Screen Australia announces $5.7 million in production and development funding for 47 documentaries

Screen Australia has announced more than $5.7 million in production and development funding for 47 documentaries, including Mint Pictures’ upcoming feature documentary Bondi and Randall Wood’s The Brain Garden.

Anchored in firsthand testimony and archive footage, Bondi focuses on the human impact of the attack at the Chanukah by the Sea event on December 14: the lives changed, the acts of courage that emerged, and the lasting effect on families and the broader community. The documentary will screen next year on SBS, with whom it was developed and produced.

In The Brain Garden, Wood turns the camera on himself after a traumatic brain injury, embarking on a global journey to explore the brain’s recovery as a living ecosystem and uncover the connections between neuroscience, nature and healing

Screen Australia head of documentary Richard Huddleston said the funded slate reflected the organisation’s commitment to stories with both local and global relevance.

“The funded documentaries reflect Screen Australia’s commitment to supporting stories that are both local and globally relevant,” he said.

“From emerging to established creatives, it showcases an ambitious documentary sector finding new ways to collaborate and connect with viewers, from significant international co-productions to exciting direct-to-audience partnerships.