Screen Australia announces $5.5 million of production funding for eight projects

Screen Australia has announced $5.5 million of production funding for two feature films, two children's series and four online projects.

Writer/director Mirrah Foulkes (Judy & Punch) is teaming up with See-Saw Films (The Power of the Dog) on psychological thriller Runaway, and lovable were-poodle Freddy Lupin will return to the big screen in feature film 200% Wolf (working title). Plus new seasons of hit children's series The PM's Daughter and Little J & Big Cuz will return to ABC and NITV.

The online projects include a hybrid narrative-natural history series It's A Jungle Out Here! from the producers of Playing with Sharks for ABC ME; TikTok series Cool Mum about a non-binary teenager coming out to their mum; along with K-drama inspired romantic comedy No Ordinary Love and Salma's Season about a mother pursuing her dream of winning the Australian Open, both for YouTube.

Screen Australia's Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon said, "We're delighted to announce these projects including some stellar children's content, which demonstrates the ability of Australian creators to produce high calibre, original IP that connects with young viewers. It's very special that Little J & Big Cuz is engaging children around the country in-language and we are proud to support another series of this ground-breaking production."

"The team behind riveting feature thriller Runaway have an exceptional track record, and we are pleased to support Mirrah Foulkes on her second film. It's also encouraging to see new, smart online storytellers finding their niche. These creators know their audiences and how to reach them on the right platforms, and we are confident these series will captivate viewers."

The funded feature films are:

• 200% Wolf (working title): A sequel to the 2020 animated family feature 100% Wolf from Flying Bark Productions, and following the popular ABC series of the same name. When pink were-poodle Freddy Lupin goes on a mission to save a baby moon spirit, he finds himself caught up in the magic of a werewolf sorceress. The creative team sees the return of director Alexs Stadermann, writer Fin Edquist, producers Barbara Stephen and Alexia Gates-Foale and co-producer Francesca Hope, with producer Carmen Perez-Marsa Roca (Maya the Bee 3: The Golden Orb) joining the team. The film is financed in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest with support from Siamese. It is being distributed by StudioCanal with Studio 100 Film managing international sales.
• Runaway: The second feature film from writer/director Mirrah Foulkes (Judy & Punch) teaming up with the Academy Award-winning See-Saw Films (Lion, The Power of the Dog). Runaway follows a Carla, a young woman immersed in an unravelling relationship who attempts to save her marriage by leading her husband, Clark, into a complex and dangerous world of sexual fantasy that entangles the lives of her older neighbours, Sylvia and Leon. It is a psychological thriller based on the Nobel Prize winning author Alice Munro's short story of the same name about control, innocence and where true salvation lies. Runaway is produced by Liz Watts (The King), Emile Sherman and Iain Canning (The Power of the Dog) of See-Saw Films and executive produced by Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog) and Jan Chapman (Babyteeth). Transmission Films is distributing in Australia and international sales are by Cross City Films.