Call for Entries: SheDoc initiative

Documentary initiative SheDoc has calling for new entries from female filmmakers in New South Wales, with up to $20,000 in funding.

First launched in 2016 by Create NSW & the Documentary Australia Foundation, SheDoc aims to encourage new female voices at any stage of their career and can be used to support travel, research, mentoring, residencies, skills development, the seeding of new work and the development of impact strategies using documentary.

Create NSW Executive Director for Investment and Engagement, Elizabeth W. Scott said, “In SheDoc’s inaugural year we supported three exciting documentary filmmakers – Justine Moyle, Gemma Quilty and Georgia Plummer Quinn – to work with some incredible mentors and experience programs that made a real impact on their development.

“Initiatives like this have already helped to change the dial and widen the opportunities for female documentary makers across the Australian screen industry, so it’s exciting to partner with Documentary Australia once more to continue this support.”

Mitzi Goldman, CEO of Documentary Australia, said, “Many talented women in the documentary sector find themselves working in supportive roles such as editing and producing. Their skills are critical to successful documentaries, yet they are often less visible when the films are honoured.

“We encourage women who have been working behind the camera, at the editing bench or in producing roles to step into directing, writing or impact producing and seek opportunities to develop themselves professionally, no matter how long they have worked in the industry.”

One of three recipients from the inaugural round, Justine Moyle added, “For me, the Create NSW SheDoc initiative has been instrumental in helping me to forge a pathway from producer to director. The opportunity to go to LA to work with award-winning documentary director Lucy Walker and her team helped me move my first feature documentary from an idea into a market-ready proposal.

“SheDoc also helped me cement the support of Pursekey Productions and the additional support of Create NSW and Screen Australia via development grants.”

Applications  close at midnight Sunday 17 February 2019.