ABC Children’s & Screen Australia Launch The Kaleidoscope Project

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ABC Children’s and Screen Australia have partnered for The Kaleidoscope Project, a new funding program to showcase and amplify the work of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Australian creatives and content makers.

The Kaleidoscope Project will fund up to four individuals or teams to make a standalone film that reflects and captures the experience of a young CaLD person in Australia. The initiative provides filmmakers with the chance to tell their stories in partnership with ABC and Screen Australia. The films, which will be made for kids aged 8 to 12, will be broadcast on ABC ME, the ABC ME app and ABC iview in March 2022 as part of Harmony Day.

The successful applicants will be given up to $100,000 each to create a film of approximately 20 minutes. They may be mentored and partnered by experienced producers and receive editorial guidance from ABC Children’s and Screen Australia. The authorship of each film is to be driven by a CaLD creative as either writer, producer and/or director. Applications for the initiative are open to CaLD creators aged 18 and older through December 14.

Libbie Doherty, head of ABC Children’s, said: “We treasure this opportunity to connect with Australia’s brightest emerging creatives and filmmakers and to help jettison their careers in the local and international sector. We are always impressed by the caliber of ideas and creativity, and the professional standard of the applications. The ABC ME audience wholeheartedly embraces these films, which often challenge their understanding of the world, expand their minds and reflect their lives on screen. We are delighted to continue this legacy in partnership with Screen Australia.”

Nerida Moore, head of development at Screen Australia, said: “It’s vital that Australian children are able to see themselves represented on screen, and we’re proud to team up again with ABC ME to support new creative voices through The Kaleidoscope Project. We’ve seen great success out of GIRLS and DisRupted, the previous initiatives from this partnership, including First Day which was produced into a four-part series this year. I can’t wait to see what exciting stories come through.”