Screen Australia Distributes Production Funding

Screen Australia has commissioned three documentaries through the Commissioned Program and four projects through the Producer Program, set to share over A$1.7 million ($1.1 million) in funding.

Among the projects, Deeper follows Thai cave rescue divers Richard Harris and Craig Challen as they challenge themselves to explore and solve the mystery of one of the world’s deepest freshwater cave systems.

More projects funded through the commission include NITV feature Skin in the Game, diving into the highly contested world of rugby league and women’s sport in Australia; Floodland, which documents Australia’s flood-prone Lismore and the aftermath of the 2022 floods; and SBS Australia documentary Osher Günsberg: My Journey Beyond Pain, the follow-up to Osher Günsberg: A Matter of Life and Death.

The Musical Mind a portrait in process, from writer and director Scott Hicks; Welcome to Yiddishland, a feature-length observational documentary about a global movement of artists as they revive the ancient and endangered Yiddish language; and Unofficial History, a three-parter for SBS Australia, have also been funded.

Alex West, head of documentary for Screen Australia, said, “From exploring the natural phenomena and the power of mother nature to the complexity of our minds and bodies, this diverse collection of documentaries is not to be missed. We are proud to be supporting such talented creatives in our shared mission to bring voices from all walks of life to the screen and are excited that viewers will have the opportunity to be immersed in these deeply personal stories.”