentary) music videos and branded The Unmissables, NITV/SBS
and was released theatrically content. Her film Walk of Fame, series Treaty, and the feature
with Potential Films. Em’s with Dir. Blaine Morris premiered documentary No Time for Quiet
documentary Spoke won the at the Oscar Qualifying NY (which Samantha co-directed
Audience Choice Award at the Shorts International Film Festival. with Hylton Shaw). Film Camp is
Melbourne Documentary Film Her directorial debut, Skinny currently releasing The Leunig
Festival. Her short film Dolphin Love premiered at the Alternative Fragments (with Madman) while
is an official selection at this Film Festival in Toronto and producing feature docs Palazzo
year’s Melbourne Women in was the Official Selection di Cozzo and Brazen Hussies.
Film Festival and Queerscreen’s at the Newark International Film Camp has won awards at
Mardi Gras Film Festival. Film Festival and Adirondack Cannes, Sundance, AFI-Fest
International Film Festival. and Thessaloniki, and screened
at festivals including Berlinale,
Venice, Rotterdam, Telluride,
True/False, BFI-London and
Sheffield.
THE VINYL RECORDS:
DESTROY PHALLUS OPPRESSION
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF Although they didn’t set out to create feminist music, Music, Geopolitics, Gender Production company: Samantha Dinning
EPIDEMIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE, three-piece post-punk band The Vinyl Records Film Camp +61 (0)415292691
soon realised that their very existence is political. Country of production: sam@filmcamp.com.au
INDIA’S ONLY ALL-GIRL PUNK BAND
We follow the band on their 2020 national tour Australia, India
‘THE VINYL RECORDS’ TAKE TO across an increasingly divided India where tensions Directors: Philippa Campey
THE ROAD, SINGING THE WAR-CRY around women’s rights and conservative politics Em Baker, Juhi Sharma +61 (0)410665032
OF A NATION’S WOMEN. are at boiling point. Producers: Samantha pip@filmcamp.com.au
Dinning, Philippa Campey
Estimated Duration:
85 mins
Stage of Production:
Late Development
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $600,000 filmcamp.com.au
Feature Secured finance: AUD $10,000
70+ mins Shortfall: AUD $590,000
Financiers: Screen Australia
(Development)
ARTS & CULTURE
22 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 23PRODUCTION COMPANY PRODUCER PRODUCER
VANISHING PICTURES MIRANDA DARLING VIOLA RAIKHEL-BOLOT
PRODUCTIONS
VPP was founded by Miranda Miranda is a writer and Viola is Managing Director
and Viola to tell the stories of co-founder of VPP. She has and Co-Founder of 1858 Ltd
women who have wielded soft published two thrillers, a Art Advisory, and Co-Founder
power to change the course novel, and worked on several of Vanishing Pictures
of history. The stories they tell documentaries as a writer and Productions. 1858 Ltd is the
in books and film focus on the consultant. Before reading leading international art advisor
nexus between art and politics, English and Modern Languages to UHNW collectors, private
told through the lives of the at Oxford, she worked as a banks, financial institutions,
extraordinary women at the fashion model and for Paper family offices, fashion and
heart of them. Magazine in New York. She has luxury brands, and museums
an MA in Strategic Studies and on the various aspects of the
Defence from the ANU (GSSD), art collection process. Viola is
and was a scholar at CIS, where regularly called upon for market
she published widely on new insights in the international
security threats. press and is a regular contributor
to the Financial Times, CNBC,
CNN, and Bloomberg TV News.
THE LAST EMPRESS
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
THE LAST EMPRESS IS A FEATURE It has now been 40 years since the Empress Culture, Geopolitics Production company: Viola Bolot
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE EPIC and her family were forced into exile. Since then Vanishing Pictures Productions +61 (0)406431214
they have been living under a death sentence (VPP) vraikhel@1858ltd.com
LIFE OF EMPRESS FARAH PAHLAVI
in absentia. Country of production:
—THE FIRST CROWNED EMPRESS Australia, USA Miranda Darling
IN IRANIAN HISTORY. HER STORY After decades of living quietly in exile, a major Director: Withheld +61 (0)414673375
IS ONE OF FAIRY TALES, TRAGEDY, new power struggle between her homeland, Iran, Producers: Miranda Darling, mdarling@eml.cc
REVOLUTION AND TRIUMPH. and her adopted country, the US, threatens to Viola Raikhel-Bolot
draw the Empress back in. She has now Estimated Duration: 90 mins
re-emerged on the world stage, recently revealing: Stage of Production:
‘They said if I killed my husband, I could go back.’ Production
Despite the hardships her people face, the
Empress does not want regime change to come
from outside. Her wish is to live to see a revolution
from within, one she feels certain will be led by FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
the women of Iran.
