Screen Australia, NZ On Air and TikTok announce return of Every Voice initiative

Screen Australia, NZ On Air and TikTok are excited to announce that the Every Voice initiative is returning in 2022, with applications now open. Now in its second year, Every Voice is an initiative to support creatives with diverse and distinct voices to develop episodic scripted or factual content exclusively for TikTok.

Every Voice aims to help a new generation of online storytellers expand their vision and ambition, and cultivate original Australian and New Zealand content that will resonate with global audiences. The initiative is for TikTok creators, or creators who want to expand to working on TikTok. Following the first Every Voice, the successful teams from Australia and New Zealand received up to $50,000 in funding to cover development and production costs for their project. This included the Australian TransAthletica 15 part-documentary series, which explores the barriers trans athletes face in sports, from the creators of Rainbow History Class.

Screen Australia’s Head of Online, Lee Naimo said, “In the last twelve months since the Every Voice initiative was launched, TikTok has become the destination for a whole new generation of short-form content creators looking for new ways to tell their authentic stories. In partnership with NZ On Air and TikTok we are ecstatic to be once again be supporting Australian and New Zealand creators to share their content with the vast, highly-engaged global community on TikTok.”

“Funding high-quality local content that appeals to and connects with audiences where they are is a core focus for NZ On Air,” said Head of Funding Amie Mills. “We’re thrilled that our ongoing partnership with Screen Australia and TikTok will ensure that New Zealand and Australian audiences continue to see their unique experiences reflected on a global stage, and that emerging creatives will have the opportunity to hone their storytelling skills in a dynamic and highly-receptive environment.”

Director of Content Partnerships and Community at TikTok Australia and New Zealand Felicity McVay said, “We’re excited to be taking part in this initiative for another year with Screen Australia and NZ On Air for Every Voice. We’re passionate about providing a platform for emerging and diverse voices who can express themselves authentically and give fresh perspectives on the cultural diversity of Australia and New Zealand and the world beyond. Investing in helping creators find new audiences on TikTok is a key initiative to help us support and nurture talented Aussie and Kiwi creatives”.

Australian and New Zealand applicants will be eligible to apply for up to AUD $75,000 per project, with up to ten successful projects set to receive funding. Projects must comprise of episodic content designed to be told in 6 to 15 episodes of no more than one minute each, aimed at audiences aged between 16 and 35. Projects can be of any genre of scripted or documentary content. Successful teams must also be available to attend an in-person workshop in Sydney from 5th – 7th December, 2022. Travel and accommodation costs associated with this workshop will be covered.

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