Screen Australia invests $1.6m in production funding for seven docos

Screen Australia has announced $1.6 million in production investment funding for seven documentaries through the Documentary Producer and Commissioned programs.

The projects include the first virtual reality (VR) film to receive production funding from Screen Australia’s documentary unit, an investigation into the growing obsession with vitamin supplements presented by YouTube star Dr Derek Muller (pictured) and a nature documentary about the secret sex life of prehistoric 16-legged spiders residing in the caves of Tasmania.

Liz Stevens, senior manager of documentary at Screen Australia, said: “Funding such a broad range of projects from both established and emerging talent points to a promising future for our local documentary industry. Australians are passionate documentarians and we are confident these projects will offer Australian and international audiences important, entertaining insights into our world.”

The successful Documentary Commissioned project is My Year 7 Life from Melbourne outfit Princess Pictures for ABC Me.

The other projects receiving funding include:

Vitamania – The Sense and Nonsense of Vitamins and Supplements, an investigative look at the science and history of the $90 billion global supplements industry, hosted by Dr Derek Muller with Sonya Pemberton to executive produce, write and direct the project which will be broadcast on SBS in Australia and on Arte in France and Germany.

Contemporary artist Shaun Gladwell’s VR project Storm Rider, produced by Leo Faber for SBS.

ABC Arts documentary You See Monsters, where six Muslim-Australian artists will share their experiences.

Visit Screen Australia here for more details.