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $2,000,000 BOOK assouline.com/
Feature Secured finance: AUD $800,000 products/iran-modern
Shortfall: AUD $1,200,000 VPP vanishingpictures
Financiers: Vanishing productions.com/news
Pictures Productions
SOCIETY & POLITICS
24 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 25DIRECTOR, PRODUCER CO-PRODUCER CO-PRODUCER, WRITER
JO DE FINA NICK BATZIAS MELANIE HORKAN
Jo has worked with some of Long standing member of the Melanie co-produced and wrote
the most iconic companies and Australian film industry, Nick Academy shortlisted My Enemy
creatives globally, and her time Batzias is a producer working My Brother in 2015 for Fathom
in New York saw her produce across film and television. He is Films in Toronto. She also
for Oscar-nominated director best known for the films Save worked as development
Bennett Miller. Recognised Your Legs (2012), A Month of producer on Google and the
as Australia’s best Creative Sundays (2015) and Below (2019) World Brain for BBC / ARTE /
Producer at the B&T Women in and feature documentaries TVE which screened at over 60
Media Awards, and one of SPA’s That Sugar Film (2014), 2040 festivals. In 2019 she produced
‘Ones to Watch’ 2019, Jo has (2019) and The Australian Dream and programmed Screen
produced incredible projects (2019). In addition Nick has Forever for Screen Producers
with some of the biggest Executive Produced several Australia attracting a record
names in the entertainment feature films and documentaries. number of attendees.
and advertising industries Nick is Managing Partner at
worldwide, including, rock stars, GoodThing Productions, based
politicians, and the current in Melbourne, Australia. WRITER
President of the USA. JESS LILLEY
Jess Lilley is a creative director,
radio maker and writer. She is
currently a broadcaster at
3RRR-FM, producing programs
TEA UGLOW — covering culture and social
issues. Jess is also a co-editor
EXPERIMENTAL PERSON IN CHARGE and writer at Gabberish.com
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
WHY IS IDENTITY SUCH A DIVISIVE Tea Uglow has chosen to challenge accepted Arts, Society, Gender Production company: Melanie Horkan
FORCE IN TODAY’S CULTURE, norms of how we define ourselves by no longer OTTO +61 (0)403444024
conforming to social expectation, instead being Country of production: melanie@hellootto.com.au
AND WHY ARE WE IN SUCH A RUSH
fully transparent about every aspect of who they Australia
TO DEFINE WHO WE—AND EACH are and how they have come to be. To everyone. Director: Jo de Fina Jo de Fina
OTHER—ARE? Producers: Jo de Fina, +61 (0)413863944
Identifying as neuro-diverse and trans, this is the Nick Batzias, Melanie Horkan jojo@hellootto.com.au
story of how Tea created their second coming of Writers: Jess Lilley,
age. With so many labels to negotiate—from Melanie Horkan
‘different’ to ‘Dissociative Identity Disorder’—Tea Estimated Duration: 75 mins
ultimately encourages us to redefine what normal is. Stage of Production:
Late Development
But as Tea and filmmaker, Jo de Fina, traverse the
implications of their decision to live with brutal
honesty, we see that it comes at huge personal FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
cost to Tea.
Feature Total budget: AUD $1,200,000 hellootto.com.au
Secured finance: AUD $5,000
Shortfall: AUD $1,195,000
Financiers: Film Victoria
SOCIETY & POLITICS
26 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 27SUBJECT AND CO-PRODUCER PRODUCER CO-WRITER AND DIRECTOR
OLIVER CASSIDY CHRIS KAMEN KASIMIR BURGESS
Oliver is an 8th-generation Chris Kamen is a producer, Kasimir’s latest film, The Leunig
Tasmanian, activist, filmmaker, lawyer, and digital distribution Fragments, screened to critical
musician and transgender specialist. With 15 years in the acclaim at Sydney, Melbourne
person who began this journey industry, Chris has produced a and Brisbane International Film
as Heather. Oliver works with wide variety of formats including Festivals and is in general release
the Tasmanian Conservation feature-length documentaries, now. His debut feature Fell had
Trust, an organisation that television, short films, web its world premiere at the Sydney
co-ordinated environmental series and advertising. He has International Film Festival.
campaigns with others including pioneered innovative distribution
The Wilderness Society, Bob methods on a number of
CO-WRITER
Brown Foundation, Freycinet projects and currently works CLAIRE SMITH
Action Network, the Planning part-time at CJZ.
Matters Alliance and more. Claire has written, produced
Oliver also writes music and and directed documentaries for
performs regularly in his band, ABC, Netflix and Discovery.
Philomath. Over the last year She is currently producing a
he has become a known figure global, environmental feature
in the Hobart music scene. at ITN Productions in
collaboration with Doc Society.
Previous roles at Discovery
USA, on ABC’s flagship science
DARK WATER: show Catalyst, and on Genepool
Productions’ Vitamania.
