ABC Children’s and Screen Australia have partnered on an exciting new funding program to showcase and amplify the work of Australian creatives and content makers with disability. DisRupted will fund three to four individuals or teams to make a standalone film to reflect and capture what it’s like to be a young person with disability in Australia and provide them with the opportunity to disrupt and reframe how disability is understood. The films will be broadcast on ABC ME on the International Day of People with Disability in 2019 for the 8 -12-year-old demographic.
“People with disability have been underrepresented in media landscapes, and these important films will showcase a breadth of personal experiences and perspectives that will entertain kids, challenge their understanding and expand their minds. ABC Children’s is excited to be working with emerging creatives and filmmakers with disability, and to provide tangible career building opportunities.” Libbie Doherty, ABC Acting Head of Children’s commented.
Doherty also explained that Australian audiences will gain real insights into the lives and perspectives of young people with disability told by them as comedy, drama or documentary. DisRupted will be a defining moment for Australian young people with disability who will see stories reflecting their experiences brought to the screen and told from an authentic point of view by young actors with disability in a breakout role. Doherty added that DisRupted will provide a career-changing opportunity for new and diverse talent in front and behind the camera. The authorship of each film is to be driven by a creative with disability as either Writer, Producer and/or Director.
“ABC ME is doing phenomenal work providing young Australians with access to characters and stories that help them understand the range of people around them, and their different life experiences. The partnership between ABC ME and Screen Australia on the GIRLS initiative last year launched some great female talent, whilst giving viewers a truly authentic, Australian perspective on their lives. We are excited by what can be achieved with the DisRupted initiative.” Nerida Moore, Head of Development at Screen Australia commented.
The successful applicants will be given up to $100,000 each to create a film of approximately 20 minutes’ duration. They may be mentored and partnered by experienced producers and receive editorial guidance from ABC Acting Head of Children’s, Libbie Doherty and Executive Producer, Amanda Isdale, and Screen Australia Head of Development, Nerida Moore and Development Executive, Ester Harding.
Applications opened on Wednesday 31st October, and the initiative is open to creators with disability aged 18 years and older. Applications close on Wednesday 12th December 2018. DisRupted is set to premiere on ABC ME, the ABC ME App and ABC iview in December 2019 as part of the International Day of People with Disability.