SBS Operations

TV.Cynic · December 15, 2022, 2:54am

Nominations open for Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition

Nominations are now open for the second Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition presented by SBS and Australia for UNHCR.

The award is named after beloved sports broadcaster Les Murray AM who hosted The World Game on SBS and was himself a young refugee who arrived in Australia in 1956 from Hungary.

“This award celebrates a person who has overcome significant hardship and gone on to make a contribution to our country through the arts, sports or media,” said Australia for UNHCR’s CEO Trudi Mitchell.

“This is a difficult award to judge – there are so many former refugees who are doing wonderful work in our community,” she said.

Managing Director of SBS, James Taylor said the award will recognise outstanding former refugees who have advocated for displaced peoples through arts, sport or media.

“Les Murray’s legacy remains so close to our hearts at SBS and we’re incredibly pleased to present this very special award in his memory,” he said.

“Les came from Hungary as a young refugee and become an Australian football icon – for many people in the migrant community he showed it was possible to be welcomed and celebrated.

“We’re seeking nominations from authors, artists, actors, community leaders, sports people, film makers, and journalists who have settled in Australia as refugees.

“We know there are people in the community, quietly doing good, and we want to recognise their efforts in supporting refugees and contributing to the vibrancy of multicultural Australia.”

In 2022, the inaugural award was presented to former Yugoslav refugee Danijel Malbasa who lived in camps for Internally Displaced People since age six and arrived in Australia at age 12. Now an industrial relations lawyer Danijel donates his time and expertise to work with refugees.

Danijel was selected from eight outstanding former refugees all with their own inspiring stories of survival and success in bringing awareness to the plight of refugees and forcibly displaced people.

The Award recipient will receive $10,000, donated by SBS, to encourage positive awareness for refugees.

Submissions must include a brief biography, examples of work, details on the nominee’s community work and two references.

Nominations should be emailed to LMA@unrefugees.org.au The closing date is 31 January 2023. For further information visit www.unrefugees.org.au/lesmurray.

TV.Cynic · December 15, 2022, 9:31am

https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/keynote-address-by-dot-west-am-world-indigenous-television-broadcasters-network

‘The Truth Tellers: Global Indigenous Panel’, part of the 2022 World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) conference, and NITV’s 10 year free-to-air anniversary event.

Delivered on the lands of the Anangu of the Mutitjulu Community, Sails in the Desert, Yulara, Uluru Kata-Tjuta, Northern Territory

TV.Cynic · January 10, 2023, 2:41am

SBS appoints Commissioning Editor of Factual within its Unscripted team

SBS has announced the appointment of Bethan Arwel-Lewis as Commissioning Editor, Factual, joining SBS’s award-winning Unscripted commissioning team.

Arwel-Lewis will work across original factual commissioning for SBS, bringing more than 20 years of experience to the role, having worked on a diverse range of projects for major networks in Australia including SBS, ABC and Seven, and in the United Kingdom with Channel 4 and the BBC. Her career has included a number of senior production roles working with leading production companies, across a host of award-winning documentary series and factual formats.

As Commissioning Editor of Factual, she’ll commission and oversee delivery of innovative, engaging, entertaining and distinctive content for SBS, exploring the diversity of contemporary, multicultural Australia. As a member of SBS’s Unscripted team, she’ll contribute to SBS’s reputation for compelling and impactful factual series, as SBS prepares to deliver its biggest ever locally commissioned original program offering across the network in 2023.

Arwel-Lewis comes to SBS most recently from Southern Pictures where she was Series Producer on the AACTA Award winning documentary series, Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked (ABC). Among the other award-winning projects she has series produced are Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds (Endemol Shine for the ABC) which collected the AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program in 2021 and was also the GRAND Award winner at New York Festivals, and Murder in the Outback: The Falconio and Lees Mystery (Cordell Jigsaw for Seven and Channel 4) which also picked up the AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program in 2020. She was also Series Producer for SBS’s Look Me in the Eye, and prior to coming to Australia, worked with the Welsh language broadcaster S4C – a language she speaks – where roles included Series Producer on Welsh language documentary series Iolo ac Indiaid America (Iolo’s Native American Journey).

Joseph Maxwell, Head of SBS Unscripted, said: “We’re so thrilled to have Bethan joining the team, bringing her extensive experience, creativity and natural flair for authentic storytelling to our unscripted offering at SBS. Having worked across such a diverse collection of distinctive and award-winning series, both here in Australia and in the UK, Bethan’s got a track record of stories that connect with audiences and, coupled with her passion for the work we do at SBS, will be a great asset as we continue to explore new ways to surprise and delight Australians through our original factual programming.”

Arwel-Lewis added: “SBS is renowned for its distinctive documentaries and factual series which have shown to have the power to provoke meaningful debate and trigger change, something I am very passionate about. It’s a privilege to be able to play a role in sharing these important stories with Australians, and I’m looking forward to working with this respected team as we engage audiences with programs that challenge, explore and celebrate contemporary Australia.”

She commences with SBS on 16 January.

TV.Cynic · January 16, 2023, 1:55am

SBS celebrates Lunar New Year 2023 with distinctive stories to connect all Australians

SBS is ringing in the Lunar New Year with a distinctive line-up of programming across the SBS Network from 16 January to 5 February to celebrate diverse cultures, traditions and food, and encourage all Australians to be part of this special time of year observed by over 1.5 billion people around the world. Welcoming the Year of the Rabbit and Cat, content will be available in more than nine languages including Cantonese, English, Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali and Vietnamese to showcase the breadth and diversity of celebrations.