BATTLE ON THE FRANKLIN
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE EPIC Dark Water is a cinematic, feature-length History, Environment, Politics Production company: Chris Kamen
FIGHT TO SAVE TASMANIA’S WILD documentary about the seven-year campaign Rock Island Bend +61 (0)438309335
to save Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed Franklin Productions Pty Ltd chris@kamen.com.au
FRANKLIN RIVER FROM BEING
River from being drowned by the construction Country of production:
DAMMED BY THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC of a huge hydroelectric dam in the early 1980s. Australia
COMMISSION IN THE 1980S. Director: Kasimir Burgess
The story is framed by Oliver, an 8th generation Producers: Chris Kamen,
transgender Tasmanian, who grieves over the Oliver Cassidy, Annie Venables
early passing of his conservationist father Mike. Writers: Kasimir Burgess,
After discovering Mike’s diary from his 18-day Claire Smith
rafting mission to join the blockade, Oliver embarks Estimated Duration: 90 mins
on a solo rafting pilgrimage down the life-changing Stage of Production: Financing
river. In the process, he discovers the extraordinary
story of the campaign and gains valuable
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
insights into how change-making movements
actually succeed.
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $700,000 franklinriver.movie
Feature Secured finance: AUD $433,000 fb.com/franklinrivermovie
70+ mins Shortfall: AUD $267,000
Financiers: Screen Australia
(production investment) &
Screen Tasmania (development
assistance)
SOCIETY & POLITICS
28 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 29DIRECTOR PRODUCER PRODUCER, EDITOR
KARL MALAKUNAS MARTY SYJUCO MICHAEL COLLINS
Karl is an Australian journalist Originally from the Philippines, Michael is an Emmy® and
who has reported on conflicts, Marty is a two-time Emmy®- Grierson-nominated filmmaker
natural disasters and political nominated filmmaker whose and the founder of Thoughtful
upheavals around the world for first film Give Up Tomorrow Robot, a film production
two decades. He is currently the premiered at the Tribeca Film company committed to telling
Asia-Pacific Deputy Editor-In- Festival where it won the stories that galvanize change.
Chief for the international news Audience Award and Special Michael’s recent film Almost
agency Agence France-Presse. Jury Prize. The film won Sunrise is the first film about
Karl began making Darkened 18 awards and has been seen “moral injury” and its connection
Paradise, his first feature film, by over 50 million viewers. His to the veteran suicide crisis.
while based in the Philippines recent film, Call Her Ganda was The film premiered at Telluride
as Manila Bureau Chief for AFP. nominated for a GLAAD Media Mountainfilm in 2016 and has
An initial short film and essay Award and was broadcast on had 600+ screenings across
on Palawan’s land defenders by POV. Marty was invited to join the country, winning six
Karl won a special merit at the the Academy of Motion Pictures major awards, including the
2018 Amnesty International Asia- Arts and Sciences last summer. Voice Award, and an Emmy
Pacific Human Rights Awards. nomination for Outstanding
Current-Affairs Documentary.
DARKENED PARADISE
(WORKING TITLE)
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
THREE ENVIRONMENTAL Palawan appears to be an idyllic tropical island. Politics, Wildlife Production company: Marty Syjuco
CRUSADERS CONFRONT MURDER, Its powder-white beaches and lush forests have Thoughtful Robot +1 9173346395
made it one of Asia’s hottest new tourist Productions, Vulcan marty@thoughtfulrobot.com
BETRAYAL AND THEIR OWN DEMONS
destinations. But for a tiny network of environmental Productions, ITVS
AS THEY ARE TESTED LIKE NEVER crusaders and vigilantes trying to protect its Countries of production:
BEFORE IN THEIR BATTLE TO spectacular natural resources, it is more akin Philippines, USA, Singapore,
SAVE AN ISLAND PARADISE IN THE to a battlefield. Darkened Paradise follows Bobby, Hong Kong, Australia
PHILIPPINES. Tata and Nieves, three magnetic leaders of this Director: Karl Malakunas
network, as they confront the biggest challenges Producers: Marty Syjuco,
of their lives trying to stop ruthless politicians Michael Collins
and businessmen from plundering the Philippines’ Estimated Duration: 80 mins
“last ecological frontier”. It is a timely film Stage of Production:
emblematic of the struggles globally as land Production
defenders are being killed in record numbers trying
to save natural resources from the rapaciousness
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
of corporations and governments.
