Among the funded projects are children’s animation series Wishes, following five-year-old girl Lucy and her young Guardian-creature Kino; feature film Dust from the playwright of the critically acclaimed Prima Facie, Suzie Miller; the latest comedy/drama series from Celeste Barber, Codependent; and the second iteration of acclaimed virtual reality series, Lustration 2.0.

Included in this slate are 16 projects that have been supported through the Generate Fund, 13 through the Premium Fund and two through the Online Development Fund.

Screen Australia Head of Development Bobby Romia said, “This diverse slate of projects reflects a rich tapestry of creativity, from animated family adventures to thought-provoking dramas. It presents a wealth of opportunities to showcase and nurture the incredible talent we have here in Australia.”

“We’re committed to continuing our drive to invest in ambitious, quality content for audiences far and wide and I’m excited to see these teams transform their visions into compelling narratives,” said Romia.

THE PROJECTS FUNDED FOR DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:

• Codependent: An eight-part comedy/drama that follows marriage counsellor Darcy (Celeste Barber), a total romantic who lives in a beautiful coastal Australian town and is fully entrenched in her tight-knit community. But Darcy is forced to face her own relationship demons when her husband leaves her for someone new – untangling 15 years’ worth of an intertwined life while continuing to share empathetic nods with her troubled clients. Attached is writer/producer Celeste Barber and writer Belinda King whose credits include Wellmania, with Alexandra Keddie (The Housemate) producing.
• Dust: From Bunya Productions and playwright of the critically acclaimed Prima Facie Suzie Miller, Dust is a feature film set during an environmental crisis on the day a strong wind completely covers Perth with a massive red dust cloud – triggering a wakeup call that forces a group of individuals to look in new directions, grappling with the core of what matters most. The film positions itself as a look into how humanity deals with chaos, how we navigate vulnerability and how it is in reaching toward each other that we find the essence of our humanity. Dust is from director John Sheedy (H is for Happiness, Runt), writer Suzie Miller (Prima Facie play) and producers Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey, whose credits include Limbo.
• Lustration 2.0: This six-part VR drama fantasy series is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Lustration VR series. This second iteration follows Bardolph and Gallus, who are two protectors of The Between, a realm where the dead go in order to cleanse or ‘lustrate’ themselves before crossing over to pure happiness. But when an evil target slips through their grasp, everyone and everything in The Afterlife begins to unravel. Lustration 2.0 is from writer/director/executive producer Ryan Griffen (Lustration, Cleverman), writer Hannah Belanszky, producer Carolina Sorensen (I’m Wanita) and executive producers Nathan Anderson (Lustration, Awake: Episode One), Wolfgang Bylsma (Lustration) and Wadooah Wali.
• Matriarch: In this horror feature film, self-made woman Connie (29) moves into her husband Calvin’s (35) traditionalist Chinese family home for the third trimester of her pregnancy. As cultural differences and tensions rise surrounding the impending birth of her son, Connie finds herself at the centre of a demented ritual to appease an ancient and decrepit god. Matriarch is co-written and directed by Jayden Rathsam Hua (Sushi Noh, The Key of B) and co-written and produced by Ivy Mak (Swift Street, Sydney Sleuthers).
• Metal Fish Falling Snow: A feature film based on Cath Moore’s award-winning novel follows the story of 12-year-old neurodiverse Dylan, who is driven across the Australian outback to live with her Grandfather William when her adored mother dies suddenly. Accompanied on her journey by her mother’s boyfriend Pat, along the way Dylan struggles with what it means to be of colour, and must confront her fears and falsehoods about the skin she is in. Metal Fish Falling Snow is a drama and magic realism film directed/produced by Olivia Peniston-Bird and written/produced by Cath Moore, whose credits include Graceful Girls and Sister Song.
• Pick Up: From Kindling Pictures and inspired by a true story, Pick Up follows Koen, a musician on the cusp of fame, battling a chronic illness. Introduced to fecal transplants, he begins an intense daily poo pick up from strangers. As his life grows increasingly public, Koen struggles to maintain his donors’ expectations while navigating the bizarre world of bodily waste, upon which his health now depends. Pick Up is an eight-part series about the intricate dance of transaction and intimacy, the complexities of falling in love and the daily demands of a chronic illness. Pick Up is created, written and directed by Taylor Ferguson, whose credits include Fake and Year Of. Emelyne Palmer and Imogen Banks (Fake, Safe Home) are producing and executive producing respectively.
• Senescence: This eight-part science fiction series follows ambitious 26-year-old dropout Mia as she gets caught in a battle whilst trying to save her mother from a degenerative illness. Senescence is written, directed and produced by Madeleine Parry (The Angels: Kickin’ Down the Door), written by Maddison Connaughton and produced by Peter Hanlon (The Angels: Kickin’ Down the Door). Joan Sauers is attached as script editor.
• What I Like About Me: This romantic comedy young adult film is told through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin, whose summer is turned upside down when her best friend starts dating her childhood crush. But as plus-sized Maisie pushes herself out of her comfort zone and into the limelight of the local beauty pageant, Maisie realises the things she loves about herself have been there all along. What I Like About Me is written by Jenna Guillaume, with Erica Harrison (A Beginner’s Guide to Grief) attached as script editor. Hayley Adams and Michelle Melky of Scattered and Love Songs are producing and Alex Reid and Tom Maynard are executive producing.
• Wishes [pictured]: A 26-part fantasy family children’s animation series about a five-year-old girl, Lucy, and her young Guardian-creature Kino. Whenever Lucy feels the struggles of others and wishes she could do something to help, Kino materialises into Lucy’s world of magical solutions, helping her shape them into selfless acts of kindness. Wishes is directed by Ana María Méndez Salgado and produced by Carlos Manrique Clavijo whose credits include My Little Sumo, with Colin South (The Strange Chores, Little J & Big Cuz) attached as executive producer.

