Samuel Leighton-Dore and Huna Amweero Selected for SBS Digital Originals!

We are thrilled to announce that Samuel Leighton-Dore and Huna Amweero have been selected for the first round of development in this year’s Digital Originals initiative. Their projects are two of nine chosen from 180 applications by SBS, NITV and Screen Australia.

Sam is developing Old Mate (alongside Bradley Tennant and Steve Anthopoulos), a series about an unlikely neighbourly feud:

When a gay millennial moves into the duplex beside a terminally ill 85-year-old, they each imagine the worst about each other – some of it correct. But as their neighbourly feud escalates, they are forced to comprehend the depths of each other’s inner-worlds.

Huna is developing That F**cker Next Door (alongside Anthea Williams, Nancy Denis and Chidiebube Uba), a pitch-black comedy about chosen family:

Former party girl Grace is struggling to accept she’s disabled when she’s forced into an alliance with her cantankerous neighbour, Ed. With social worker Mabel, the two navigate disability, dementia and grief in this pitch-black comedy about chosen family, defiant joy and learning to love the lives they never wanted.

The teams will now take part in an immersive development workshop with mentors including Rachel Perkins, Mithila Gupta, Clare Atkins and Julie Kalceff. Up to five projects will then be selected for further development funding, with three series progressing to production.

Congratulations to Sam and Huna, and to their incredible teams!