VICE names winner of Pitch Australiana contest

A documentary project about male erotic entertainers on tour has won the annual pitching competition Pitch Australiana held recently at the Australian International Documentary Conference.

Director Isaac Elliott from the Northern Territory and producer Lucy Knox (no relation!) from Victoria, will receive $50,000 in production funding for their documentary short Burlesque Blokes to screen through VICE’s global digital network and on SBS VICELAND.

Burlesque Blokes strips back the world of male entertainers; introducing the men behind the fantasy and the women who attend. It explores both the gruelling schedules and how the performers navigate consent in-the-moment with female participants. Burlesque Blokes looks at the personal toll their work has on their relationships, self-image and the financial realities of working in one of the only industries where in their experience, male performers are paid far less than their female counterparts.

Director Isaac Elliott and producer Lucy Knox said: “We are really excited to work with VICE and Screen Australia and are grateful to be given the opportunity to add a new chapter to the Australiana series.”

“Burlesque Blokes opens the curtains on an often misunderstood industry, delving into the lives of a group of male burlesque performers as they take their stage show from Melbourne to regional Australia. We’re excited to explore this world and the gender politics tied to it, while telling an entertaining story full of heart, hard work and an abundance of washboard abs.”

“Pitching a project live in front of a panel of representatives from VICE, Screen Australia, and the documentary community in a public forum at a major documentary conference is no easy feat,” said Head of Documentary at Screen Australia Bernadine Lim. “Isaac Elliott and Lucy Knox really seized this opportunity and presented an insightful documentary that opens a door into a divisive profession revealing the unique challenges faced by those working within it. I congratulate all those who pitched in the forum and look forward to seeing this project on VICE later this year.”

Katy Roberts, Head of Video at VICE Australia said, “There was an incredibly strong set of finalists pitching at AIDC this year, so credit to them all — they made the decision difficult. We’re particularly excited about Isaac and Lucy’s winning documentary pitch, and know it will throw a unique and dynamic lens onto the ongoing Australiana series. Thanks to Screen Australia and AIDC for partnering with us again to make this possible.”