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $1,238,000 thoughtfulrobot.com
Feature Secured finance: AUD $460,538
Hour (52'/60') Shortfall: AUD $777,462
70+ mins Financiers: Sundance,
Bertha Foundation, SFFILM,
Vulcan Productions, ITVS
SOCIETY & POLITICS
30 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 31PRODUCER DIRECTOR, WRITER
KARINA HOLDEN TOSCA LOOBY
Karina has 24 years of Tosca Looby has honed her
experience in documentary as a storytelling skills on diverse
key creative on Emmy-nominated and often difficult subjects.
and AACTA-winning programs. She has created award-winning
Her feature documentary Blue documentaries in Europe, Asia
premiered at the UN at the and Australia—proving an
invitation of the President of the elegant storyteller and one of
General Assembly and has been Australia’s most talented factual
translated into 10 languages, scriptwriters. Tosca has also
reaching an audience of over series-produced archive projects
three million-plus people in Australia and the UK, creating
through international theatrical complicated thesis-dependent
release. The crux of her creative works on issues including
work is to create change, truth international child abduction,
tell and find unlikely heroes who modern parenting and Asian
challenge our perceptions. poaching rings. Strong Female
Lead is her original idea and
passion project.
STRONG FEMALE LEAD
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
A DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING In this film we distill the Parliament and media Society, Politics Production company: Karina Holden
AUSTRALIA’S STRUGGLE WITH THE response to Julia Gillard’s leadership using Northern Pictures karina@
archive from her three-year tenure as Australia’s Country of production: northernpictures.com.au
NOTION OF WOMEN AND POWER
Prime Minister—an honest portrait from a moment Australia
WHEN A STRONG FEMALE TAKES in time, unmuddied by hindsight. We see the Director: Tosca Looby
THE LEAD. attacks, ever-increasing in their vitriol, sexual and Producer: Karina Holden
violent overtones, that characterised her time in Estimated Duration: 75 mins
office: Ditch the witch, hag, slut, Ju-liar. Stage of Production:
Strong Female Lead will let us hear what the boy’s Late Development
club sounded like as it howled and what
happened when Gillard fought back. By offering
an unflinching view of misogyny’s foundations—
we aim to get better at dismantling it.
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Feature Total budget: AUD $843,273 northernpictures.com.au
Secured finance: AUD $293,702
Shortfall: AUD $549,571
Financiers: Producer Offset
SOCIETY & POLITICS
32 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 33DIRECTOR, PRODUCER PRODUCER PRODUCER
JULIA LANDREY DYLAN BLOWEN DANNY LECHEVRE
Julia is an interdisciplinary Dylan is a multi-award-winning Danny is founder of Cinema-On-
artist who has worked across filmmaker with a career Demand Distribution platform
installation, performance art, spanning more than 20 years in Fan-Force.com, production
and filmmaking. Her works have the film and television industry— company FanForce Productions
been exhibited domestically and in Los Angeles, New York and Film Marketing Agency
internationally at festivals, in and Australia, encompassing The Solid State. Over the past
galleries and theatres including documentary and drama 20 years he’s worked across
the Sydney Opera House and features, television singles hundreds of international Film
the Museum of Contemporary and series and streaming and TV campaigns. The Fan-
Art. Julia trained at The Australia projects. After taking a hiatus Force ‘crowd-sourced’ film
Film Television and Radio as Production and Development distribution platform operates in
School, National Institute of Executive at Screen NSW he 37 countries around the world.
Dramatic Arts and University of has produced films for VICE, The platform has achieved
New South Wales. ABC and Network Ten. The OH box office records for 2040,
Gap will be his return to feature That Sugar Film and Embrace
documentary after producing and works with a broad base
Australian prize-winning of international filmmakers to
documentary The Snowman. develop, produce and distribute
content for a global marketplace.
THE OH GAP
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
A CONFIDENT WOMAN, STRUGGLING Exasperated by the orgasm imbalance in her own Culture, History, Science Production company: Dylan Blowen
TO ADDRESS THE ‘ORGASM GAP’ relationship, a confident woman realises she is Pony Films Pty Ltd +61 (0)414524734
not alone with most heterosexual women Country of production: dylan@ponyfilms.com.au
IN HER RELATIONSHIP, DISCOVERS
orgasming much less than their male partners. Australia
A HISTORY OF MISINFORMATION Director: Julia Landrey Julia Landrey
AROUND FEMALE SEXUALITY, SO Digging deeper she discovers a long history of Producers: Dylan Blowen, +61 (0)420990252
SHE BEGINS A MOVEMENT FOR misinformation, lies and confusion from religious, Danny LeChevre, Julia Landrey julia@eggshellprojects.com
CHANGE WITH THE HELP OF A GIANT cultural and scientific groups who have denigrated Estimated Duration: 90 mins
GOLDEN CLITORIS. female sexual pleasure and the clitoris. She meets Stage of Production:
with scientists, experts, feminists and artists all Early Development
working to drive change in their respective fields
including Dr Mirkazemi, an FGM-repair surgeon
and Alli Sebastian-Wolf, an artist who creates a
giant golden clitoris sculpture. The experts help our
protagonist create a social movement for change FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
to drive discussion, eliminate shame and most
of all, bring pleasure to women around the world.
