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Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Originals, as applications open for 2025
Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Originals, as applications open for 2025

SBS Australia

time03-06-2025

  • Business
  • SBS Australia

Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Originals, as applications open for 2025

Applications are now being received for the sixth year of the trailblazing initiative, showcasing under-represented voices and uncovering fresh Australian screen stories. SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and Screen Australia have announced six new series receiving development funding through the successful Digital Originals initiative, supporting pathways for emerging under-represented screen creatives. The six shortlisted Digital Originals feature everything from body switching, sinking boats, screaming toddlers and supernatural journeys, pushing boundaries in the ways they explore themes of love and loyalty, friendship and community, resilience and self-discovery. Digital Originals is a long-running partnership between SBS, NITV and Screen Australia with a proven record for elevating talent, and uncovering exciting, innovative and risk-taking scripted series. The initiative supports the development of emerging screen creatives historically under-represented in the sector, including those who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations, d/Deaf and with disability, women and gender diverse, LGBTQIA+ and those from regional and remote areas. It offers a valuable pathway in the industry, equipping creatives with skills, industry connections and support to bring distinctive Australian stories to life. The following six Digital Originals selected for development were chosen from the 10 teams who took part in an exclusive workshop hosted by Screen Australia, SBS and NITV in November 2024. Up to three projects from this cohort will be chosen for production funding and commissioning. ' Banana Milkshake' (L-R) Jonathan Lo, David Ma and Georgia Noe Banana Milkshake (NSW) When budding high school filmmaker Oliver Zhang is roped into blackmailing his teacher to save his cousin from expulsion, he finds himself in way too deep, confronted by moral choices he thought only existed in movies. Producer: Georgia Noe (Floating Leaf Pictures) Writers: David Ma and Johnathan Lo Director: David Ma 'Hardly a Wallflower' (L-R) Jessica Smith, Scarlett Koehne and Olivia Muscat Hardly a Wallflower (VIC) When a blind novelist goes undercover at her best friend's flower shop in a desperate bid to save her writing career, her cynical views on love are tested by the spirit of Valentine's Day and a romantic complication of her own. Producer: Scarlett Koehne (Pikelet Pictures) Writer: Olivia Muscat Writer/Director: Jessica Smith 'In Her Body' (L-R) Rachel Maxine Anderson and Rae Choi In Her Body ( QLD) When two migrant women – Vanessa, an architect at the height of her career, and her unassuming housecleaner, Thelma – switch bodies, they must confront the cost of their unspoken sacrifices before it's too late. Writers/Directors: Rachel Maxine Anderson and Rae Choi 'Mangrove Mansion' (L-R) Mary Duong and Rhianna Malezer Mangrove Mansion (QLD) When her estranged dad derails their wedding plans, Sunny and fiancé Alex commandeer his houseboat to get him to the mainland. Crashing into a stinking mess of mud and mangroves, they must survive the sinking boat, Country, and each other to get unstuck. Writer/Producer: Mary Duong (Super Fruity) Writer/Director: Rhianna Malezer 'Nailing It' (L-R) Kartanya Maynard and Takani Clark Nailing It! (TAS) After botching a Welcome to Country, a culturally disconnected Aboriginal woman accidentally opens a passageway to the spiritual realm. Now supernatural entities wreak havoc, forcing her to juggle exorcisms and entrepreneurship, and embark on a challenging journey of self-discovery. Writers: Takani Clark and Kartanya Maynard 'Tantrum' (L-R) Sunanda Sachatrakul, Vidya Rajan and Jemma Cotter Tantrum (VIC) Varsha's doing a career-defining comedy gig. So, when best friend Jeev's screaming toddler derails the night – she snaps, calling out their entitlement in an anti-parent rant that goes viral… and tilts their friendship into a bitter, life-altering feud. Writers: Vidya Rajan and Sunanda Sachatrakul Directors: Jemma Cotter and Vidya Rajan SBS Head of Scripted, Nakul Legha, said:With such an exciting and ambitious group of projects at our Digital Originals workshops, it was very tough shortlisting six to take into development. We're thrilled to be working closely with this talented cohort of creatives to develop their projects. 'For any emerging creatives out there with a killer story to tell, I encourage you to apply to this round of Digital Originals. The resources, platform and pathway into the industry that this initiative offers is unmatched in the world. I can't wait to see the next wave of creative voices emerge through this year's round.' NITV Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production, Dena Curtis, said: 'Congratulations to the teams shortlisted, with bold, and innovative narratives showcased across an incredibly diverse range of stories. We continue to see First Nations creatives shining through with powerful and entertaining stories that connect with all Australians through Digital Originals, and we look forward to seeing how the participants develop their projects in 2025.' Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content, Louise Gough, said: 'Digital Originals continues to play a critical role in opening doors for exceptional, diverse voices, and this cohort of projects is testament to the initiative's role in unearthing new Australian screen stories. We're thrilled to partner again with SBS and NITV on this initiative, and look forward to discovering the next wave of original storytellers whose work reflects and celebrates the richness of contemporary Australia.' Applications for Digital Originals in 2025 are now open, and will close at 5pm AEST on 17 July 2025. Applications can be made with Screen Australia, here. Shortlisted teams will then be invited to attend an exclusive workshop in October, followed by a pitch day in November, with a select number of projects then offered further development funding. Screen Australia, SBS and NITV will also host a Digital Originals information webinar on 13 June. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend and hear from SBS Scripted Development Executive, Zaina Ahmed, NITV Commissioning Editor, Joseph Meldrum, and Screen Australia Investment Manager, Joanna Beveridge, about the history of Digital Originals and what Screen Australia, SBS and NITV are looking for in this current round, followed by a Q&A. Date: Friday 13 June 2025 Time: 12.30-1.15pm AEST Register: Click here Accessibility : An Auslan interpreter will be made available for the webinar. If you would like to discuss this or other accessibility requirements, please contact Online@ or call 1800 507 901. An Auslan interpreter will be made available for the webinar. If you would like to discuss this or other accessibility requirements, please contact Online@ or call 1800 507 901. A recording of this webinar will be made available on the Screen Australia website soon after. Today's announcement comes as the three latest Digital Originals – Moonbird, Warm Props and Moni – are set to premiere on SBS On Demand and NITV weekly from 19 June. It also follows a legacy of projects attracting local interest and breaking into international markets. On a global stage, Moonbird had its global premiere earlier this year in April in the Short Forms competition at Series Mania, Appetite featured in the Short Form Competition at Canneseries 2023 and was also nominated for a Rose d'Or, and Latecomers also featured at Series Mania in 2023. Locally, recognition for Digital Originals has included Night Bloomers creator Andrew Undi Lee winning an Australian Writers' Guild Award for Best Web Series in 2024, and AACTA Awards for Latecomers in 2024 for Best Online Drama or Comedy, A Beginner's Guide to Grief for Best Digital Series in 2022, and The Tailings for Best Short From Drama in 2021. More information about Digital Originals is available here. The initiative is one of the many delivered by SBS designed to improve inclusion in the screen industry – read more about this work here. For a pdf copy of this release, click here.

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