Ten new Australian documentary projects receive over $3.2 million investment | WPN World People News

Screen Australia announced over $3.2 million investment in 10 documentaries, generating almost $10 million in production.

From the National Documentary Program (NDP), 88, directed by Adrian Russell Wills, tells a story from 1988 that would change the nation, when 30,000 Aboriginal people marched in Sydney. The documentary is written by both Adrian Russell Wills and Michaela Perske, and is produced for the ABC by Michaela Perske.

Also from the NDP, is the two-part ABC documentary Life at 9, in which writer/director Jennifer Peedom continues the stories of 10 Australian children against the backdrop of the largest-ever longitudinal scientific study done on child development. Life at 9 is produced by Naomi Just and executive produced by Jennifer Cummins.

Taking on the Chocolate Frog is a three-part documentary series produced for SBS Subscription Channel and STUDIO, which follows an unlikely bunch of Shakespearean wannabes. The series comes from writer/director Debbie Cuell and producers Bob Campbell, Simon Steel and Debbie Cuell.

The Waler: Australia’s Great War Horse is the story of the 135,000 Australian horses that went to the First World War. It is written by Barry Strickland, directed by Russell Vines and produced by Marian Bartsch for ABC TV.

From the General Documentary Program (GDP), Crash Test Mummies and Daddies is a six-part ABC2 documentary series that provides a snapshot of contemporary Australian parenting, from producer/writers Judith John-Story and Claire Haywood. The third season of the ABC’s six-part documentary series Family Confidential will also be supported through the GDP, and will be directed by Kay Pavlou along with producers and directors Heather Nash and Laurie Critchley. The series will also be produced by Robyn Smith.

Outback Choir is a one-off documentary from writer/director Lisa Nicol, which provides an intimate portrait of growing up in regional Australia and the difference belonging to a choir can make. It’s produced for ABC1 by Jennifer Cummins and Seema Khanna.

Who We Are 3 is a one-off documentary told through the eyes of six young Australians, exploring and celebrating the diversity of contemporary Indigenous Australia. It’s written by Larissa Behrendt and Suzi Taylor, and is produced for Foxtel by Alice Taylor and Nicolas Lee.

From the International Documentary Program (IDP), The Flying Miners is a three-part ABC series about everyday Australians who travel far and wide to make it in the mining industry. It is produced by David Peter.

The two-part documentary Wizards of Oz follows Man Booker Prize-winner Howard Jacobson, who sets out to understand why Barry Humphries, Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer and Clive James left Australia in the 1960s and how they became cultural icons. Wizards of Oz is written by Howard Jacobson, directed by Paul Clarke and produced for ABC1 and BBC4 by Margie Bryant, Dan Goldberg and Adam Kay.

Source: Screen Australia