“SBS is delighted to celebrate Lunar New Year across our expansive network and highlight the richness of cultures, languages and traditions that makes up contemporary Australia. It’s a very significant celebration and SBS is proud to invite all Australians to take part,” said SBS Managing Director, James Taylor.

“SBS will also be on the ground at Lunar New Year events in every state and territory in partnership with community festivals in every state and territory – including with Multicultural NSW to light up the sails of the Sydney Opera House.”

Highlights of SBS’s curated Lunar New Year content will include:

SBS Radio’s cross-platform audio offerings in-language across broadcast radio, digital and podcasting will feature cultural explainers, such as understanding the difference between the Year of the Rabbit and Cat (link); learning the Korean Sabae bow (link); intimate storytelling about traditions and folklore, such as the symbolism of the yellow blooms for Vietnamese-Australians (link);the art of feng shui (link); talkback radio and interviews with experts; food podcasts; and fun competitions and give-aways.

Music station SBS PopAsia will run Lunar New Year playlists for Mandopop, V-Pop, Cantopop and K-Pop on Sunday 22 January (at 10am, 12pm, 3pm and 8pm respectively) and other times through the week, while SBS Radio 1 will treat listeners to an early-morning C-pop session from 21 January to 5 February from 6am to 7am.

SBS On Demand will offer an expanded collection of movies and TV shows covering Asian drama, comedy and action with subtitles available in English. This includes the Ip Man seriesstarring Hong Kong actor and martial artist Donnie Yen; the Australian premiere of Korean comedy drama series Cleaning Up season 1; Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy by director Ryusuke Hamaguchi of Drive My Car; and the classic Japanese horror movie JU-ON (The Grudge). SBS World Movies will offer a season of Jackie Chan cult classics including Drunken Master and Kung Fu Yoga; as well as recent releases like The Fortress inKorean, directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of the Netflix series Squid Game.

SBS main channel will feature the documentary The Great Wall of China: The Hidden Story, showing how the Great Wall was constructed and why it was built in the 16th century, while SBS VICELAND will run a diverse Lunar New Year line-up of drama series, movies and documentaries on Sunday 22 January, starting with The Family Law season 3 and ending with Detective Chinatown season 1.

SBS Food will feature Destination Flavour host Adam Liaw travelling to China to explore its history and his own family history, as well as foodie favourites Luke Nguyen‘s Railway Vietnam and Adam & Poh’s Malaysia in Australia. SBS Food online will feature recipes across diverse and delicious Asian cuisines by renowned creators including Victor Liong, Chef and Owner of Chinese restaurant Lee Ho Fook.

SBS Voices will run a specially-commissioned memoir piece by Korean-Australian Naeun Kim alongside a special Lunar New Year comedy roast by Kevin Jin.

SBS Learn has launched teacher resources helping primary and secondary school students to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and Cat. These include curriculum-aligned activities, downloadable worksheets, and a fantastic art activity by illustrator, author and educator Freda Chiu, and illustrator and muralist Christina Huynh. SBS Learn is also running a summer book competition for teachers to win Lunar New Year-inspired books for their classrooms. Entries close 22 January. Visit sbs.com.au/learn

Everyone can get involved in the celebrations with SBS, including out in the community with SBS’s Guide for 2023 Lunar New Year Celebrations across Australia (English, Cantonese) and discovering which classic Lunar New Year dish you should try using SBS’s fun Instagram filter.

For all our distinctive Lunar New Year content see here.

Full program:

SBS On Demand premieres

Available now

Blush
Ermo
JU-ON 2 (The Grudge 2)
The Heart
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
Wrath of Silence

Weekly from Thursday 19 January

Cleaning Up Series 1

Available from 20 January

B for Busy
Kung Fu Yoga
Paradox
Railroad Tigers
Three
Vanguard

SBS

Tokyo Vice, Wednesday 18 January, 9.25pm

The Great Wall of China: The Hidden Story, Sunday 22 January, 7.35pm

Tokyo Vice, Wednesday 25 January, 9.30pm

SBS VICELAND

League of Gods, Wednesday 18 January, 11.25pm

The Family Law Season 3 Marathon, Sunday 22 January, 12pm

Master Cheng (A Spice For Life), Sunday 22 January, 4.30pm

China’s New Silk Road, Yiwu to Madrid, Sunday 22 January, 6.35pm

The Donut King, Sunday 22 January, 9:20pm

SBS World Movies

Better Days, Sunday 22 January, 10.20pm

Focus On: Jackie Chan – Drunken Master (Cantonese), Monday 23 January, 9.30pm

The Late Night Ride (Vietnamese), Monday 23 January, 11.35pm

Focus On: Jackie Chan Drunken Master II (Cantonese), Tuesday 24 January, 9.30pm

Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear (Japanese/English), Tuesday 24 January, 11.25pm

Focus On: Jackie Chan Jackie Chan’s First Strike (Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Ukrainian), Wednesday 25 January, 9.35pm

Slate (Korean), Wednesday 25 January, 11.40pm

Focus On: Jackie Chan – Bleeding Steel (Cantonese), Thursday 26 January, 9.30pm

The Fortress (Korean), Thursday 26 January, 11.30pm

Focus On: Jackie Chan – Kung Fu Yoga (English, Mandarin), Friday 27 January, 9.30pm

