Screen Oz funds tsunami doc

Australian broadcaster SBS and Discovery UK have commissioned a feature-length documentary about the Australian-led forensic operation to identify victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

After the Wave: The World’s Greatest Forensic Detective Story, produced by Flaming Star Films’ Lavinia Riachi, follows efforts to identify more than 5,000 bodies in Thailand. TVF International is handling sales for the rest of the world.

It is one of five projects to receive A$1.7m (US$1.6m) in investment from Screen Australia’s international documentary programme, triggering more than A$6.8m worth of production.

SBS and US pubcaster PBS are coproducing Uranium – Twisting the Dragon’s Tail (3×60’), which examines the opposing views of uranium as a source of clean, limitless power or a threat to the very existence of life on Earth.

Filmed in Russia, Japan, North America, Europe and Australia with scientist Dr Derek Muller as the presenter, it is produced by Genepool Productions’ Sonya Pemberton. SBS International will distribute in the rest of the world.

Prospero Productions’ Ed Punchard and Julia Redwood are producing Truck It (1×44’), which follows road train drivers as they battle to cross Australia. Australia’s Seven Network is the local broadcaster and National Geographic Television International covers international sales.

Roar Film’s Death or Liberty (1×57’), for Australia’s ABC and TVF International, looks at the political activists exiled to Australia in the 19th Century.

Also receiving funding is a second season of writer/producer Todd Sampson’s Redesign My Brain (3×60’), which will investigate ways to train the brain to be resistant to modern-day psychological problems. ABC is the Australian broadcaster and Discovery Networks International and Discovery Science US are onboard, with Discovery Communications handling sales.