Social impact documentary ‘Hard As Puck’ receives 2024 Brian Beaton Award
The highly regarded Brian Beaton Award recognises the valuable contribution esteemed late documentary producer Brian Beaton made to the WA screen industry. Produced by Chanel Bowen in her feature debut, Hard As Puck is set to follow an oddball team of Western Australian para-ice hockey players vying for a place on the national team.
Screenwest is pleased to announce Western Australian social impact documentary, Hard As Puck, is the successful recipient of the 2024 Brian Beaton Award.
The highly regarded Brian Beaton Award recognises the valuable contribution esteemed late documentary producer Brian Beaton made to the Western Australian screen industry.
The award honours his memory by awarding a grant to a Western Australian social impact project that needs further support to reach its full potential.
Hard As Puck is set to follow an oddball team of Western Australian para-ice hockey players vying for a place on the national team. With everything stacked against them as individuals and the sport itself, nothing will stop these athletes from showing up on game day.
The observational documentary will follow the players through training, tryouts and competition, as they overcome physical, financial and emotional hurdles. It won’t be an easy path, yet amidst the hardships and uncertainties, the players will find a second home – a community bound by their love of the sport.
Hard As Puck is directed by AACTA and Australian Directors’ Guild Award-nominated Isaac Elliott (We Are Sexual Beings, MaveriX), and produced by WA filmmaker Chanel Bowen in her feature debut. Noel Smyth (Gloriavale) also produces, with WA’s Bec Bignell (Homespun) and Ian Hale (Black Cockatoo Crisis) on board as executive producers.
Chanel was one of Screen Producers Australia’s 2023 ‘Ones to Watch’ and was the 2020 Screenworks Regional Screen in LA Program recipient, undertaking an internship with Animal Logic Entertainment in the US.
Chanel is also a trained Access Coordinator. She works with film and TV practitioners to ensure best practice access is considered so that everyone can give their best work on set. Chanel is passionate about increasing and sustaining the ongoing inclusion of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent (DDN) talent in the screen industry.
“The current atmosphere and excitement of the Paralympics highlights the need for para-sport and disability stories regularly – not just every four years! Receiving the Brian Beaton Award commends the efforts of our entire team. The support we’ve received from the disability community, the market, Screen Australia and Screenwest has been incredible. As a first-time feature producer, I’m looking forward to the rest of the journey of bringing Hard as Puck to audiences.” said Chanel Bowen, Producer.
“Congratulations to the Hard As Puck team for their ongoing tenacity and commitment to bring this important documentary to the screen – matched by the tenacity and commitment of the cast of athletes who strive for excellence. Sport is a universal language, bringing people together, and promoting teamwork and tolerance – all things that Brian Beaton valued and understood well.” said Celia Tait, Brian Beaton Award Co-Founder.
“Congratulations to Chanel and the Hard As Puck team, and a big thank you to Celia and the Beaton family for their continued support. The Brian Beaton Award supports documentary filmmakers to share meaningful WA social impact stories with local and international audiences – we’re excited to see this unique and entertaining underdog story come to life.” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.
Since its inception in 2018, the Brian Beaton Award has led to a number of exciting outcomes for each recipient. Sam Lara and Cathy Henkel’s Laura’s Choice won the inaugural Hot Docs prize at the 2020 Australian International Documentary Conference and premiered as a two-part series on ABC in March 2021; while Jane Hammond’s Black Cockatoo Crisis won the Change Award at the 2023 Adelaide Film Festival before making its broadcast premiere on SBS and NITV in January. Taryne Laffar and Sam Field’s Our Law was expanded from a 27-minute film into two seasons of television for NITV, which premiered in 2023 and 2024.
The filmmakers have also launched a crowdfunding campaign via the Documentary Australia Foundation.
Filming for Hard As Puck will commence in Western Australia in late 2024.
Production Credit: Hard as Puck is a Norfolk Pictures production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest. Local distribution by Halo Films.
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