Voices of the future: Digital Originals ushers in the next wave of unique Australian storytellers

SBS Australia

22-05-2025

L-R: Warm Props, Moonbird and Moni. Premiering weekly from Thursday 19 June on National Indigenous Television (NITV) and SBS On Demand, SBS's award-winning Digital Originals initiative returns with three daring new scripted series from emerging screen creatives. From boundary-pushing First Nations storytelling to a genre-bending queer Pasifika led series, this year's Digital Originals showcase real, restless and innovative stories from creatives making waves in the industry with their fresh takes on identity, culture, and community. A trailblazing partnership between SBS, NITV, and Screen Australia, Digital Originals is central to SBS's commitment to championing diverse storytellers both in front and behind the camera. The initiative supports the development of rising talent who are under-represented in the sector including those who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), First Nations, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTIQ+, and creatives based in regional and remote areas. Digital Originals has proven itself as an effective pathway for creators to advance their skills and generate interest from local and international markets. It also encapsulates how SBS is unafraid to go there when it comes to amplifying new voices in the screen landscape, with the initiative serving as a launchpad for the careers of trailblazers like Dylan River (Thou Shalt Not Steal, Mystery Road: Origin), Stevie Cruz Martin (Safe Home), Corrie Chen (New Gold Mountain, Bad Behaviour), Mohini Herse (Four Years Later) and more. SBS's phenomenal, brand-new, 2025 Digital Originals line-up features two cutting-edge First Nations productions, co-commissioned by NITV, and a distinctive queer Pasifika-Australian story:
Moonbird was one of only eight projects worldwide to be featured in the Short Forms Competition at Series Mania in 2025. It is a co-production between the first-ever Tasmanian Aboriginal screen production company, Kutikina Productions, and Sheoak Films. Produced by Catherine Pettman and Adam Thompson, the series explores the relationship between a recently sober father (Kyle Morrison) and his son (Lennox Monaghan; Deadloch , Windcatcher ) who attempt to reconnect through a traditional muttonbirding season on a remote Tasmanian island. It is co-created, and co-written by Nathan Maynard, and co-created and co-written by Adam Thompson. Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with support from Screen Tasmania. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia, SBS and Screen Tasmania. Moonbird premieres Thursday 19 June at 8.30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand.
Warm Props takes audiences behind the scenes with Charlie (Tehya Makani), who returns to a chaotic film shoot in her hometown in Western Australia and must then face her past as her narcissistic boss threatens the stability of her career and personal life. The heartening series is brought to life by acclaimed creator and writer Jub Clerc ( Mystery Road: Origin , Sweet As ), co-writer Kimberly Benjamin ( Our Medicine , Big Backyard Quiz ), directed by Clerc and Benjamin, and produced by Jodie Bell for Ramu Productions. It also stars Rarriwuy Hick ( True Colours , Erotic Stories , Wentworth, Redfern Now ) and Jillian Nguyen ( Apple Cider Vinegar, Hungry Ghosts ). Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and SBS. Warm Props premieres Thursday 26 June at 8:30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand.
In Moni, a gay Samoan man must reluctantly work out why his dead mother has unexpectedly plummeted from the heavens, and in doing so, learn to embrace his own truth. Led by creator, writer, and showrunner Taofia Pelesasa, director Alana Hicks, producer Nicole Coventry and executive producer Eliorah Malifa with Pelesasa Pics, the series stars Chris Alosio ( Talk To Me ). Principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with SBS, with support from Screen NSW. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and SBS. Moni premieres Thursday 3 July at 8:30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand. Episodes air weekly at NITV starting Thursday 3 July at 8:30pm. SBS Head of Scripted, Nakul Legha, said: 'Digital Originals is the only initiative of its kind globally and remains unmatched in its ambition, impact, and proven track-record as a launch-pad for the careers of emerging Australian storytellers from under-represented communities. 'As SBS celebrates its 50th anniversary, these bold new series embody our 'We Go There' ethos: delivering unapologetically authentic and entertaining stories from across Australia . Each production is a testament to the essential role SBS plays in Australia's cultural landscape, and we're thrilled to share them with our audiences.' Recent Digital Originals successes include 2023's Night Bloomers with creator Andrew Undi Lee winning an Australian Writers' Guild Award for Best Web Series, and Appetite which was selected as one of 10 series in the Short Form Competition at Canneseries 2023, and was also nominated for a Rose d'Or. In 2022, Latecomers won the 2024 AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy and was also featured in the Short Forms Competition at Series Mania in 2023. Alumni of Digital Originals have gone on to secure key creative roles across SBS Original drama series and elsewhere in the industry, including Mohini Herse ( Appetite ) who became set-up Director for SBS Original Four Years Later , producer Liam Heyen ( Latecomers, Erotic Stories ), director Madeleine Gottlieb ( Latecomers, Erotic Stories ), actress and activist Hannah Diviney ( Latecomers ), Stevie Cruz-Martin ( The Tailings , Safe Home ), as well as Corrie Chen and Michelle Law ( Homecoming Queens ), and Dylan River ( Robbie Hood ) . Digital Originals is one of many initiatives delivered by SBS designed to improve inclusion in the screen industry. Read more about this work here . All three Digital Originals series will be subtitled on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Check out the Digital Originals collection at SBS On Demand's We Go There Hub a variety of curated collections that embody the bold spirit of SBS's cheeky new brand campaign. Each of the three Digital Originals series will premiere in full weekly from Thursday 19 June at 8.30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand
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