Applications Now Open for West Coast Visions 2020

A fresh take on an old classic!

Screenwest has opened applications for a reimagined West Coast Visions Program in 2020. Applications close Monday, 11 May 2020 at 5:00pm AWST.

Screenwest’s highly acclaimed West Coast Visions initiative is a long-running screen industry talent development and production program that provides funding for low budget features to be produced in Western Australia. It gives one successful first-time feature film director their first theatrical feature film credit and is a career launching pad.

Screenwest has redesigned the program for 2020 – with West Coast ‘RE-Visioned’ introducing a two-staged model that will fast track more new talent.

• Stage One: Three shortlisted applicants will receive targeted and intensive six-month development and $20,000 in grant development funding.
• Stage Two: After development, one successful project will be selected to receive production funding of $750,000, one of the most coveted production funding grants in Australia.

Incorporating a specific development period into West Coast Visions is designed to build from the success of previous Screenwest talent development programs such as the Feature Navigator program and will ensure the fast-tracked development of multiple teams and high-quality, production-ready projects.

This year Amanda Duthie Head of Scripted (Acting) SBS and Strategic Consultant James Hewison from Kinetic will be coming on board as external industry assessors.  Their market-based insight will ensure scripts are production-ready and can fast track into financing and production.

Screenwest’s Talent Development Manager, Eva Di Blasio explained, “The new format for the West Coast Visions will enable two additional teams to develop their feature films into market-ready productions. The inclusion of Amanda Duthie and James Hewison on the selection panel is a fantastic endorsement of the program and will ensure that three amazing projects go into development and an exceptional, production ready feature is selected as the final recipient.”

Screenwest CEO, Willie Rowe said, “The West Coast Visions program is exceptionally popular within the Western Australian screen industry and has been responsible for launching the careers of multiple practitioners. It is anticipated with the new changes, more practitioners will be able to develop their features and ultimately the final project selected for the production grant will be of exceptionally high quality.”

For the full West Coast Visions guidelines visit the Development Funding page on the Screenwest website.

Applications close Monday, 11 May 2020 at 5:00pm AWST.

About the Panelists

Amanda Duthie

Amanda Duthie is one of the leading figures in Australia’s screen and cultural industries and is currently Head of Scripted (Acting) at SBS.

Amanda was previously Head of Arts and Entertainment for ABC TV, and after eight years with the network, moved to Adelaide to become CEO and Creative Director of the Adelaide Film Festival and Director of the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund.

Amanda later took on the role of South Australian Film Corporation’s Head of Production, Development, Attraction and Studios, before her current move to SBS.

Her impressive body of work, industry connections and experience in identifying, developing and presenting unique and high-quality drama will be significant asset to the panel of West Coast Visions.

James Hewison

James Hewison has worked for over two decades in film internationally, from development, acquisitions and distribution to curating, programming and producing he has accumulated considerable and diverse experience across the film and allied creative industries.

He was Executive Director of the Melbourne International Film Festival from 2001 – 2006 then CEO of the Australian Film Institute in 2006 as CEO and subsequently Distribution Manager for Madman Entertainment.

During his time at Madman, James managed the releases of multi-award winning Australian features such as Animal Kingdom and Snowtown.

James has consulted across development, acquisition, curation and distribution for a range of international clients, from Canal+ to Hobart’s iconic Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and was Head of Development and Acquisitions for the award-winning production company Curious, where he oversaw the acquisition and distribution for films such as Fire At Sea and Oscar-winner Ida. Until recently he was Head of Film at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).

In addition to senior roles in development, acquisitions, distribution and marketing, he has served on juries such as the Berlinale Panorama and more recently as a mentor at the Australia Council and a range of film schools where he also has lectured and presented workshops. Currently, he has producing roles on five feature films. He has just co-founded a strategic consultancy, Kinetic.

Previous West Coast Visions Recipients

The West Coast Visions initiative has helped launch or support the careers of many Western Australian filmmakers including;

Renee Webster and Tania Chambers

• 2019 West Coast Visions recipients (HOW TO PLEASE A WOMAN, filming 2020)

Jub Clerc

• 2016 Feature Navigator and 2018 West Coast Visions (SWEET AS)

Maziar Lahooti

• 2014 Feature Navigator and 2016-17 West Coast Visions recipient (BELOW)
• Maziar along with writing partner Steven McCall was selected for a double-blind script deal with Warner Brothers Pictures through the Australian Script Writing Opportunity in 2019

Stephen McCallum

• West Coast Visions 2015-16 recipient | 1% (2017)
• 1% was an official selection for Toronto International Film Festival 2017 and received five nominations at the 2018 AACTA Awards

Ben Young

• West Coast Visions 2013-14 recipient | HOUNDS OF LOVE (2016)
• HOUNDS OF LOVE won the Fedora Award at Venice Film Festival 2016

Zak Hilditch

• West Coast Visions 2010-11 recipient | THESE FINAL HOURS (2013)
• THESE FINAL HOURS selected for the 2014 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted by emailing all materials to funding@screenwest.com.au.

For emails larger than 8MB, please send via Screenwest’s Hightail Account: https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/screenwest.

The full guidelines, application materials and eligibility criteria are available on the Development Page of the Screenwest website under West Coast Visions.

All program guidelines are to be read in conjunction with the Screenwest Terms of Trade.

An application receipt will be forwarded to the applicant within two working days to confirm that Screenwest has received the application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact Screenwest if an application receipt has not been received within this timeframe.

Applications close Monday, 11 May 2020 at 5:00pm AWST.

Program Contact

For more information about this program, please contact:

Barbara Connell
Drama Development Manager, Screenwest
T: +61 8 6169 2127
E:  barbara.connell@screenwest.com.au

Eva Di Blasio
Talent Development Manager, Screenwest
T: + 61 8 6169 2107
E:  eva.diblasio@screenwest.com.au

Contact Screenwest

T: +61 8 6169 2100
E: info@screenwest.com.au

www.screenwest.com.au
www.filminwesternaustralia.com.au

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