Australian culture under the microscope with SBS docos funded by Screen Australia
Four long-form documentaries that will be shown on SBS have been given a share of $2.3 million in grants from Screen Australia
The documentaries include a series looking at Australia’s racial tensions, a look at Australia’s first special forces unit, a three-part series looking at seafood production in Australia, and a series reflecting the country’s cultural divides.
National Documentary Program:
THE CATCH
3 x 52 mins
Essential Media and Entertainment
Producers Sonja Armstrong, Alan Erson
Writers Michael O’Neill, Matthew Evans, Stephen Oliver
Director Stephen Oliver
Broadcaster SBS
Sales Essential Media and Entertainment
Synopsis Matthew Evans embarks on a campaigning voyage of discovery revealing the complex, often shocking truths behind the seafood Australians produce and consume.
THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN RACE RIOT
3 x 52 mins
Essential Media and Entertainment
Producers Alan Erson, Chris Hilton
Writer Alan Erson
Director Sally Aitken
Broadcaster SBS
Sales Essential Media and Entertainment
Synopsis The history of tribe-on-tribe street fighting reveals the ‘race riot’ as a vicious but vital part of the way Australia really works – and a remarkably consistent window into who we are.
Z SPECIAL UNIT
3 x 52 mins
Joined Up Films
Producers Daniel Brown, Anthony Willinge, Jacqueline Willinge
Writer/Director Robert Wilkins
Broadcaster SBS
Sales SBS International
Synopsis This series charts the journey of Z Special, Australia’s first special forces unit, bringing to life the Z men’s tactics, fighting skills and war craft by recreating their gruelling training regime in the present day.
General Documentary Program
LIVING WITH THE ENEMY
6 x 52 mins
Shine Australia
Broadcaster SBS
Sales BBCW Distribution
Distributor SBS Distribution
Synopsis Living with the Enemy is a bold and provocative six-part documentary series exploring the fault lines of social cohesion in Australia. Through a series of social experiments, people on opposing sides of a key social issue or cultural divide will be immersed in each other’s lives and see if they discover a greater understanding of each other and have their deeply held views and beliefs challenged and changed.
