Brian Beaton Award 2021 Open for Submissions
Screenwest is pleased to announce the fourth annual Brian Beaton Award is open for submissions.
The highly regarded Brian Beaton Award recognises the valuable contribution esteemed late documentary producer Brian Beaton made to the Western Australian screen industry and honours his memory, by annually awarding a grant to filmmaker/s who have a current social impact project that needs further support to reach its full potential. A social impact project is one that has the potential to contribute positively to the community and instigate social change.
It is open to:
- Western Australian residents of any level of experience who have a current factual social impact project in active development, or that has been recently produced for broadcast, theatrical or online distribution (including VR and interactive projects).
- Support is available for development and/or production, or an outreach campaign to enhance the social impact of the project.
- Projects that are innovative, authentic and creative; respectful of cultural traditions and are interesting and likely to engage the community.
The Brian Beaton Award is a financial grant, made up of Screenwest funding, industry and private donations and mentor support from leading Western Australian industry professionals, who were Brian’s colleagues. The Brian Beaton Award is a type of Public Fund Grant and successful Recipients must agree to both Screenwest’s Public Fund Grant Agreement Terms and Screenwest’s Terms of Trade.
Over the last three years, four WA filmmaking teams have received the award, which has led to a number of exciting outcomes for each documentary.
“The Brian Beaton Award is one of Screenwest’s most treasured annual opportunities. We’re very much looking forward to celebrating Brian’s memory for the fourth year running, and supporting another social impact project.” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.
“It has been wonderful to see how this award has supported the past recipients over the last three years – a valuable way to help keep Brian’s legacy alive.” said Brian’s business partner, Celia Tait, Executive Producer, Artemis Media.
2020 Recipients
Taryne Laffar and Sam Bodhi Field further developed their ground-breaking Indigenous documentary Our Law, transforming the project into a full 6-part documentary series. With the original 27-minute film receiving critical acclaim and being acquired by Netflix Australia and New Zealand, the concept has since been expanded into a six-part series for NITV, currently in production. The series explores Western Australia’s first Indigenous-run police station, where two Noongar officers must learn local lore, culture and language to effectively police one of the most remote beats in the world. It examines the fractured relationship between the WA Police force and Indigenous communities and how to police constructively in remote communities.
2019 Recipients
Two filmmaking teams received the award in 2019. Sam Lara and Cathy Henkel’s feature documentary Laura’s Choice explores three generations of women coming to terms with a radical approach to dying. The documentary has since been awarded the inaugural Hot Docs prize at the 2020 Australian International Documentary Conference and premiered as a two-part series on ABC in March 2021.
Brooke Tia Silcox and Mat de Koning’s 29 Years Eight Days looks at the rise of a late Western Australian artist and his experience with epilepsy, with the project going on to receive documentary development funding from ABC Arts, Screenwest and Screen Australia.
2018 Recipient
The inaugural 2018 award recipient was Dawn Jackson for Pointe: Dancing on the Knife’s Edge, which documents a gifted West Australian dancer’s journey as she heals herself through dance following a horrific random knife attack. The documentary, which explores trauma and artistic identity, is currently being completed.
The Brian Beaton Award is made possible each year with Screenwest grant funding and the generous support of the screen industry and the Screenwest Public Fund.
Applications for 2021
Applications for the 2021 Award close on Monday 8 November at 5:00pm AWST.
About Brian Beaton
Brian Beaton was a well-respected Western Australian documentary maker with an impressive career spanning over 35 years. He produced award-winning documentaries and factual programs for national and international markets. He had various roles in the industry including Executive Producer at Artemis, and also worked as a Producer, Director and Writer. Brian and his business partner, Celia Tait, worked together to develop and successfully produce memorable television including Who Do You Think You Are?, Saving Andrew Mallard, Shaun Micallef’s Stairway to Heaven, The Dreamhouse and Desperately Seeking Sheila. Brian also contributed to the screen industry nationally through his advocacy and professional work with Screen Producers Australia, Screenwest and the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC).
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T: +61 8 6169 2100
E: info@screenwest.com.au
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