Detective Chinatown 3 (Japanese, Mandarin), Friday 27 January, 11.30pm

SBS FOOD

Destination Flavour China Season 1, Monday 16 January – Friday 27 January, weekdays 4.30pm

Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam Season 1, Monday 16 January – Friday 27 January, weekdays 5pm

Adam & Poh’s Malaysia in Australia Season 1, Monday 16 January – Monday 23 January, weekdays 5.30pm

Eat China Season 1, Tuesday 24 – Friday 27 January, 5.30pm | Monday 30 January – Friday 3 February, 4.30pm

TV.Cynic · January 26, 2023, 3:57am

Update:

Bernadine Lim also becomes Senior Commissioning Editor in the unscripted commissioning team, continuing to take a leading role across key original documentaries for SBS.

TV.Cynic · January 30, 2023, 9:14am

SBS highlights how its people can ‘BE the Difference’ in new online campaign

Multicultural and Indigenous public broadcaster SBS has launched a new online campaign showcasing SBS as an employer of choice and highlighting how its people can “Be the Difference”.

The campaign, created in conjunction with independent agency Hulsbosch, features employees from across the organisation highlighting the role that the people of SBS play in connecting Australians, ensuring the voices of communities are heard, informing and entertaining all Australians with stories that inspire, and providing impartial and balanced news and current affairs.

S> howcasing the diversity of the SBS workplace, the campaign will run primarily across SBS social media and other SBS-owned channels, with 15-second videos featuring employees from across the organisation.

Featuring in the campaign are both well-known on-air talent, including proud Arrente woman and Walkley Award winning journalist and presenter, Karla Grant of Living Black on NITV, and journalist and presenter Ali Bahnasawy who hosts SBS عربي News (in Arabic) on SBS WorldWatch, along with people working behind-the-scenes including representation from women in technology and employees living with disabilities. The campaign videos are delivered in English and one in Arabic, with additional content in Mandarin to come,

SBS Director of People & Culture, Stig Bell, said: “We’re incredibly proud of this new campaign which builds on the already positive work that SBS has done in this space to improve our ability to grow and serve audiences with the best talent in market.

“With more than seven million Australians born overseas, and a continent home to the world’s oldest living continuous culture, the SBS workplace mirrors the diversity of contemporary Australia across cultures, genders and more, and we are excited to continue to be a true leader in inclusion in all that we do.”

The campaign name, “Be the Difference” is aligned with SBS’s tagline “A World of Difference”, which articulates the network’s purpose in reflecting, exploring and celebrating a diverse Australia where everyone belongs.

Director of Hulsbosch, Jaid Hulsbosch, said: “Showcasing actual SBS employees from a range of lived experiences as champions of change in their career is both inclusive and inspirational. Whether it be a teller of truth, or be a bold voice for change, we can all relate and aspire to a workplace where our personal and professional values align.”

The campaign launch on 30 January will also be accompanied by the relaunch of the SBS Careers website.

TV.Cynic · February 8, 2023, 5:14am

SBS Scripted opens doors to more new voices with TV Lunch sessions

SBS Scripted Commissioning team (L-R) Julie Eckersley, Loani Arman, Donna Chang, Catherine Kelleher. Source: SBS

Breaking down barriers to entry for creatives, the popular online events connect SBS’s Scripted commissioning team directly with emerging screen practitioners.

SBS has announced its plans to continue their successful TV Lunch Sessions with SBS Scripted in 2023, a series of free online events giving scripted screen creatives direct access to commissioning team throughout the year. The monthly one-hour lunchtime sessions target early-mid level practitioners looking to pursue and progress their careers, with the first event of the year taking place this Friday, 10 February.

The TV Lunch Sessions with SBS Scripted were introduced in 2022 as a regular virtual forum for aspiring creatives to meet and speak directly with team responsible for developing and commissioning original Australian drama at SBS. Designed to offer valuable information in an informal and open way, they provide an opportunity to learn more about how the team works, what they’re looking for, as well as insight into process and practices in the sector, and advice for career development.

Following the popularity of the sessions last year – with each reaching capacity– SBS has announced they are returning in 2023, following the same format which involves 20 minutes of information covering a key area of the industry such as how to pitch, being in a writer’s room, note taking and industry trends, followed by a 40 minute ‘Ask Me Anything’ Q&A session with members of the SBS Scripted commissioning team.

Julie Eckersley, Head of SBS Scripted, says, “Our vision for SBS Scripted is to be gate openers, not gate keepers. We want to do all we can to empower new and diverse creatives and give easy access to key information and demystify the television commissioning process. The TV Lunch events are an open invitation to all practitioners - especially if you are at that early to mid-career level – who want to understand more about how the industry works, to come and have a conversation with us. Being held online, people can attend no matter what part of Australia they live in.

“At SBS, we’re passionate about creating incredible, entertaining, inclusive Australian stories that move hearts and minds, here and around the world. We are so excited to be entering a year which will see SBS deliver its biggest ever local drama slate, with three incredible prime-time series alongside our Digital Originals which continue to break new ground. Key to our success as a network – and as a thriving national industry – is identifying, developing and elevating a tidal wave of talent in front of and behind the camera that reflects all of the cultures and lived experiences which make up the society we live in. So, come and talk to us, we’re listening.”

