14 February 2019

Grants allow Canberra's screen artists to pack punch

| Ian Bushnell
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Young Muslim female boxer Bianca ‘Bam Bam’ Elamir will be the subject of a documentary by Zayaan Jappie. File photo.

A political drama, boxing documentary and a horror film are among six screen projects that have won a total of $84,000 in funding from the ACT Government and Screen Canberra.

Minister for the Arts and Cultural Events Gordon Ramsay announced the 2019 Screen Arts Funding recipients in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday (14 February), congratulating them on the quality of their proposals.

“I’m looking forward to seeing these projects hit our screens – be they computer, TV or movie-based productions,” Mr Ramsay said.

“These grants are all about developing screen artists – helping them move to new stages of their careers through production and mentorships.

“The grants support all narrative screen art forms and this year we’re backing script development for a TV series, production of two short films, a web series, a documentary and the development of a new game.”

He said the number of applicants had increased significantly this year, reflecting Screen Canberra’s important role and growing interest in the ACT’s screen sector.

Screen Canberra CEO Monica Penders said the organisation was pleased to see such a diverse range of practitioners given the opportunity to develop their artistic practices in the screen sector.

“Supporting the creativity part of the show business equation is fundamental to the growth and sustainability of the local industry,” she said.

The recipients are:

  • Claudia Cooney – Monsoon Season – Series Script Development
    Ms Cooney will receive $14,164 to work with an experienced screenwriter to draft a pilot episode
    script for her drama series Monsoon Season, a relationship and political drama which will consider
    the international connections Canberra has with the aid world.
  • Meg Donnelly – The Sacred – Short Film Production
    Ms Donnelly will receive $14,734 for the production of a short film called ‘The Sacred’. Co-directed
    with Marissa Martin, this project will provide Donnelly with the opportunity to develop her skills as
    an emerging screenwriter and aspiring Director.
  • Christian Doran – Mirrors – Web Series Production
    Mr Doran will receive $15,000 to develop Mirrors, an 8-part web series about an isolated novelist
    tormented after seeing her death in a mirror.
  • Zayaan Jappie – Bianca – Documentary Production
    Miss Jappie will receive $13,700 to develop an experimental short documentary featuring
    professional boxer Bianca Elamir, a young Canberra Muslim woman boxer.
  • Shy Kids Club – With Friends Like These – Game Development
    Nicole Lawson and Craig Brown of Shy Kids Club will receive $9,411 to attend the Game Developers
    Conference in San Fransisco, the world’s largest professional game industry event.
  • Marisa Martin – Violet Daze – Short Film Production
    Ms Martin will receive $16,960 to produce a horror short film, Violet Daze that will serve as a proof
    of concept for a future feature film.

The ACT Screen Arts Fund is part of the ACT Arts Fund – Arts Activities Funding program, and is administered by Screen Canberra on behalf of artsACT and the ACT Government.

 

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