ABC Fresh Blood pilots progress with $400k funding. Discover three new comedy projects tackling culture, identity, and personal growth in Australia.
Three new comedy projects, each tackling themes ranging from saving face to cultural clashes in Western Sydney, have advanced to pilot stage as part of the ABC and Screen Australia‘s Fresh Blood initiative.
Each project will receive a total of $400,000 in funding – $200,000 from both the ABC and Screen Australia – to produce a 30-minute pilot episode.
The Fresh Blood initiative, which aims to foster emerging Australian talent in the comedy space, has selected three distinct works that reflect a diversity of experiences and storytelling approaches.
The selected projects are:
Going Under
Written by Lauren Bonner and Danielle Walker, and produced by Craig Ivanoff and Saskia Vaneveld, Going Under is a comedy-drama set in a town on the edge of collapse. The story explores the lies people tell to maintain appearances, the grief of losing something not yet gone, and the pressures of not letting down loved ones. As the protagonist reconnects with the community she had previously left, she finds herself rediscovering her roots and the people who shaped her. Themes of personal growth and community connection are at the heart of the narrative.
Urvi Went to an All Girls School
Set in 2010 Melbourne, this coming-of-age comedy-drama follows a young Indian-Australian girl determined to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress, despite her family’s more traditional expectations. Directed by Nina Oyama and written by Urvi Majumdar, Nina Oyama, Rohan Ganju, and Suren Jayemanne, the story asks how far someone would go to chase their ambitions, especially in the competitive and culturally charged environment of a selective all-girls school. Produced by Lauren Nichols, with Michelle Buxton, Urvi Majumdar, and Chris Mcdonald serving as executive producers, the show addresses the tension between cultural expectations and personal aspirations.
Westerners
This project immerses viewers in the vibrant, multicultural setting of Western Sydney. Directed by Munasib T Hamid and co-written by Kevin Duo Han and Mark Mariano, Westerners follows three young adults who are navigating the frustrations of their unsatisfying jobs while dealing with cultural conflicts and personal dilemmas. Produced by Monique Mulcahy, with Max Miller, Georgia Mappin, and Sam Lingham as executive producers, the show blends humour with surrealist elements, offering a comedic yet reflective look at identity, community, and the search for meaning in a culturally diverse world.
The ABC and Screen Australia both expressed enthusiasm for the projects’ progression. Rachel Millar, Head of Entertainment at the ABC, noted the organisation’s excitement in moving into the pilot stage, remarking,
“We were so impressed with the ingenuity, diversity, and production value in the stage 1 short form. We can’t wait to see their truly ‘fresh’ storytelling come to fruition in long form.”
Lee Naimo, Head of Online and Games at Screen Australia, echoed this sentiment, saying,
“Building on the success of the previous Fresh Blood initiatives, we’re proud to support these three teams and their exciting projects… These projects exemplify the creativity and diversity that the Fresh Blood initiative aims to champion.”
With the pilot stage now underway, these emerging creators are set to bring new voices and perspectives to Australian television, expanding the scope of comedy programming in the process.