The TV Lunch sessions are run and attended by the SBS Scripted team including Julie Eckersley, Head of SBS Scripted, Loani Arman and Donna Chang, Scripted Commissioning Editors, and Catherine Kelleher, Scripted Development Executive. In 2023, a series of special guests will also form part of the line-up at some events, providing insights and knowledge from the wider industry.

In 2023, topics to be covered by SBS Scripted include pitching, being in a writers’ room, inclusive storytelling, understanding the marketplace, budgets and finance, and tips for taking your career to the next level with initiatives and industry opportunities.

Held on the second Friday of each month, the first event for 2023 is taking place this Friday 10 February from 12-1pm (AEDT) and will focus on the three essential ingredients to having a successful career in the screen industry.

People interested in participating need to register to be provided with the virtual meeting link. Information about upcoming sessions, and the link to register, is online on the SBS website, here.

SBS also has a Scripted Pitch Deck Guide available online as a resource to help practitioners to effectively communicate their story and ideas. The guide is designed to support creatives in putting their best foot forward, and is available to download here.

TV.Cynic · February 20, 2023, 5:28am

Statement on SBS Board appointments

The SBS Board and Executive have welcomed the appointments of Dr Andrew Lu AM and Mr Aaron Fa’Aoso, along with the reappointment of Deputy Chair Ms Christine Zeitz, as a Non-Executive Director of the SBS Board, following the announcement today by the Minister for Communications, The Hon. Michelle Rowland MP.

Dr Andrew Lu AM is President of the Mental Health Tribunal (WA) and an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University Law School. Prior to the Tribunal appointment Dr Lu practised for more than 20 years as a lawyer in top tier and boutique law firms, specialising in dispute resolution. Dr Lu serves on a number of Boards including the Arts Law Centre of Australia, Australian Youth Orchestra, and Melbourne International Film Festival.

Mr Aaron Fa’Aoso is an Australian actor, screenwriter and producer. He established Lone Star Productions in 2013, which brings stories of the people of the Torres Strait Islands and North Queensland to the screen. He is a Board Member of Screen Queensland and serves on the Far North and North Queensland Screen Advisory Committee, Screen Producers Australia Council and the National Film and Sound Archive Indigenous Connections Committee.

Ms Christine Zeitz was first appointed to the SBS Board on 10 May 2018 and appointed Deputy Chair on 30 September 2021. She is a leader in Australia’s defence industry, with over 30 years’ experience delivering world-class solutions and services across the Asia Pacific region to Defence, security, ICT and intelligence customers.

Mr Fa’Aoso and Dr Lu join the SBS Board of Directors which consists of Chair, George Savvides AM, Deputy Chair, Christine Zeitz, and Non-Executive Directors Vic Alhadeff, Peeyush Gupta AM, Katrina Rathie, and SBS Managing Director, James Taylor.

TV.Cynic · March 29, 2023, 5:13am

SBS Digital Originals shine on the global stage

Appetite announced for Canneseries 2023 next month, following Latecomers in competition at Series Mania last week.

Two of the latest short form series from the Digital Originals initiative – a partnership between Screen Australia, SBS and NITV - have been selected in two major international television festival competitions, showcasing distinctive Australian stories and creative talent, and continuing the success of the initiative.

Appetite has today been announced as one of 10 series in the Short Form Competition at Canneseries 2023. It is the only Australian production to be in the Official Selection at the major international television festival taking place 14-19 April, ahead of its premiere on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand on 22 April.

Appetite is the latest Digital Originals series set to launch on SBS platforms following Latecomers which premiered on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand in December 2022 to widespread acclaim, and also recently received international recognition as the only Australian project selected for Series Mania in Lille, France. Taking place last week. Latecomers was among six series featured in the Short Forms Competition at the prestigious international TV series festival.

SBS Scripted Commissioning Editor, Loani Arman, said, “We’re so proud to see these creative teams showcasing their talents to a global audience, and to see these exciting and distinctive Australian stories alongside the world’s best drama - exactly as they should to be.

“Digital Originals continues to not only produce uniquely entertaining and innovative stories that connect with audiences, but also continues to provide a platform for underrepresented voices in our sector that are part of the tidal wave of talent we have here in Australia.”

SBS Scripted Commissioning Editor, Donna Chang, added: “Congratulations to everyone involved on this wonderful and well-deserved recognition for both series.

“Digital Originals provides a vital platform for emerging creative talent and keeps delivering series that raise the bar every year. Our proudest achievement is its success as a career pathway – the teams behind Latecomers and Appetite join an incredible Digital Originals alum, and we look forward to opportunities to work with them in the future.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Online, Lee Naimo, said**:** “We are immensely proud of these engaging series’ that have been developed through our Digital Originals initiative with SBS and NITV. It’s fantastic to see them recognised on a world stage which I have no doubt will help inspire the next wave of Digital Originals creators.”

In Appetite, when a food delivery rider dies on the streets of Sydney, an unlikely trio of fellow riders find themselves entangled in a mystery to uncover the truth and expose a multinational food delivery behemoth, ‘Appetite’. The 6 x 10 series is created by Mohini Herse (Hair) who wrote, directed, and produced the project under Fell Swoop Pictures in association with Photoplay, with writers Neilesh Verma (Letters Home) and Grace Tan (Lucky Peach), director Neil Sharma (Heartbreak High), producer Karen Radzyner (Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo), and executive producers Sleena Wilson (Chicken), Elise McCredie (Stateless) and Jomon Thomas (Monkey Man). Principal production funding was provided by Screen Australia in association with SBS, and with support from Screen NSW.

