Screenwest and Screen Australia are pleased to announce writer/director Miley Tunnecliffe and producer Kate Separovich’s debut feature film, PROCLIVITAS has been selected as the 2023 recipient of Screenwest’s highly coveted West Coast Visions initiative. PROCLIVITAS is the first West Coast Visions film to receive $1,250,000 production funding (historically $750,000), thanks to Screenwest’s new partnership with Screen Australia who have committed $500,000 in equity to the initiative annually. The filmmaking team will also receive ongoing creative and strategic support from both Screenwest and Screen Australia, providing them with a stronger starting point and a more confident pathway to production. Written and directed by Miley Tunnecliffe (Calling, Molly and Cara, 100% Wolf), PROCLIVITAS is a supernatural horror that sees a former addict rekindle a romance with her teenage sweetheart, awakening painful memories of the past and a terrifying demon determined to possess her. The film is produced by Kate Separovich (Girt By Sea, Evie, Dirt Music) and US producer Debbie Liebling (South Park, Dodgeball, Borat). The team are planning to film in Western Australia in 2024, harnessing the talents of WA Heads of Department. Miley and Kate are set to attend 37 South Film Market at MIFF 2023 this week to talk to international distributors and sales agents, and Debbie is heading to Western Australia to join them for industry networking at CinefestOZ 2023 this month.
“West Coast Visions has such an impressive number of filmmakers I’ve admired come through its program. It’s a privilege to be one of them, and I’m excited and proud to be able to make my first feature film on home soil,” Miley Tunnecliffe, writer/director commented.
“Screenwest and Screen Australia have been invaluable pillars of support throughout our journey as storytellers. I’m thrilled to be at the helm of Miley Tunnecliffe’s debut feature and we can’t wait to honour their support. Miley’s phenomenal talent shines through every page of this compelling script, and we look forward to bringing this extraordinary story to audiences around the globe and be part of the bright future of our industry in Australia,” Kate Separovich, producer commented.
“Our team is so honoured to have PROCLIVITAS chosen as the recipient of the West Coast Visions initiative. I am thrilled to be bringing Miley’s brilliant script to life and support her directorial debut. Kate Separovich, Screenwest and Screen Australia have recognized a scary, original elevated thriller that I believe will resonant with audiences due to its themes about navigating love around the burden of addiction,” Debbie Liebling, US producer commented.
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall explained that West Coast Visions is designed to uncover, inspire and develop talented and motivated WA filmmakers with distinctive visions, providing them with production funding and ongoing creative and strategic support to produce their debut feature film in Western Australia. It is the largest funding initiative of its kind in Australia. “Kate and Miley are an incredible Western Australian filmmaking team who are fiercely committed and passionate about making films for global audiences. I am thrilled to see their hard work pay off and am proud that Screenwest has been able to support their career development over the past 10+ years. Congratulations Miley and Kate!” Bestall commented.
“With such a wealth of talent coming out of Western Australia, it is wonderful to support Miley and Kate on their debut feature film as they solidify themselves as ‘ones to watch’ in the Australian screen industry landscape. PROCLIVITAS was an absolute stand-out on paper and this gripping horror film will engage audiences and be a sure talent escalator for this team,” Grainne Brunsdon, Screen Australia Head of Content commented.
Some of the notable career outcomes of the initiative include Jub Clerc’s Sweet As winning top festival awards at MIFF, Toronto and Berlin and Zak Hilditch’s These Final Hours being selected for the 2014 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight where he secured US representation and went on to write and direct 1922 and Rattlesnake for Netflix. Ben Young premiered Hounds of Love at Venice Film Festival 2016 where he won the Fedora Award and secured US representation. He has since been hand-picked to direct feature films and TV series including Extinction, Devil’s Peak, Clickbait and The Wilds, and following the release of audience favourite How To Please A Woman, Renée Webster was selected to direct Season 2 of Aftertaste for the ABC and Closer Productions. The 2021 and 2022 recipients of West Coast Visions are Director David Vincent Smith and Producer Jess Parker for He Ain’t Heavy which is currently in post-production, and Director Zoe Pepper and Producer Cody Greenwood for Birthright which recently secured Screen Australia production funding and Madman as ANZ distributor, giving the project the green light for production in 2023. PROCLIVITAS is set to head into production in Western Australia in 2024.
