Applications are now open and will close 5pm, Monday May 21, 2025

APPLY HERE!

After the success of 2024’s tantalising Taste of the Tropics on SBS, applications are now open for the season two initiative!

This is an exciting opportunity for mid-career screen practitioners based in North and Far North Queensland to be selected and funded to produce compelling factual television that showcases the tropical delights of this unique part of Queensland — exploring culture through cuisine for eager audiences across Australia.

This initiative is part of Screen Queensland’s North Queensland Regional Program, delivered by Screenworks in association with SBS and supported by Cutting Edge.

What’s the opportunity?

  • The initiative will support three mid-career teams from North or Far North Queensland to each produce a 22–26 min factual television episode, intended for broadcast on SBS Food.
  • Each selected team will receive $35,000 in funding to create a high-quality and unique food story from their region.
  • The program is seeking stylistically compelling projects that share culture through cuisine by immersing the SBS Food audience in the unique stories, traditions and flavours of North and Far North Queensland.
  • Projects could feature passionate farmers, innovative chefs, local providores or foodie families with a flair for sharing recipes and regional produce.
  • Each team will work closely with an independent experienced Supervising Producer, SBS Food, Screen Queensland and Screenworks at all stages of the process from script approval into production and final edit picture lock.
  • Cutting Edge will provide post-production services including grade, graphics, sound mix and credits for each episode before mastering to broadcast standards.
  • Please read through the GUIDELINES and the TERMS & CONDITIONS before completing your online application.

APPLY NOW!

Taste of the Tropics will:

  • Support mid-career practitioners from North and Far North Queensland to find and share factual stories from their local region for intended broadcast on SBS Food,
    Australia’s only free-to-air food channel.
  • Inspire local mid-career practitioners to create bold and distinctive projects that encourage Australian audiences to explore and celebrate the people and culture of
    North and Far North Queensland through the universal language of food.
  • Increase the skills and industry experience of screen practitioners by:
    • facilitating local collaborations that grow industry networks
    • raising awareness of industry standards and acquisition of new skills through exposure to screen industry professionals outside of their region.
    • generating broadcast screen credits that participants can use to build their industry and career profile.
  • Ensure the storytellers and stories reflect the diversity of people and experiences from North and Far North Queensland.

Who can apply?

  • Creative teams must include one producer, director or writer who has a minimum of two ‘eligible credits’ in their respective role. An ‘eligible credit’ is factual content over 10 minutes that has:
    • been broadcast by a recognised commissioning platform or channel
    • commissioned and paid for by a commercial third party
    • had a commercial theatrical release
    • been invited to screen at a film festival in Australia.
  • Applicants can be individuals or teams. Less experienced practitioners may be part of the team, provided at least one key principal meets the eligibility as above. Teams are required to include at least one key creative from an underrepresented background.
  • Applicants must also meet the general eligibility requirements as set out in the Taste of the Tropics GUIDELINES document.
  • First Nations screen practitioners are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to ensuring diverse representation across all aspects of the production and development process, including differences in gender; age; Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity; cultural and linguistic diversity; disability; sexuality (LGBTQI+); and socio-economic status.
  • The project that is the subject of the application must:
    • focus on factual content, stories, and/or characters from the Far North and North Queensland region
    • be under 26 mins in length
    • meet the SBS Charter — it is recommended applicants familiarise themselves with the food section of the SBS website before applying
    • not be advertorial or intended primarily as advertising or marketing material.

Important dates (subject to change):

  • Applicants must be available for the following key dates before applying:
    • May 2025 – August 2025: script development and meetings
    • September 2025: production
    • November 2025 – February 2026: edits and post-production
    • March 2026: final delivery.

What do I need to submit?

Please fill in the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM which includes:

  • a treatment that details the episode outline, the subject, script, characters and creative treatment (5 pages max); see an example treatment from Season 1 by clicking here.
    • pitch video (up to 3 minutes) consisting of:
      • characters and brief story summary
      • themes and tone of the project
      • confirmation of your access to the factual content and characters
      • your team and their past experience creating content
      • what is unique and innovative about your project.
  • evidence of at least 2 professional screen credits
  • current CV for the applicant and all credited crew, including links to previous works (please include DOP and Editor at minimum)
  • an outline budget to indicate how your $35,000 will be spent — download template here.

Please check the full GUIDELINES and TERMS & CONDITIONS before submitting your application.

If you have any questions about this initiative or your application, please contact [email protected] or call (02) 6681 1188

APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY MAY 21, 2025, 5PM

Key links:

Applicant information will be shared with Screen Queensland to assist with the delivery of future projects.

 

 

 

 

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