The drama includes performances from Shirong Wu (Neighbours), Gabriel Alvarado (The Winter’s Tale), Raj Labade (Back Of The Net) and Kabir Singh (The Tourist), with Marta Dusseldorp (Janet King) as the voice of Appetite.

Comedy-drama Latecomers follows two strangers with cerebral palsy, Frank (Angus Thompson) and Sarah (Hannah Diviney) who, after watching their carers hook up at a bar, become determined to explore their own relationships with sex, and each other. Bold, hilarious, and at times heart wrenching, the series is both an expression and representation of the intricacies of sex and disability.

Written and created by Emma Myers, Angus Thompson, and acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer Nina Oyama (The Angus Project, Tonightly with Tom Ballard, Utopia), Latecomers draws from the trio’s lived experiences, from both Nina’s perspective as a carer and Emma and Angus as individuals with cerebral palsy. The 6 x 10 series was directed by Madeleine Gottlieb (You and Me, Before and After) and Alistair Baldwin (writer on The Weekly, Hard Quiz) and produced by Hannah Ngo (Iggy & Ace, Tribunal) and Liam Heyen (Top End Wedding, New Gold Mountain). Principal production funding was provided by Screen Australia in association with SBS, and with the assistance of Screen NSW.

A partnership between SBS, NITV and Screen Australia, Digital Originals aims to develop exciting and innovative short-form drama projects from screen creatives who are historically under-represented in the sector. This includes people who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations Australians, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTQIA+; and those who are located in regional and remote areas.

Appetite and Latecomers follow an impressive and award-winning slate of Digital Originals including Tasmanian murder mystery The Tailings, West Australian comedy Iggy & Ace, and South Australian drama A Beginner’s Guide to Grief, as well as Robbie Hood and Homecoming Queens produced under SBS’s Short-Form Content Initiative which evolved into Digital Originals. Digital Originals continues to be a proven career pathway for creatives with alumni including Dylan River (Mystery Road: Origin), Corrie Chen (New Gold Mountain), and Stevie Cruz-Martin (The Tailings) directing SBS and Screen Australia’s new drama series, Safe Home.

The successful initiative continues in 2023, with three new Digital Originals projects announced as being selected for further development funding from the seven teams who received initial development funding in 2022. Up to three projects will be chosen to move into production, to be revealed later this year. More information about entries for the next round of the initiative will be shared in the coming months.

Appetite **will premiere at 9.30pm on 22 April, on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.

Latecomers is available to watch now on SBS On Demand.

TV.Cynic · April 12, 2023, 10:50pm

Former football player Anyier Yuol wins Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition

Australia for UNHCR and SBS are delighted to announce that Anyier Yuol – former football player, PhD candidate, model and founder of a beauty pageant for women of colour – is the winner of the 2023 Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition.

The award is named after legendary SBS sports broadcaster Les Murray AM, himself a former refugee from Hungary, and recognises an outstanding former refugee who is raising awareness of the plight of forcibly displaced people.

“SBS is thrilled to sponsor the Les Murray Award and I congratulate Ms Yuol on her work advocating on behalf refugees which has benefited many, both in her local community and also in wider international forums,” said James Taylor, Managing Director of SBS.

“Les Murray himself was champion for refugees and we’re pleased to keep his legacy alive through this important award. Ms Yuol is a worthy recipient and SBS is proud to recognise her valuable contribution.”

“There were many outstanding people nominated for the Les Murray award this year,” said Trudi Mitchell, CEO of Australia for UNHCR. “The judges noted Ms Youl’s many accomplishments but they were also impressed with her energy, her positivity and her determination to make a difference for refugees.”

Anyier Yuol’s family is from South Sudan. She was born in a refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya. When both her parents passed away, her aunt took care of her before she came to Australia on a humanitarian visa at age 10.

Moving to Blacktown in Western Sydney, Anyier found a love for football and even recalls waking up at early in the morning to watch Les Murray commentate the football on SBS.

“Les Murray is an icon. I used to wake up at 4am to watch his World Cup broadcasts on SBS. It’s such an honour to be able to receive this award because he was a refugee advocate and a passionate football fan who understood how sport plays an important part in refugee communities,” said Ms Yuol.

Anyier represented Australia at the FIFA Football for Hope Festival in 2010 at the World Cup in South Africa and launched an initiative called Football in the Park to provide a safe space to talk about challenges in the community.

Her work in the community transcends sport – Anyier also created Miss Sahara, a beauty pageant for African-Australian women, and launched Anyier Model Management to offer under-represented groups greater professional opportunities.

Ms Yuol was also the former Chair of the Australian National Committee on Refugee Women (ANCORW) at age 25 and consulted with hundreds of refugee women from diverse backgrounds to inform national policy and to advocate internationally.

“With ANCORW, I was able to collect the voices of refugee women and take them to Geneva and share them at the Global Refugee Forum. It gave me the strength and platform to do even more,” she said.

Ms Yuol is now completing a PhD at Western Sydney University on bride price practices in South Sudanese communities in Australia and created Lead Beyond Education – a small charity addressing barriers to education and leadership for culturally and racially marginalised people, both in Australia and in refugee camps.

