Screen Australia, SBS and NITV have announced Digital Originals will return for another year – and applications are now open. The program is designed to support underrepresented Australian creatives in realising their ambitious screen projects.
Organisers have also confirmed five teams from the 2025 Digital Originals program have moved through to the next phase, and their ideas have been funded for further development.
Digital Originals – quick links
The 2025 Digital Originals projects moving onto the next phase
As noted by Screen Australia, the Digital Originals program has already developed a strong record over multiple cohorts, with an array of supported projects including Homebodies, Moonbird, Night Bloomers, and Appetite going on to earn award nominations, and to screen at various festivals.
Five teams from the 2025 round have now secured further development funding for their screen projects. Here’s what to expect from each.
Bump Into You
‘After a steamy encounter with Deaf British traveller Frankie, hard of hearing James begins to explore a romantic connection that challenges his identity and family expectations.’
Team: Nathan Borg, Sam Martin, Scarlett Koehne and Jessica Smith.
Good Boy
‘A lonely romantic falls in love with a man in prison. When she copycats a crime to prove his innocence, her fantasy life tips into a criminal reality.’
Team: Rebecca Metcalf, Anu Hasbold.
Rogue One
‘Community policing meets chaos in the Top End where justice is murky, youth are smarter than the cops and the local BBQ holds more intel than HQ.’
Team: Mema Munro, Cian McCue, Rebecca Parker.
Musket
‘When Levi dumps a stolen colonial-era musket into Jack’s ute, the two Koori best mates are forced into a tense and absurd overnight mission to return it – navigating rowdy classmates, a bitter wannabe-rapper and the weight of a rural boys’ school that’s never truly seen them as equals.’
Team: Jack Steele, Bronte Gosper.
SCAMMERS
‘After retiree Denise Reynolds loses her life savings to a scam caller, she reluctantly teams up with her young aged-care worker Anika Luthra to scam the scammers back. But as Anika and Denise get closer to each other and the truth, they uncover a greater scam much closer to home.’
Team: Mehhma Malhi, Xavier Hazard, Paige Wharehinga.
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How to apply for Digital Originals funding
According to Screen Australia, the goal of the Digital Originals program is to continue elevating underrepresented voices to tell stories that matter, and to provide a ‘structured pathway’ into the screen industry. Funding allows creatives to gather needed skills, forge industry connections, and develop their ideas into ‘audience-ready’ series.
‘Digital Originals has established itself as a proven pathway for underrepresented voices to tell distinctive, award-winning stories,’ said Nakul Legha, SBS Head of Scripted. ‘This initiative goes to the heart of SBS’s purpose – to reflect the diversity of contemporary Australia and provide a sustainable pipeline for new voices.’
‘At a time when it’s harder than ever to break through, we’re immensely proud of its continued success and I congratulate the talented 2025 Digital Original teams whose projects have received development funding. I can’t wait to see the next generation of storytellers step forward with their stories.’
Dena Curtis, NITV Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production, also highlighted the importance of the endeavour, underscoring how needed this entry point is in the Australian screen industry.
‘Digital Originals is an important pathway for First Nations practitioners to break into the industry, providing the tools and mentorship to create powerful scripted series that amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives,’ Curtis says.
