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SAFC announces support for SA writers and directors with $75,000 in development funding
24 June 2026
The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) has cemented its commitment to supporting greater diversity and inclusion in the state’s screen sector, announcing $75,000 in development funding for five exciting new projects from diverse South Australian writers and directors.
From a First Nations-led comedy horror set in a South Australian holiday house to an adult animation series from the writer/directors of hit SA film Lesbian Space Princess, the five projects have been supported through the SAFC’s Diversity Development Grant, which supports the development of screen projects made in the state with a South Australian writer and/or director from a group underrepresented in the SA screen industry.
Selected by an expert panel of external industry assessors, the selected creative teams and their projects are:
- HUMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT – animated adult TV series
Writer/Director: Leela Varghese, Emma Hough-Hobbs
Producer: Nicholas Colla, LateNite Films
A young NASA astronaut is sent on an undercover mission to infiltrate the interstellar campus of “Universe-ity”.
- A SILENT ESCAPE – feature thriller
Writer/Director: Yogi Devgan
Producer: Sabin Gnawali
After a tragic loss drives her back to India, a grieving mother must navigate a dangerous underworld of child exploitation to find her kidnapped son.
- THE RUNNER – family feature film
Writer: Alexandra Williams
Producer: Jim Wright, Truce Films
After the sudden death of his stepfather, a promising young actor returns to his outback hometown where he is pulled into his autistic sister’s dream to run the NYC marathon.
- LESBIAN DEATH SQUAD – feature documentary
Director: Alies Sluiter
Producer: Katrina Lucas
While her mother prepares strangers for death through a Threshold Choir, a daughter comes to understand that she is being prepared for the death of her own parents.
- BLACKS LANDING – comedy horror feature
Writer/Director/Producer: Travis Akbar
Producer: Judd Tilyard
All hell breaks loose when a scheduling mishap booking a South Australian holiday house ends with a First Nations Australian family fighting for their lives against a group of bloodthirsty “Karens”.
Launched in January as part of the SAFC’s suite of updated funding program guidelines, the Diversity Development Grant program is a reshaped version of the SAFC’s previous Targeted Development program, refocused to better support and foster the growth of a diverse South Australian workforce, with a focus on First Nations practitioners, Deaf and/or disabled practitioners, female identifying writers and directors, LGBTQIA+ practitioners, practitioners residing in regional or remote areas and practitioners from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background.