“There are so many conflicts, so many vulnerable people displaced. It is the work of every individual – whether you’re giving money or volunteering your time – to contribute to the work of agencies like UNHCR,” she said.

The award was judged by Australia for UNHCR Deputy Chair Kate Dundas, UNHCR Regional Representative Adrian Edwards, SBS Director of Language and Audio Content David Hua, and former refugee Ann Odong.

Anyier Yuol will appear at Australia for UNHCR’s World Refugee Day event on Thursday 15 June.

TV.Cynic · April 19, 2023, 7:25am

SBS shares the celebration of Eid with all Australians

Celebrate Eid al-Fitr with content across the SBS network

SBS is celebrating Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, prayer and community, with an exciting feast of food, entertainment, news and events for all Australians to enjoy and celebrate the rich diversity of our country.

Across the network, SBS will share distinctive content in 16 languages: Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Cantonese, Dari, English, French, Hindi, Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish and Urdu. This includes rolling local news coverage, articles and explainers, bespoke teacher resources, a new Ramadan podcast and recipes from different cuisines to strengthen community and connection whilst entertaining and informing.

James Taylor, Managing Director of SBS said: “SBS is delighted to be celebrating Eid al-Fitr with distinctive content and storytelling in more than 16 languages. It’s a wonderful invitation to all Australians to be part of this important cultural celebration,” he said.

“Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, is a global multicultural, multilingual occasion observed by more than 800,000 Muslim-Australians of diverse backgrounds. We’re proud for SBS to be at the forefront of sharing this celebration.”

SBS Audio is covering Ramadan and Eid in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Dari, English, Pashto, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu and on NITV Radio with stories from across contemporary Australia and beyond. SBS Arabic24 is providing rolling coverage, including an interview with the Grand Mufti of Australia.

Newly-arrived migrants are also included in the celebration through SBS’s Settlement Guide series with explainers in English on Ramadan and Eid, and religious fasting and how it affects health. SBS Learn has produced two teacher resources to use in the classroom on observing Ramadan and celebrating Eid.

SBS Audio has also specially commissioned My Ramadan –a five-part podcast exploring the experiences of prominent Muslim-Australians in a nuanced and joyful way, hosted by Walkley Award winning journalist Sarah Malik and available here

The Arabic Collection has the best of SBS On Demand in spoken Arabic or with Arabic subtitles. SBS documentary The Swap will be available with Arabic subtitles in this collection. The Swap documents the journey of six students from Australia’s largest Islamic school, swap places with six students from Catholic colleges and a secular state high school.

Continuing the Eid celebrations, SBS On Demand is offering a curated list of 32 films in the Celebrating Eid Collection to stream including drama, comedy, cooking and documentaries. Films herald from all over the globe including Baba Amin (1950) a classic family film in Arabic from pioneering Egyptian director Youssef Chahine. It tells the story of a father who passes away after a shady investment and watches his family from the afterlife. Under the Fig Trees (2021) is a Tunisian coming-of-age film about a group of young people working during the summer harvest. The list includes films in Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, English, French, Hindi, Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish and Urdu.

Also on SBS On Demand is Michael Palin: Into Iraq, which explores what life is like for the 40 million people who live in Iraq, also referred to as the cradle of civilization, and looking into its past as well as its troubled present.

SBS Food has featured a line-up of content from home cook Nadiya Hussain with Nadiya’s Fast Flavours, Nadiya’s Time To Eat and Nadiya’s Everyday Baking now available on SBS On Demand. SBS Food will also broadcast Middle East Feast with Shane Delia and John Torode’s Middle East from Monday 17 April to Friday 21 April. There is also a collection of Eid recipes that can be found at www.sbs.com.au/food

SBS Voices have published first-person stories on family and Eid and will publish a story on 20 April about one young writer’s mother’s traditional salwar kameez clothing and learning more about her mother’s memories of celebrating Ramadan and Eid in India.

SBS VICELAND will show the documentary How Islam Built the Modern World on Friday 21 April at 10.15pm, tracing the inventions of modern technology back to Islamic and Arabic scientists in the Middle Ages. SBS World Movies will premiere The Orphanage on Friday 21 April at 7.50pm from the celebrated female Afghani writer and director Shahrbanoo Sadat, set in the late 1980s about a 15-year-old living in the streets of Kabul until the police bring him to a Soviet orphanage. Ali’s Weddingwill be broadcaston Saturday 22 April at 8.30pm – a classic Aussie-Muslim rom-com about a neurotic, naive, musically gifted Muslim cleric’s eldest son following through with an arranged marriage, even though he’s madly in love with an Australian-born Lebanese girl.

SBS News will cover local and international events and has published a guide to Ramadan for non-Muslims and a look into Ramadan Lakemba Night Markets where one million people are expected to visit. SBS News in Arabic also produce a weeknightly news bulletin on SBS WorldWatch at 8.00pm to 8.30pm and available on SBS On Demand.

As part of the celebrations, SBS has partnered with Ramadan Lakemba Night Markets, taking place every night of Ramadan from dusk to 3am, and the Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair at Fairfield Showground on Sunday 30 April.

JohnsonTV · April 26, 2023, 10:46pm

The union (MEAA) is in the middle of negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement with SBS executives, who have offered a 9.5 per cent pay rise over the three-year term to February 2026 – annual rises of 4 per cent, 3 per cent and 2.5 per cent. A new agreement is expected to go to a staff vote in coming days.