Hour (52'/60') Total budget: AUD $1,500,000 ponyfilms.com.au
70+ mins Secured finance: AUD $579,000 eggshellprojects.com
Shortfall: AUD $921,000 fan-force.com
Financiers: FanForce Films,
Crowdfunding, Producer’s Offset
SCIENCE & NATURAL HISTORY
34 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 35PRODUCER PRODUCER DIRECTOR
MADELEINE HETHERTON-MIAU REBECCA BARRY SOPHIE WIESNER
Madeleine Hetherton-Miau is Rebecca directs and Director Sophie Wiesner has a
an experienced and multi- produces across a variety of long track record in compelling
awarded director and producer. genres and has won many and well received TV series and
Her filmmaking has taken her awards. Productions include singles. Sophie directed Call
around the world from diamond documentary film I Am A Girl; Me Dad for the ABC, which was
diving in Africa to wildlife producing the critical and ratings nominated for ADG and SPA
trafficking in Burma and through success The Surgery Ship (SBS) awards. She is a sought-after
the remote Australian outback. with Nat Geo and controversial Shooter Producer and Producer/
She works across a wide range film The Opposition, which Director on factual series. Her
of documentary and factual screened at Hot Docs, IDFA, personal highlights include
programs which have been Sydney Film Festival and was Keeping Australia Alive (ITV for
broadcast in over 60 countries opening night film at HRAFF ABC), Country Town Rescue
across networks including ABC, 2017. More recently, China Love (CJZ for ABC) and Bondi Vet
BBC, Discovery, Nat Geo, Hulu has been enjoying a life on (WTFN for Network 10).
and Al Jazeera. the festival circuit (DOCNYC &
GZDOC) and screened on the
ABC in 2019.
RESURRECTION PLANET
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
CAN WE BRING EXTINCT ANIMALS Earth is experiencing its sixth great extinction. Science, Natural History Production company: Madeleine Hetherton-Miau
AND THREATENED SPECIES BACK Nature is declining at rates unprecedented in Media Stockade +61 (0)408622203
human history. But now, incredibly, we have the Country of production: madeleine@
TO LIFE?
power to reverse some of this destruction. Australia mediastockade.com
Resurrection Planet follows global de-extinction Director: Sophie Wiesner
and conservation scientists in the lab and in the Producers: Madeleine
field, developing technologies and conservation Hetherton, Rebecca Barry
techniques that can bring species back from the Estimated Duration: 4 x 1hr
brink of extinction, and some back to life. (extendable)
Stage of Production:
Late Development
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $3,800,000 mediastockade.com
Series Secured finance: AUD $840,000
Shortfall: AUD $2,960,000
Financiers: QAPE
SCIENCE & NATURAL HISTORY
36 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 37DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER,
WRITER WRITER
SAM LARA CATHY HENKEL
Sam Lara has directed and Cathy Henkel has 30 years’
produced several award- experience as a documentary
winning short films. Her 2019 producer/director/writer,
Screenwest-funded short film focused on telling inspiring,
Featherweight was nominated global stories with cross-platform
for a Dendy Award at Sydney delivery. Her credits include
Film Festival, and screened The Burning Season (IF Award
in competition at Flickerfest and Emmy® nomination),
International Short Film Festival, The Man who Stole my Mother’s
Cambridge Film Festival Face (Tribeca Film Festival Best
and Melbourne International Feature Documentary), Show me
Film Festival, where she was the Magic (ACS Award) and
selected to participate in MIFF’s Rise of the Eco-Warriors feature
Accelerator Lab. She is currently documentary. She received the
freelancing as an Assistant SPA Documentary Producer
Director on feature films and of the Year award in 2009.
TV series, and as a director Cathy is currently Director of
of short films, music videos WA Screen Academy at Edith
and factual content. Cowan University.
LAURA’S CHOICE
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
THREE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN Laura is 90 years old. She tells her daughter Cathy Culture, Society Production company: Sam Lara
COME TO TERMS WITH A RADICAL and granddaughter Sam that she wishes to end Virgo Productions +61 (0)424648910
her life on her own terms. She wants to be in Country of production: hello@samlara.com
APPROACH TO DYING.
control of the process, to set the time and place, Australia, Austria, Switzerland
and be allowed to go with dignity. She embarks Directors: Cathy Henkel
on the process of applying to a clinic in Switzerland Sam Lara, Cathy Henkel +61 (0)410491449
where her right to do this, and have her family Producers: c.henkel@ecu.edu.au
by her side, is legal. She plans a joyous farewell Sam Lara, Cathy Henkel
party, and prepares for her final exit. And she Estimated Duration: 90 mins
instructs Cathy and Sam, both filmmakers, to make Stage of Production:
a film about it. Laura’s Choice explores complex Production
questions as three generations of women travel
into uncharted territory and navigate a radical,
dignified and highly controversial approach to dying.
