Screen Australia backs three new TV dramas including return of Tim Minchin’s Upright

Milly Alcock and Tim Minchin in Upright

The Australian government’s production fund Screen Australia will provide over AU$6.5m (US$4.7m) to help finance three new TV dramas and four films.

In TV drama, Anyone’s Daughter is a four-hour miniseries for Australia’s Seven Network about a police investigation into the disappearance of young women. The producers are Kerrie Mainwaring, Peter Andrikidis and Jamie Hilton.

The Messenger is an eight-part adaptation of Markus Zusak’s best-selling novel of the same name for ABC, from Sydney’s Lingo Pictures.

The drama follows Ed Kennedy, whose life is one of peaceful routine until playing cards inscribed with cryptic tasks start to arrive in the mail. The series is produced by Jason Stephens and executive produced by Helen Bowden, Markus Zusak, Dominika Zusak and Sarah Lambert. All3Media International is managing international sales.

Meanwhile, Tim Minchin’s Upright is returning for an eight-part second season on Australia’s Foxtel and Sky in the UK. Stephens produces again for Lingo, with Meg O’Connell also producing, and Lingo Pictures’ Helen Bowden as executive producer. Canada’s Entertainment One is again handling international sales.