Call for Entries: First Voices initiative

NITV and Screenwest have announced a ‘First Voices’ initiative and are calling for emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen practitioners to tell in-language Indigenous stories that are uniquely Western Australian.

Candidates will be required to develop a 30-minute documentary intended for broadcast on NITV in 2020.

NITV Channel Manager, Tanya Orman said, “NITV is looking forward to partnering with Screenwest on the ‘First Voices’ initiative to create more West Australian based in-language documentaries.

“Our aim for this initiative is to promote a greater understanding of West Australian Indigenous culture and to highlight the importance of saving these millennia-old languages from extinction.”

Screenwest CEO Willie Rowe said, “This is an exciting initiative that we’re very proud to support.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing a variety of stories that are timely, distinctive and offer a range of perspectives.”

2019 is the UNESCO Year of Indigenous Languages, which recognises the importance of language in identity, cultural history, traditions and memories. In the spirit of this, the ‘First Voices’ initiative is seeking in-language documentary ideas.

Indigenous languages are endangered across the world, but there has been a surge of interest in speaking and learning the many beautiful Indigenous languages across Western Australia and more widely, Australia.

NITV and Screenwest’s initiative aims to further develop the skills and increase the broadcast credits of emerging to mid-level Western Australian Indigenous writers, directors and producers, while sharing their stories with a national audience. Candidates will be required to develop a 30-minute documentary intended for broadcast on NITV in 2020.

Applications are now open until Monday 15 July 2019 at 5pm AWST.