The Minister for the Arts Don Harwin has joined some of Australia’s leading female talent in order to announce #SheDirects, an initiative that will aim to bring more up and coming female directors to the forefront the the industry.
Iconic Australian actor and director Rachel Griffiths (Hacksaw Ridge) has jumped on board along with fellow actor, writer and director Leah Purcell (Wentworth), as they attended Minister Harwin’s announcement to kick-start the increase in the number of female directors with a $100,000 foundation.
Minister Harwin says the funding is for up to four TV drama projects, continuing on to state that “As the country’s leading State for film and television, we are committed to supporting the best female talent that Australia has to offer in key creative roles”.
“The industry has made excellent progress and #SheDirects will give even further impetus to ensuring gender is no barrier to achievement in this diverse sector.
Applications are now open for various one-hour TV dramas led by a female director, with at least one other female based as part of the NSW key creative team .
Rachel Griffiths commented on the news, stating “Initiatives like #SheDirects are critical to help bring down barriers for women in the screen industry. Australia has always led the world in female participation in this universally male-dominated industry. I commend Minister Harwin for continuing these game-changing projects that will keep our industry in world’s best practice.”
Leah Purcell added, “#SheDirects is a great initiative. Parity in our sector is a good thing and a worthy endeavour. We know women make up half the population so similar numbers behind the camera makes all the sense in the world. Talent and numbers are not the issue, opportunity and access are. I come from the Indigenous screen sector where women have been an important part of a modern Australian film and TV movement and #SheDirects will only broaden that and increase female participation as a whole.”
Applications are open until 5 August 2018. More information on guidelines can be found by clicking here.
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