For the complete list of development funding approvals refer to television, online breakdowns.

Complete list of feature film development funding approvals:

FUNDING APPROVALS
2023-2024 DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

PREMIUM

BABY CAT
Bus Stop Films Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama, Musical
Writer/Director Genevieve Clay-Smith
Producer Eleanor Winkler
Executive Producers Nathan Basha, Deanne Weir, Tracey Corbin-Matchett
Executive Producer and Contributing Writer Mandela Mathia
Producer’s Attachment Chanel Bowen
Synopsis After her mother dies, a dance obsessed woman with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) must prove to her estranged grandmother that she can live independently or risk losing her family home and her freedom.

BONEGILLA
Ultrafilms Investments & Productions Pty Ltd and Realworld Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Action adventure, Drama, Thriller
Director Franco Di Chiera
Writers Jason Agius, Franco Di Chiera
Script Consultant Stephen Cleary
Producers Yvonne Collins, Sabella Sugar, Franco Di Chiera
Synopsis When the Cold War migrated to Australia; set in 1952, an Italo-Australian cop is hired by ASIO to root out communists at the Bonegilla Migrant Camp. He soon finds things are not what they seem when he discovers a murder.

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
Enjoy Entertainment
Genre Romantic dramedy
Director Mark Lamprell
Producers Phillip Bowman, David Parfitt
Synopsis Arthur and Roberta are facing the end of life’s journey but unexpectedly find each other, and a chance for love and a glorious new beginning.

DUST
Bunya Productions
Genre Drama, Family
Director John Sheedy
Writer Suzie Miller
Producers Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey, Jenny Cooney
Synopsis An environmental crisis triggers a massive wakeup call forcing a group of individuals to look in new directions, grappling with the core of what matters most.

CANARY HIGHWAY
Lumila Films
Genre Comedy, Drama
Director Allanah Zitserman
Writers Allanah Zitserman, Felicity Price
Producers Allanah Zitserman, Alexandra Taussig
Executive Producers Bruno Charlesworth, Michael Helfand
Synopsis In 1976, a young Sydney mother fed up with her confined existence, breaks out of the suburbs for one liberating night on the town with her girlfriends.

THE GREAT DINOSAUR RESCUE
Fnbproductions
Genre Family
Writers Belinda Bradley, Franz Docherty
Producers Belinda Bradley, Franz Docherty
Synopsis For twelve years a pack of animatronic dinosaurs toured the world bringing joy to millions of people while celebrating their ancestors. Where are those rock star dinosaurs now? Scattered around Melbourne, gathering dust in shipping containers, waiting to be destroyed. Every tick of the clock bringing them closer to extinction again. Until ten-year-old Spike hears about it. She grew up with those dinosaurs. They’re family. Spike’s determination will not only save the dinosaurs but find them a home!

TELL ME I’M HERE
Causeway Creations Pty Ltd
Genre Drama
Writer Veronica Gleeson
Producers Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings
Synopsis When a charming teenager becomes a tormented young adult his mother must face the reality of having a child living with schizophrenia. This is the true story of journalist Anne Deveson’s quest to save her son and shatter the stigma of mental illness.

GENERATE

METAL FISH FALLING SNOW
Catherine Moore
Genre Drama, Magic realism
Director Olivia Peniston-Bird
Writer Cath Moore
Producers Cath Moore, Olivia Peniston-Bird
Synopsis When her adored mother dies suddenly, neuro-diverse Dylan (12) is driven across the Australian outback by her mother’s boyfriend Pat to live with her Grandfather William, who she has never met. Struggling with what it means to be of colour, Dylan must confront her fears and falsehoods about the skin she is in.

