ART BITES WILL RETURN FOR THIRD YEAR

This image: Unboxed / Photo credit Kirsty Stark
Banner image: Mirror / Photo credit Kate Paul and Brodie Poole

ART BITES, the successful short-form documentary initiative from the ABC and Screen Australia, will return for a third year it was confirmed  at the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) in Melbourne, this week.

ART BITES presents an exceptional opportunity for four emerging Australian filmmaking teams with a passion for art to create a 6 x 5 minute documentary series that will premiere on the ABC Arts channel on iview in 2019.

Designed to nurture early career filmmakers, this initiative provides teams with the production funds to bring to life an original and compelling idea for a documentary series that will contribute to the national cultural conversation around art, and in turn secure a broadcasting credit to further their career. Innovative approaches to the documentary form are highly encouraged.

A total of $240,000 in grants will fund four projects, with the ABC and Screen Australia committing $120,000 each. A Screen Australia Investment Manager and an ABC Arts Commissioning Editor will also provide support to each team.

As with the 2017 intake, state and territory screen agencies have pledged to support the selected projects if any of the successful applicants are from their jurisdictions. Create NSW, Film Victoria, Screen Queensland, Screen Territory, Screenwest and the South Australian Film Corporation will contribute up to an additional $30,000 per project, bringing the total potential pool of funds per team to $90,000.

Art Bites is a highly desirable career escalation opportunity that not only gives emerging documentary filmmakers a broadcast credit, but also contacts at the ABC and Screen Australia that can open doors to other opportunities down the line,” said Liz Stevens, Senior Manager of Documentary at Screen Australia. “With this year’s intake we’re particularly interested in applications with a unique or playful approach to form – for example proposals that go beyond artist profiles and explore an unfolding narrative structure.”

The four series funded in 2016 are currently available on iview: Home: The Art of Ian Strange (WA); The Glass Bedroom (NSW); Shock Art (WA) and The Wanderers (QLD).

The four series funded in 2017 – Carla and Lisa’s Countdown of Australian Art (NSW), Lessons from a Middle Class Artist (SA), Mirror(QLD) and Unboxed (SA) – will be available on iview later in 2018.

The success of Art Bites led to Love Bites, a one-off LGBTQI initiative to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. All 10 projects funded through Love Bites debuted on iview ahead of this year’s Mardi Gras festival.

Early career filmmakers are highly encouraged to apply for this initiative and you can find out more information at the ART BITES page at the Screen Australia website. Application deadline: 11pm AEST 20 April 2018.