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $268,000 lauraschoice.org
Feature Secured finance: AUD $22,800
Series Shortfall: AUD $245,200
Half hour Financiers: Screenwest;
Brian Beaton Award
NEW TALENT
38 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 39WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER PRODUCER
PRODUCER BRITT ARTHUR MISH ARMSTRONG
CHARBY IBRAHIM
Charby is passionate about Britt is an award-winning Mish has produced
social impact films with a producer/director. Her documentaries for all platforms
creative twist. His recent hybrid documentaries have premiered including free to air, pay TV
documentary, The Holiday at prestigious film festivals and SVOD—including Out of
Inn-Side, found its way onto the including IDFA, BFI London Our Minds, Kokoda Trail, and
long-list for the 2020 Academy Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Fitzroy Stars; feature drama
Awards in its category, while and MIFF. Britt’s work has Life and Death of Otto Bloom,
Bright Lights, a fully animated been recognised with wins and documentaries Graceful
documentary about the perils from the Australian Directors Girls and Outsider. Mish works
of poker machine gambling, Guild and ATOM, as well as as a producer on unscripted
is expected to launch on nominations from the IF Awards, TV shows including Long Lost
The Guardian’s prestigious ASTRA Awards and the Logies. Family, True Story, and The
documentary platform in 2020. Her credits include Paper Block. She was EP on the online/
Charby is currently in production Trails, SMUT HOUNDS, Life TV series Housemates and What
on his first feature documentary, Architecturally, My Uncle Bluey, Could Go Wrong, and is currently
Life After Juvie, about kids caught Not in Front of the Kids, Grand EP on Property Banter.
up in the juvenile justice system. Designs and Who Do You Think
You Are?
LIFE AFTER JUVIE
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
AGAINST THE TORRENT OF ‘TOUGH In the ongoing debate surrounding youth Youth, Children, Crime Production company: Charby Ibrahim
ON CRIME’ RHETORIC, YOUNG offending, and the increase of ‘tough on crime’ Marhaba Films Pty Ltd +61 (0)481395079
rhetoric right across mainstream media, there is a Country of production: charbyibrahim@gmail.com
PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE STICKY WEB
voice too often missing from the conversation— Australia
OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM that of the young person. Given that seven out of Director: Charby Ibrahim
FIND THEIR VOICE. 10 young people are likely to return to prison after Producers: Charby Ibrahim,
release, isn’t it time that we stop to ask them Britt Arthur, Mish Armstrong
why? Creatively treated with the use of animation, Executive Producer:
stylised interviews, observational footage, hybrid Jen Peedom
dramatisation, and archival material, the stories Estimated Duration:
told in this unconventional feature-length 90 mins
documentary will have audiences reflecting on Stage of Production:
much more than the ‘criminal act’ itself, but rather Late Development
the life circumstances of the young person and
the social context surrounding their behaviour.
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $800,000
Feature Secured finance: AUD $53,000
Shortfall: AUD $747,000
Financiers: Development—Screen Australia, Film Victoria,
Shark Island Institute
NEW TALENT
40 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 41DIRECTOR PRODUCER EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
NED SPELDEWINDE CLAUDIA NANKERVIS ROBYN BUTLER
AND WAYNE HOPE
Ned Speldewinde is a first Claudia Nankervis is an Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
time documentary filmmaker. emerging producer with an helm the successful Australian
Starting out as a videographer impressive list of credits in film, production company, Gristmill.
for corporate and wedding television, radio and podcasts, Prolific and multi-award
videos, Ned expanded his including Production Assistant winning content creators, they
skillset as an Assistant Grip on on Rockwiz for SBS and co-created, wrote, produced
Gristmill’s award winning Little Assistant Television Producer and directed The Librarians,
Lunch. Ned was encouraged at the Melbourne International Very Small Business, Upper
to hone his craft as behind- Comedy Festival. Claudia Middle Bogan and Back in Very
the-scenes director/producer has worked at award-winning Small Business. Robyn wrote
on Gristmill’s hit series, Upper production company Gristmill and starred in the feature film,
Middle Bogan, following which as production runner, executive Now Add Honey, which Wayne
his making-of special, Inside assistant, and is now producing directed. They also co-created,
Upper Middle Bogan, was several projects in development. wrote, produced and directed
released on iView. Ned also shot She currently co-hosts and the smash hit children’s series,
and produced the EPK for Back produces an alumni podcast Little Lunch and, most recently,
in Very Small Business. for St Michaels Grammar The Investigators for ABC ME
School and produces a monthly and Netflix.
storytelling event in Melbourne.
