Screen Australia backs raft of TV drama

Screen Australia is investing A$11.4 million in a raft of new TV series and features. The Australian film and TV agency said the investment will trigger A$64 million of TV and film production.

The TV series include Shine Australia’s INXS two-parter Never Tear us Apart for Network Seven and a six part thriller for public broadcaster ABC, The Code, from Playmaker Media.

There will also be a miniseries for Network Nine about the power struggle between media barons Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story from Southern Star Entertainment and Return to the Devil’s Playground, a six part follow-up to the classic Fred Schepisi film for pay TV network Foxtel and produced by Matchbox Pictures.

The remaining projects are Hoodlum Active’s crime thriller Secrets and Lies: The Track for Network Ten and Buzz Studio’s kids series Tashi for ABC.

“The five adult TV projects announced today are an eclectic mix of genres, styles and content with a diverse range of talented teams,” said Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley. “These are all high-quality compelling productions, with some iconic Australian stories in there that are sure to resonate broadly with Australian audiences.”