Investment & Support

Authentic NQ 2023


July 4, 2023
APPLICATIONS CLOSED Sunday 6 August, 12:00pm AEST

Screen Queensland is pleased to announce the participants of the Authentic NQ initiative:

Josaphine Seale with Bringing Back the Good Fire

Gerry Turpin is a Mbabaram man with an intuitive connection to land who hosts cultural burning camps for Indigenous Junior Rangers. The documentary sees the Rangers learn from Gerry how spirit can be healed and reinvigorated through culture, country and language.

Alden Lyall with Lavish

Lavish follows the remarkable journey of Benita Williams, a proud Kuku Yalanji woman, from a shy model to an industry leader and mentor. Today, Benita has her own modelling agency in Far North Queensland and this documentary captures her mission to empower models and ensure they feel safe and supported in the industry.  

Garth Edwards and Chedwa Whyte with No Plan B

This documentary introduces Garth, an Indigenous Mamu man from Innisfail. Garth is a talented musician, writer, and director who uses film to share stories from and with his community in Far North Queensland. No Plan B showcases Garth’s determination to unite and inspire his community in Innisfail with his infectious enthusiasm for storytelling.


Screen Queensland, in partnership with Screenworks and the ABC, has opened applications for Authentic NQ to champion Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers from North and Far North Queensland.

The program will provide $4,000 to support three teams of filmmakers to tell local stories in the form of original 3-5 minute microfilms. Participants will also receive mentoring from the ABC to refine their shooting scripts, production planning, rough cuts and final edits, with the aim of delivering a high-quality microfilm for streaming on ABC platforms.

This initiative is part of Screen Queensland’s North Queensland Regional Program delivered by Screenworks in association with ABC.

WHO CAN APPLY

To be eligible to apply for the Authentic NQ Initiative, all applicants must be; 

  • a current Screenworks member, if you’re not a member yet, you can join here.  
  • an Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or over who can demonstrate they have been living in North/ Far North Queensland or the surrounding region for a minimum period of 6 months prior to submitting their application (check geographical definitions on the Screen Queensland map here)
  • have an active ABN and be able to provide certificates of currency for public liability insurance (min. $10 million) and WorkCover Queensland policy. 
  • able to show that at least one key creative on the team is from an underrepresented background. 
  • able to demonstrate their access to the characters and/or story in their application. 
  • able to demonstrate that they have the right to tell this story and have the correct consultants in place (as evidenced in the budget outline).  
  • available to meet the following key deadlines (subject to change): 
    • July 2023: Script development and meetings 
    • July – August 2023: Production 
    • August – October 2023: Edits and Postproduction 
    • From November 2023: Broadcast  

The proposed project must: 

  • be factual content detailing stories and/or characters from the Tropical Far North or North Queensland region suitable for broadcast on ABC’s Online platforms under the series title Authentic 2.0. 
  • be between 3 – 5 minutes long. 
  • meet the ABC Legislative Framework. We recommend applicants familiarise themselves with this section of the ABC website before applying.  
  • not be advertorial and intended primarily as advertising or marketing material. 
HOW TO APPLY

You application will require the following supporting documentation:

  • A treatment (5 pages max) detailing the episode outline, subject, script, characters and creative treatment
  • A pitch video (2 min max) consisting of:
    • Characters and brief story summary
    • Theme and tone of the project
    • Confirmation or your access to the factual content and characters
    • Your team and their past experience creating content
    • What is unique and innovative about your project
  • Evidence of at least one short-form credit (i.e. music videos, television commercials, short films, online content or corporate films commissioned and paid for by a third party).
  • Current CV for applicant and all credited crew – including links to previous works. Please include DOP and editor.
  • A budget outline using the template provided that indicates how the $4,000 will be used.
HOW APPLICATIONS WILL BE ASSESSED
  1. Screenworks will manage the online application process and assess eligibility.  
  1. All applications will be reviewed by a assessment panel including representatives from Screenworks, Screen Queensland, ABC and other industry practitioners against the following criteria: 
  • The strength and originality of the subject and their story. 
  • The quality of materials submitted. 
  • The viability of the proposal with respect to budget and scale. 
  • The potential of the project to contribute to a robust screen industry in regional Queensland. 
  • How it fits with ABC commissioning guidelines and the ABC Legislative Framework. 
  1. Other factors, including availability of funds, diversity of slate and the diversity of the team, may also influence the assessment panel’s decisions.  
  1. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.  
  1. Decisions on applications are final. Screenworks will advise applicants in writing of the outcome of their application within 21 days of the application closing deadline. 
  1. We acknowledges and appreciates the effort that goes into applications but will not be able to provide individual feedback on each application. 
CONTACT

Screenworks NQ Project Manager

Riannon Del Favero

(02) 6681 1188

riannon@screenworks.com.au