M.A.M (WORKING TITLE)
Ned Lander Media
Genre Musical, Action
Director Mrs Ruby C Challenger
Writer Gerard Dewhurst
Producers Mrs Ruby C Challenger, Ned Lander
Synopsis Kate has two jobs that never stop: international spy and devoted mother to her five-year-old son. But when Kate is benched after a routine mission turns fatal, she will jeopardise her dream job, her closest friendship and her family’s safety to stop an evil tech giant’s plot to vegetate the world’s children.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ME
Amplify Live Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult
Writer Jenna Guillaume
Producers Hayley Adams, Michelle Melky
Executive Producers Alex Reid, Tom Maynard
Script Editor Erica Harrison
Synopsis As if finding something to like about herself wasn’t already hard enough, sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin’s summer is turned upside down when her best friend starts dating her childhood crush. But as plus-sized Maisie pushes herself out of her comfort zone and into the limelight of the local beauty pageant, Maisie realises the things she loves about herself have been there all along.

MATRIARCH
Monkey and Pig Productions
Genre Horror
Director Jayden Rathsam Hua
Writers Ivy Mak, Jayden Rathsam Hua
Producer Ivy Mak
Synopsis When pregnant newlywed Connie moves in with her traditionalist Chinese in-laws, she becomes ensnared in a demented ritual to immortalise the family legacy.

CRIME CASTERS
Haven’t You Done Well Productions
Genre Action adventure, Comedy
Director Max Miller
Writer Scott Limbrick
Producer Nicole Minchin
Executive Producers Georgia Mappin, Tessa Mansfield-Hung, Alexandros Ouzas
Synopsis An ambitious young journalist’s scheme to produce a lightweight true crime podcast takes a dangerous turn when she witnesses a policeman dumping a body. Thrown into a bizarre world of conspiracies and cover-ups, she must risk everything to expose the truth – all while managing a perfectionist audio engineer.

THE COCONUT CHILDREN
Caravan Pictures Pty Ltd
Genre Comedy, Drama, Coming of Age
Director Ben Lawrence
Writers Vivian Pham, Kim Pham
Producer Paula Jensen
Synopsis A dutiful, teenage daydreamer is inspired to write a romance novel about a delinquent neighbourhood boy, and discovers that her literary ambitions unlock a gateway to the boy’s heart, their lost childhood and the hidden underworld of her troubled community, until she is confronted with a heart-aching choice – to grow up or just give up.

OVER THE EDGE
Deadhouse Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Horror, Thriller
Director Enzo Tedeschi
Writers Barbara Bingham, Enzo Tedeschi
Synopsis When an acclaimed film composer past her prime has trouble finding inspiration, she embarks on a self-destructive hedonistic spiral on a desperate and deadly mission to rediscover and unleash her muse.

SONG OF SONGS
Jump Street Films Pty Ltd
Genre Drama, Romance
Writer/Director Anita Lester
Producer Jamie Bialkower
Executive Producer Shekhar Kapur
Synopsis Over the seven days of mourning following her grandmother’s death, Miriam forms a forbidden connection with a young Rabbi that sets in motion the unravelling of a complex family reckoning with their identities. As she navigates the dynamics of those left behind, and the truth about their matriarch’s controversial past, Miriam’s unexpected feelings for the Rabbi lead her towards a profound personal and spiritual transformation.

WILDFLOWERS
Thomas Wilson-White
Genre Drama, Romantic Comedy
Writer/Director Thomas Wilson-White
Synopsis Will Beckett, an out of work dancer, takes a job as an assistant on an international period film shooting in Tasmania and falls into a love affair with the famous male lead. Losing themselves in a gentle and profound romance, the lines between fact and fiction blur and both men are confronted with reality when their time together abruptly comes to an end.

DIAL-UP
Imogen McCluskey
Genre Comedy, Coming-of-age
Writer/Director Imogen McCluskey
Synopsis Set in 2000 at a run-down rural boarding school, a precocious teenager with blinding ambition hatches an idea that captures the attention of the dot.com fever sweeping the tech world, promising her millions of dollars at the cost of her best friends who built their success.

THE INTERLOPER
Luke Ryan
Genre Comedy, Drama
Director Ben Chessell
Writer Luke Ryan
Synopsis A downtrodden library clerk trades places with his doppelgänger, starring in a theatre production that delivers him adulation and a renewed sense of potency, yet confounds his sense of identity that endangers almost all that he has.

ABOUT STORY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

Teams with scripted projects for TV and film platforms can apply for development funding from two program strands – the Generate Fund and the Premium Fund.

The Generate Fund is for lower budget projects with an emphasis on new and emerging talent, or experienced talent wanting to take creative risks. The Premium Fund is for higher budget projects of ambition and scale from successful screen content makers.

Online projects can receive support through the Online Development Fund, which supports emerging screen creatives in developing the creative materials of their scripted or documentary projects.