LIGHTEN MY LOAD
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
A YOUNG MAN DONATES SPERM The Shire, South West of Sydney and epicentre Culture, Society Production company: Claudia Nankervis
TO A LESBIAN COUPLE AND FINDS of Middle Australia, is an unlikely backdrop for Gristmill +61 (0)401847109
a young man to help a lesbian couple start a family, Country of production: claudnankervis@gmail.com
HIMSELF ON A JOURNEY TO
but Ned Speldewinde feels compelled. After the Australia
MAKE AMENDS FOR HIS FATHER’S birth of Fynn, Ned begins to think about his Director: Ned Speldewinde
ADOPTIVE PAST. father’s forced adoption. Lindsay Speldewinde’s Producer: Claudia Nankervis
wiped history is in stark contrast to the considered Executive Producers:
transparency which Ned experiences with his Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope
donor family and Ned discovers that he has Estimated Duration: 75 mins
unwittingly embarked on a journey of redemption. Stage of Production:
While the family tries for a sibling for Fynn, Late Development
Ned determines to uncover Lindsay’s buried past
and prosecute his thesis: identity matters.
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $587,112 gristmill.com.au
Feature Secured finance: AUD $144,987
70+ mins Shortfall: AUD $442,125
Financiers: Private financing
NEW TALENT
42 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 43DIRECTOR PRODUCER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
ELIZA COX GENA LIDA RIESS ANNA KAPLAN
With a background in Gena Lida Riess is a queer Anna Kaplan is a screen
journalism, Eliza is especially Melbourne-based filmmaker producer working at the
interested in exploring human with experience in independent intersection of film, storytelling
nature through stories of the documentary films, journalism and social change. She led the
everyday man (and woman). Her and promotional videos. As a impact campaign for That Sugar
passion for Queens of Concrete director, her work has screened Film and implemented localised
lies in her own teenage struggle both locally and internationally campaigns for The Hunting
to understand her gender and has also been distributed Ground and Life, Animated.
identity. She was neither a both commercially and for Most recently, Anna produced
“girly-girl” or a “tomboy”, and educational purposes. Her most and is heading up the global
therefore confused by what this notable work, Creating a Monster, impact campaign for
made her. After previous success explores how reality television is Damon Gameau’s 2040,
at short film festivals globally, constructed and consumed, and which premiered at the
Eliza is making her feature debut the psychological impact it has Berlinale, grossed over $1.5m
with Queens of Concrete. on participants. Currently Gena at the Australian box office
is making her debut as a and is currently being released
producer on the feature film internationally. Anna was
Queens of Concrete. recently awarded the 2020
Natalie Miller Fellowship.
QUEENS OF CONCRETE
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
A TRUE LIFE JOURNEY OF Queens of Concrete is a coming-of-age Sport, Society Production company: Gena Riess
DISCOVERY AS THREE GIRLS documentary following three young skateboarders Gena Lida Films +61 (0)438532057
over five years. Hayley, Ava and Charlotte have Country of production: genalida.riess@gmail.com
WRESTLE ADOLESCENCE IN
their sights firmly fixed on competing in the Australia, USA, Japan
PURSUIT OF OLYMPIC HISTORY. 2020 Summer Olympics—the first ever Games to Director: Eliza Cox Eliza Cox
hold a skateboarding event. With just a few spots Producer: Gena Lida Riess +61 (0)474706742
available on the Australian Olympic team, Executive Producer: eli3acox@gmail.com
the pressure to impress the Olympic Committee Anna Kaplan
is huge. Estimated Duration: 90 mins
Stage of Production:
Each girl will take a different journey over the Late Development
five-year period, navigating professional
skateboarding and teen life. Where will it take
them and who will they be at the end?
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $750,000
Feature Secured finance: AUD $15,000
Hour (52'/60') Shortfall: AUD $735,000
70+ mins Financiers: Film Victoria, Applicant Contribution
NEW TALENT
44 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 45DIRECTOR PRODUCER ASSOCIATE PRODUCER,
TZE WOON CHAN PETER YAM AUDIENCE DESIGNER
CATHERINE CHAN
Chan Tze Woon is a Hong Kong Yam produced the Yamagata Together with Oscar winner
filmmaker. He graduated from International Film Festival Ruby Yang, Catherine
the Academy of Film at Hong Ogawa Shinsuke Prize-winner established the Hong Kong
Kong Baptist University in 2013. Yellowing (2016), directed by Documentary Initiative in 2015
A large-scale occupation in Chan Tze Woon, which was also as Project Manager, supporting
2014 prompted him to make his nominated for the 2016 Golden filmmakers in the region with
first feature-length documentary Horse Best Documentary. seed funding and mentorship.
Yellowing (2016). The film won She serves as Associate
the Shinsuke Ogawa Award at He also worked on the Producer for several
Yamagata International documentary Lost in Fumes documentaries by emerging
Documentary Film Festival, was (2017), directed by Nora Lam, filmmakers. Catherine is a
nominated for Best Documentary which was recognised by the journalism graduate and has
at Taipei Golden Horse Film Hong Kong Film Critics worked in public relations and
Awards, and qualified for Best Academy Award and the administration across Hong
Feature Documentary for Chinese Documentary Award Kong and China for over 10
Oscars 2019. (Special Jury Prize) by 2018 years. She embraces new
Taiwan International perspectives, in search of the
Documentary Film Festival. best platform for storytelling.
