Screenwest and Lotterywest have announced the first recipient of the inaugural West Coast Visions Documentary initiative, Tom de Souza’s The Long Road Home.
The newly-established grant has a stated aim to ‘uncover, inspire and develop’ talented Western Australian filmmakers, with a focus on elevating ‘distinctive’ projects that will be filmed within WA and tell stories tell stories inspired by or connected to the region.
Projects are granted up to $500,000 for production, as well as support from Screenwest.
Screenwest documentary funding – quick links
Tom de Souza’s The Long Road Home
Tom de Souza’s The Long Road Home, currently in development, is a documentary feature that charts the life of de Souza as he deals with a past of addiction and teenage crime, and embarks on a journey through Indonesia in the hopes of finding ‘transformation’.
The team behind the project includes producers Nick Calpakjian and Amelia Hapsari, and executive producers Jamie Holt and Adam Shand.
‘I’m absolutely stoked and honoured to take out this year’s West Coast Visions Documentary initiative,’ de Souza says. ‘Walking your own creative path is a road lined with risk and self-doubt, and it’s a huge green light of affirmation to know that committing to who I truly am is finally paying off.’
Per Calpakjian, the chance to work on the project has allowed him to explore his cultural roots, and this is what most inspires him about the project.
‘I’ve always wanted to produce films that build cultural connections between Australia and our neighbours in Southeast Asia, particularly between my home of WA and Indonesia,’ Calpakjian says.
‘The Long Road Home embodies that vision, and we’re thrilled that Screenwest has recognised the project’s potential through its support of the West Coast Visions program.’
Screenwest to continue supporting new documentary and feature films
As shared by Screenwest, the new funding for The Long Road Home is part of a wider goal to continue supporting feature and documentary films created in WA by WA talent.
Per the team, the West Coast Visions program has supported 14 WA films to release since 2005, helping to launch the careers of many local filmmakers, and to share WA stories within Australia and across the world.
Expanding the program to documentary features will allow for a raft of new and impactful stories to be told.
‘West Coast Visions Documentary showcases the magnitude of talent in Western Australia and provides documentary filmmakers extra support to take their storytelling to new heights,’ said Rikki Lea Bestall, CEO of Screenwest.
‘Congratulations to our inaugural West Coast Visions Documentary recipient, whose cinematic, first-person documentary blends raw adventure with a reflective homecoming to WA.’
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Colin Smith, Lotterywest CEO, also shared his excitement about the next chapter of West Coast Visions, and the work it supports.
‘Lotterywest has supported Screenwest for more than 30 years, to grow WA’s screen sector and create opportunities for local creative talent to thrive,’ Smith says.
‘As the first documentary supported through the West Coast Visions initiative, The Long Road Home represents an exciting new chapter for the program and highlights the continued growth and development of Western Australia’s screen industry.’
The Long Road Home enters production in late 2026.
