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FILM VICTORIA AND AUDIBLE JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH AMPLIFY VICTORIA

Media Releases  5 Oct 2020

Film Victoria and Audible, the world’s leading provider and producer of audiobooks and spoken word entertainment, have come together to launch Amplify Victoria, a new documentary development funding initiative for Victorian factual content creators.

Through the initiative, Film Victoria and Audible are on a mission to help creators develop captivating true stories into premium documentary podcasts, with the intention that the podcasts may be released on Audible or adapted for screen.

There has been increasing crossover between podcasts and on-screen storytelling, with many factual storytellers embracing the format as people increasingly turn to audio to stay informed and entertained.

Amplify Victoria is open to people with a passion and talent for high-quality and compelling storytelling across the creative industries, with no previous screen or podcast credits required.

The creative brief from Film Victoria and Audible calls for strong and challenging ideas that spark conversations and examine issues from different perspectives, with a well-developed multi-episode narrative and relatable subjects. Up to six teams will be selected to receive investment to develop their project from a total funding pool of $60,000.

“We are proud to invest in local screen content and in the careers of our local creatives in new ways. As the global appetite for quality podcasts continues to grow, Amplify Victoria is an opportunity for our state's talented storytellers to reach audiences around the world,” said Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson.

“Audible is a destination for local creators and diverse Australian stories with global audience appeal. Australians have a keen interest in locally produced audio that captures their unique stories, and alongside Film Victoria, we’re pleased to be backing Victorian creatives at this time to provide opportunities to find new audiences through the podcast format,” said Karen Appathurai Wiggins, Head of Content, APAC at Audible.

“Many of Australia’s most powerful documentaries for screen over the past year started as ideas in the minds of Victoria’s best factual storytellers including The Australian Dream, 2040, Mystify and No Time for Quiet. We can’t wait to see what our producers and writers – both experienced creators and new voices – unearth when they focus on the sense of sound to tell a great story,” said Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher.

Applications are now open for Amplify Victoria: The Audible and Film Victoria Documentary Development Fund and close 11pm Thursday 29 October. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of 2020. The Amplify Victoria initiative is managed and administered by Film Victoria, with co-funding support by Audible Australia.