She is an Audience Designer at
Torino Film Lab 2019.
BLUE ISLAND
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
THREE MEN RELIVE PIVOTAL Yeung was put behind bars at age 16 for rioting Politics, Society Production company: Peter Yam
MOMENTS IN HONG KONG HISTORY against the colonial government in 1967. Chen fled Blue Island Production +852 95273303
from the Cultural Revolution in 1973, swimming Company Limited peteryam@ymail.com
—THE PLACE THEY HAVE LIVED
across an angry sea in a dark stormy night. Lam Country of production:
HALF THEIR LIVES. THEIR VALUES travelled to Beijing in 1989 to support the Chinese Hong Kong, China Catherine Chan
SHARED WITH LARGER MOVEMENTS democratic movement. He bore witness to the Director: Tze Woon Chan +852 92129669
PAVED THE WAY TO HONG KONG. Tiananmen Massacre. Fate has once again put Producer: Peter Yam chantszki@gmail.com
HOW WILL THEY CONTINUE TO them in the middle of a revolution. Estimated Duration:
SHAPE THE FUTURE? 90-120 minutes
This is 2019, and Hong Kong is undergoing the Stage of Production:
revolution of our time. How will the future play out Development
for them, and for the people of Hong Kong?
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $431,900
Feature Secured finance: AUD $112,778
Hour (52'/60') Shortfall: AUD $319,122
70+ mins Financiers: Hong Kong Art Development Council
Hong Kong Documentary Initiative
ROUGH CUT SESSIONS
46 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 47WRITER, DIRECTOR, CO-PRODUCER SENIOR EDITOR
PRODUCER TOM ZUBRYCKI ROWENA CROWE
GRANT LEIGH SAUNDERS
From 2007-2011, Grant Tom Zubrycki is a documentary Rowena holds a Masters of
produced over 20 TV half-hour filmmaker whose career has Arts in Documentary Editing
documentaries for the spanned 40 years. He has AFTRS and a Masters in
Indigenous unit of ABC TV. He produced and/or directed more Animation from Animation St
was commissioned to produce than 35 films, and has been Joost (Netherlands). She is
a short comedy sketch called actively involved in a number of passionate about both long
Black Santa for a Christmas industry organisations including and short form filmmaking
special in 2013. the Australian Directors Guild and storytelling. Features she
and OZDOX. His films include has edited have screened on
In June 2018 he produced Kemira—Diary of a Strike (1984), broadcast television and played
his first independent feature Homelands (1992), Lord of the in competition at international
documentary Teach a Man to Bush (1998), The Diplomat film festivals, such as Teach A
Fish, which was selected to (2000) and The Hungry Tide Man to Fish (2018, NITV) during
premiere in competition at the (2011). He has received several the Sydney Film Festival and
Sydney Film Festival, where it awards including two AFI’s for Memoirs of a Plague (2011,
placed 5th overall in the category Best Documentary, and two for Nat Geo) at the Amsterdam
of Best Documentary and 2nd Best Director. International Film Festival.
in the Audience Choice Awards.
BREAK IT DOWN UNDER
LOGLINE SYNOPSIS GENRE PROJECT INFORMATION CONTACT
BREAK IT DOWN UNDER Australian hip-hop has developed a distinct Music, Politics Production company: Grant Leigh Saunders
CELEBRATES THE HISTORY OF cultural personality that reflects its Indigenous Sonic Nomad PTY LTD +61 (0)413266448
and multicultural base. The unifying issue that Country of production: grant@sonicnomad.com.au
AUSTRALIAN SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS
connects these artists is their experience of Australia
HIP-HOP, VISUALLY DECONSTRUCTS Australian racism and their determination to Director: Grant Leigh Saunders
THE POWERFUL MESSAGES overcome it, empowered through hip-hop. Finally Producers: Grant Leigh
EXPRESSED AND INTRODUCES after 10 years of white Aussie hip-hop dominance, Saunders, Tom Zubrycki
THE WORLD OF SONBOY, AN another sound that is black and brown is coming Estimated Duration: 80 mins
ABORIGINAL TRAP ARTIST FROM up from the underground. This film visually Stage of Production:
explores some of the lyrical content of Aussie Post-production
REDFERN SYDNEY.
hip-hop, focusing on Sonboy. Having lived and
seen it all, Sonboy’s story provides the audience
with a real example of the relationship between
hip-hop and social justice activism.
FORMAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION LINKS
Single /One-off Total budget: AUD $300,000 sonicnomad.com.au
Feature Secured finance: AUD $24,000
70+ mins Shortfall: AUD $276,000
Financiers: Screen Australia
ROUGH CUT SESSIONS
48 AIDC 2020 PROGRAM GUIDE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE 49You can also read
