Continuing to develop and grow our economy means we are actively diversifying our job creating industries.

The Territory Labor Government is continuing to grow the screen industry, with four local screen practitioners  announced as recipients of the Northern Territory Government’s Screen Territory Funding Program 2023-24 Story Development Round 1.

The first round of this funding is providing $35,000 to assist NT screen practitioners across story development, games development, industry partnerships, travel and career development and production finance. It also fosters the development and production of distinctive Territory stories and enhances creative and professional skills of Territory screen practitioners.

Four projects were awarded story development grants in Round 1, including Exposure Productions for their documentary project Tracy. Tracy is anticipated to air on Nine later this year – aligning with the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy.

New NT screen content supported in Round 1 include:

• Sean Guy to develop family friendly feature film “Darwin Superhero” when Australia’s least powerful superhero is killed in a traumatic fruit-related incident, his young bureaucratic handler must stop Darwin’s first ever supervillain alongside the new hero-in-training.
• Steph Lady brings Pro wrestling to the Territory with the development of “The Brass Ring” a contemporary road-trip comedy set in the cosplayer, melodramatic circus of Australian indie professional wrestling circuit.
• Tamara Whyte will develop “The Isaac Lindsay Prison Half Hour” as affable prisoner Isaac Lindsay is looking towards his release date and his dream to make a TV series, will getting YouTube famous blow his chances of prison parole?

Round 2 of the 2023-24 Screen Territory Funding Program closed on 17 December 2023 and applications for Round 3 will open on Monday, 19 February 2024. Support for travel and career development is available all year.

For more information including on the 2023-24 Screen Territory Funding Program guidelines or to apply for a grant go to Grants NT website.

Quotes attributed to Chief Minister Eva Lawler:

“The Territory Government is proud to invest in our local screen industry which has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Our Screen Territory Funding Program continues to strengthen and expand opportunities for our NT screen sector and share our stories to the world.

“I am always delighted to hear of new local productions to hit the screen and look forward to seeing Tracy on our screen later this year and the other productions being developed. Cyclone Tracy is imbedded into our Territory history. Myself, like many other Territorians, will remember this year the impact this event had on us all.

“Not only does our screen industry showcase our Territorian stories, it contributes significantly to the economy through employment of Territorians and purchase of goods and services.”

Quotes attributed to Tracy Producer, Andrew Hyde:

“The Tracy documentary will explore the origins of the disaster, the impact and rebirth of the city and how 50 years on, modern Darwin lives with the prospect of a return to disaster each wet season.

“The entire fabric of life in Darwin was catastrophically disrupted by Cyclone Tracy. The cyclone packed astonishing power, unleashing the greatest natural disaster in Australia’s history. At least 71 people were killed. 2023 estimates of the damage exceed $4 billion.

“Tracy will share stories of strength and resilience and we’re grateful to Screen Territory for their ongoing support in sharing local stories.”