The union has demanded more transparency over wages, more pay grades, access to overtime when working more than five days in a week, and for roles to be advertised internally before going out to market.

TV.Cynic · April 27, 2023, 1:28am

SBS Relocation Feasibility Study

The Australian Government has commissioned a feasibility study into a possible relocation of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) from its Artarmon headquarters in New South Wales (NSW) to Western Sydney, alongside the provision of a multi-purpose space for content creation and public use.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is leading the feasibility study in close collaboration with the SBS. The study will examine:

the feasibility of relocating the SBS from Artarmon to Western Sydney

the best process to identify feasible site/s that could incorporate SBS and a multi-purpose space for content creation and public use

feasible site/s and a preferred site and funding model, if relocation is found by the SBS Board to be feasible.

As the SBS Board is the decision maker on any relocation of SBS, taking into account its obligations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991, SBS will be a vital partner in the feasibility study.

Report:

TV.Cynic · May 9, 2023, 10:05pm

Statement in response to the Federal Budget

SBS has welcomed today’s announcement from the Federal Government of the commencement of five-year funding, beginning from July 1, for the public broadcaster.

The Government also confirmed the continuation and incorporation of existing short-term funding for key language services and audio description into the base funding for SBS.

“SBS welcomes the continuity and stability which the five-year funding model provides, ensuring that we are able to keep delivering our vital services for all Australians and especially multilingual and First Nations communities,” said an SBS spokesperson.

“We also welcome the decision to continue and incorporate existing funding for language services and audio description into our base funding, in recognition of the value these services bring to audiences across Australia.”

JohnsonTV · May 9, 2023, 10:48pm

As part of the five-year funding model, the government will provide annual funding of $334.9 million for SBS. SBS will also receive additional funding to extend and roll SBS Media Sector Support into ongoing funding. SBS Media Sector Support provides news, content, subtitling and English learning resources to Australians who speak languages other than English, with a focus on Chinese and Arabic communities.

JohnsonTV · May 11, 2023, 10:56pm

According to The Australian, MEAA announced last night that a majority of SBS staff had voted in favour of a new pay deal, which would see staff given a four per cent pay rise in the first year, 3 per cent in the second year and 2.5 per cent in the third year. The pay rises will be backdated to February 6 this year.

TV.Cynic · May 15, 2023, 7:40am

The Emerging Writers’ Incubator returns, calling out for a new wave of Australian storytellers

The six successful candidates in 2022: Top (L-R) Skye Leon, Patrick Hogan, Aven Yap; bottom (L-R) Elena Carapetis, Becki Bouchier, Kelli Cross. Source: SBS

Six more screenwriting creatives from under-represented communities will join leading Australian production companies, as the industry initiative returns in its third year.

Applications are now open for the SBS Emerging Writers’ Incubator, a nationwide initiative supporting the development of historically under-represented screenwriting talent in the Australian screen sector. In its third year in 2023, the initiative will be delivered in partnership with Screen Australia, and state agencies Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screenwest, the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and VicScreen, and with the assistance of the Australian Writers’ Guild.

Launched in 2021, the initiative was created to invest in the future of an increasingly inclusive screen sector and Australian storytelling, by providing a year of paid employment in a leading Australian production company for emerging writing talent reflecting backgrounds and experiences historically under-represented in the Australian industry. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; people who are culturally and linguistically diverse; people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or with disability; people who are female or gender diverse; people who identify as LGBTQIA+; and people located in regional and remote areas.

This year, once again, six successful writers will join the teams of Australian production companies acclaimed for their delivery of Australian drama. Over a 12-month period, employed full-time, they will gain significant work experience further developing their skills, knowledge, and networks, working across the production companies’ slate of drama productions. They will also be supported by the Australian Writers’ Guild with access to creative and training workshops.

In 2023, the award-winning production companies taking part in the initiative are Curio Pictures who will host a Western Australian writer; Endemol Shine Australia who will host a NSW-based writer; Kindling Pictures hosting a Victorian writer; Kojo Studios who will have a South Australian writer join the team; Orange Entertainment hosting a Queensland writer; and TAP (Tony Ayres Productions) who will host a Tasmanian writer in their office in Melbourne, supported by Screen Tasmania.

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TV.Cynic · May 29, 2023, 1:07am

SBS open to joint location with ABC

SBS managing director James Taylor said jointly relocating to western Sydney with the ABC could be a significant cost-cutting measure for both broadcasters.

TV.Cynic · May 29, 2023, 9:27am

SCREEN AUSTRALIA, SBS AND NITV CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO DIGITAL ORIGINALS 2023

Screen Australia, SBS and National Indigenous Television (NITV) have announced that applications are now open for the fourth year of the highly successful Digital Originals initiative.

Digital Originals aims to develop exciting and innovative short-form drama projects to premiere as a single hour-long episode program on SBS On Demand and NITV, from screen creatives historically under-represented in the sector. This includes people who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, First Nations Australians, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTQIA+ and those who are located in regional and remote areas.

Recent recipients include Appetite, which was selected as one of 10 series in the Short Form Competition at Canneseries 2023 and Latecomers, which was among six series featured in the Short Forms Competition at Series Mania in Lille, France - with both series the only Australian productions selected for each of the prestigious festivals. Three more projects from the 2022 cohort, Warm Props, Moni and Moonbird, are currently in development, with up to three progressing to production.

