ABC, Screen Oz seek LGBTQI voices

Australian broadcaster ABC and funding body Screen Australia have partnered to create a series of short films ahead of the 40th Anniversary of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras next year.

Love Bites (10×5′) will be a series of films made by filmmakers from the LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex) community across Australia.

Mandy Chang

ABC and Screen Australia have asked filmmakers to submit proposals for projects that will “provide an accessible, engaging and entertaining insight into the lives and interests of the LGBTQI community.”

The shorts will premiere on the ABC Arts channel on iview during Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in March 2018. The initiative is now open for submissions and will close on August 6.

ABC TV and Screen Australia will commit a total of A$100,000 (US$757,00) to the initiative, offering 10 filmmakers A$10,000 each to make the short film for delivery in January 2018.

Each team will be supported by a Screen Australia investment manager and an ABC digital arts commissioning editor.

“ABC Arts on iview seeks to reflect the great diversity of stories and storytellers that exist across the country,” said Mandy Chang, head of ABC TV Arts.

“Last year’s milestone study Seeing Ourselves showed that we need to see Australians from all parts of our community both on screen and behind the camera,” said Liz Stevens, senior manager of documentary at Screen Australia.

Applicant teams must consist of at least a director and a producer, one of whom identifies as part of the LGBTQI community and one of whom has at least one screen credit in their respective roles on a project that has already been publicly released.