Screen Australia announces $600,000 Story Development funding

Screen Australia has announced Story Development funding for 18 features and five online series, as well as one supported talent development placement, totalling almost $600,000.

The slate includes a drama project for acclaimed documentary filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (Sherpa); a feature film adaptation of award-winning writer Hannah Kent’s novel “The Good People”; a coming-of-age story from renowned visual artist Del Kathryn Barton; and debut feature projects from Sundance-winning writer/director Goran Stolevski (Would You Look At Her) and writer Michelle Law (Homecoming Queens).

Among the projects funded for development are:

Aquarius Films’ How (Not) To Start An Orphanage based on the novel of the same name about the true story of Tara Winkler.

Handmaid Media’s comedy Laurinda – a coming-of-age story about Chinese/Vietnamese teenager Lucy Linh Lam who is thrust from her familiar working-class immigrant family background to a prestigious private school when she wins a scholarship.

Causeway Films’ drama Puff – an experimental feature-length project combining both live action and animation, led by two-time Archibald-winning artist Del Kathryn Barton.

Aquarius Films producers Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford have optioned Hannah Kent’s novel “The Good People”, a period drama/thriller set in 19th Century Ireland about three women who attempt to rescue a child from a superstitious community.

The Dollhouse Pictures’ drama You’ll Love Me from emerging producer Jessica Carrera and writer/director Goran Stolevski, is about a 50-something part-time actor and full-time cleaning lady who finally gets a break in love and career.