Screen Australia’s Head of Online and Games Lee Naimo said, "It’s amazing how quickly Digital Originals has established itself as a meaningful pathway for emerging creators to advance their careers, and I am sure this announcement is a welcome one for many talented creators in the industry wanting to follow in the footsteps of past recipients.

“Whether it’s previous recipients stepping up their careers on bigger projects, or series like Latecomers and Appetite receiving local and international acclaim, this initiative is a proven talent escalator with a deserved place in the careers of so many exciting writers, directors and producers.”

SBS Scripted Commissioning Editor, Donna Chang, said, “Digital Originals continue to break new ground in storytelling and showcase the tidal wave of talent we have here in Australia reflecting the cultures and lived experiences of people who have historically been under-represented in our sector. It’s exciting to be a part of an initiative that is making an impact in our industry as a career pathway – at SBS, we’re thrilled to have had Digital Originals alum like Corrie Chen (Homecoming Queens, New Gold Mountain), Stevie Cruz-Martin (The Tailings, Safe Home), Liam Heyen (Latecomers, Erotic Stories) and others, go on to work across our flagship network dramas. I can’t wait to see the projects and talent this initiative elevates next.”

NITV’s Head of Commissions, Marissa McDowell added, “Through Digital Originals, we want to put the spotlight on emerging First Nations storytellers and provide a platform for a new generation of fresh voices. Each year we continue to be impressed by the calibre of projects, innovative approaches, and inspiring stories that Digital Originals delivers, testament to the incredible emerging creative talent that we have in this country. It’s a wonderful and meaningful opportunity, and I encourage creatives to submit their ideas and get involved.”

Teams will be selected to attend an exclusive workshop in October 2023, run by Screen Australia, SBS and NITV. The workshop will focus on narrative writing skills, as well as developing the projects to align with the SBS Charter and SBS On Demand platform, culminating in a pitch to Screen Australia, SBS and NITV. Teams outside of Sydney will receive flights and accommodation for up to three team members to attend the workshop. Teams of either two or three members are eligible to apply and must include one writer.

From these teams, up to six will be chosen to take their projects into further development, and from these up to three will be chosen for production funding and commissioning with SBS, NITV and Screen Australia.

Submissions should include an up to three-page pitch document outlining the details of the series and more information on the creative team; an up to three-minute pitch video outlining the creators’ personal connection to and reason for wanting to develop the project; and an up to 10-page script sample of previous work. For more information on eligibility and application guidelines click here.

TV.Cynic · June 7, 2023, 12:57am

SBS unveils bold refresh of its digital home

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In a global media first and a game-changer for multilingual audiences, SBS’s new website can now publish in more than 60 languages across text, video and audio.

SBS, Australia’s distinctive, multiplatform, multilingual broadcaster, has revamped its digital home, unveiling the most significant redesign to its homepage in more than a decade.

Underpinned by a new platform, the new site better serves the needs of Australia’s growing multilingual audiences, delivering breaking news, information, and compelling stories in a seamless user experience.

Launched this week, the new SBS.com.au strengthens the reach and discoverability of the distinctive content for which SBS is renowned. The curated site showcases the network’s unrivalled film, TV, news, audio, food and sport offering, with logical, user-friendly pathways to industry-leading streaming service, SBS On Demand, and its 15,000+ hours of content.

Made possible by a major technical overhaul, the site’s redesign offers a first-rate user experience, featuring a scalable, and mobile-friendly interface that makes it easier than ever to consume great content, navigate across the network’s platforms, and more quickly access relevant news and information, public service messaging, and compelling content about the sports, shows and movies they most enjoy.

SBS’s Chief Technology Officer, Darren Farnham, said the new site had been in development for some time.

“This redesign is the culmination of a huge amount of work and follows a series of technology upgrades and serious backend innovations we’re implementing across our digital properties. These enable a better user experience with features like personalised content recommendations based on users’ preferred language that the site can detect automatically,” he said.

“Publishing in dozens of different scripts presents unique challenges from a content management system perspective, and this project has been years in the making.

“More improvements are coming soon, including improved search functionality that will make it simpler and quicker to find what you’re looking for across our network.”

SBS’s Director of Strategy, Sarah Yassien, said the new homepage reflects both SBS’s response to audiences’ changing consumption habits well as its broader audience-led strategy.

“It’s not just about great content and a frictionless user journey across our sites. As audiences rapidly shift to online consumption, we’re right there with them, with SBS On Demand at the heart of our digital presence and our in-language news and newly relaunched SBS Audio offering now more accessible than ever,” she said.

“These innovations make our offering even more compelling and are reflective of SBS’s commitment to serving a truly contemporary Australian community through our original, distinctive and award-winning digital content.”

Key features of the new homepage and SBS’s other digital properties enabled by the update include:

content recommendations based on automatically detected language preferences;

a news shelf presenting SBS’s journalism in more than 60 languages;

ability quickly switch between English and professionally translated news articles in multiple languages;

easier access to live radio channels and SBS On Demand linear streams;

a new What’s On destination that enables audiences to delve deeper into the movies and shows they enjoy, or discover new favourites through interviews, explainers, and recommendations from the SBS On Demand curation team;

a new Explore SBS section, drawing in the most recent content from across the network;

improved global navigation across the SBS network.

View SBS’s new homepage at SBS.com.au.