Monday 7 August 2024
Stunning landscapes, incredible produce, and the compelling stories of Southern Forests farmers are set to be the stars of a new documentary series in Western Australia.
In an exciting venture led by the Southern Forests Food Council (SFFC), the region's vibrant farming community and breathtaking scenery will take centre stage in the series that promises to inspire and educate.
The SFFC, representing local farmers and agri-businesses in Western Australia's Southern Forests, has secured funding from the State Government’s Native Forestry Transition Community Small Grants Fund to bring this ambitious project to life.
From Grit to Glory: A Farmer-Led Storytelling Experience
Sparked around the SFFC’s boardroom table and inspired by the passion and vision of its farmers, this series seeks to spotlight the resilience, dedication, and unique stories behind the food that reaches Australian plates.
“This is more than just a television show—it’s a celebration of our community and the incredible effort behind every product that leaves our farms,” says Arthur Wilson, SFFC Chair. “It’s an exciting opportunity to give audiences a true taste of life in the Southern Forests and share the passion and pride that defines our industry.”
The region is no stranger to the spotlight, having hosted film productions like Jasper Jones in Pemberton and a new large-scale project from Bunya Productions on the horizon. But this documentary will offer something entirely new—an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the lives and legacies of the farmers who make the Southern Forests a food lover’s paradise.
Creative Visionaries
The SFFC has appointed a production team to undertake audience and market research, host a writer’s room and development workshop to refine the idea, format, and stories, and then film a pilot episode.
Leading the project is acclaimed Producer/Director Bec Bignell, who will be weaving together the stories of the farmers, their extraordinary produce, and the land they call home. Bignell is supported by a stellar creative team, including:
Nick Hopkins – Development Executive
Georgia Rowe – Audience Producer
Mikey Hamer – Director of Photography
Brooke Thomas – Production Coordinator
"I’m extremely excited to collaborate with the Southern Forest Food Council to develop a television show featuring the people and produce within the incredibly abundant Southern Forest region. Projects such as this, led by regional people, tap into the local resourcefulness and innovation on the ground to bring vitality to the way regional Australia is celebrated on a national and global scale, which is especially relevant at this point in time," said Bec.
"As someone who grew up on a farm and is also deeply immersed in the regional creative and arts space through Rural Room and filmmaking ventures, I’m committed to continually discovering regional talent, building capacity in regional creatives and growing creative enterprise in regional communities. I was drawn to this project as it is led by passionate young farmers and regional people who are keen to co-create a high-quality screen story with industry professionals so they can broadcast their perspective to the world, and in doing so, can highlight the value farmers and regional stakeholders provide on a global stage," Bec added.
Community Collaboration: Sharing the Story of the Southern Forests
A key aspect of this project is its community-driven spirit. Locals are encouraged to get involved at every stage, whether it’s sharing their farming heritage, participating in development workshops, or being part of the pilot filming. The SFFC is committed to making this a collaborative journey that brings the region’s untold stories to light.
The next step? A pilot episode will be created and pitched to marketplace partners, with the goal of securing investment to take this series to full production and distribution. And there’s plenty to look forward to. Stay tuned for a journey into the heart of one of Australia’s most extraordinary food regions: www.southernforestsfood.com.au.
More Information:
The Project Team:
Producer Director – Bec Bignell: Bec grew up on a farm in Kojonup in regional Western Australia and has worked in film and media for twelve years, most recently at the ABC (Sydney) as Partnership Executive. She’s the Producer of ‘600 Bottles of Wine’, Associate Producer of ‘Visible Farmer’ a factual series highlighting female farmers, Associate Producer of ‘Blueback’ a feature film based on the book by Tim Winton. Bec wrote, produced and performed in ‘Homespun’, released on Stan, currently available on ABC iView. She is also an Executive Producer on feature documentary ‘Hard as Puck’.
Development Executive – Nick Hopkin: Nick has been creating content for over 33 years and has many credits to his name as Creator, Development Head, Series Producer, Creative Executive Producer, Television Director and Script Writer. Some of the projects Nick has been involved in over the years include Big Brother 2020, Manager Live Events at ABC, The Great Australian Bake Off, and MasterChef Australia.
Audience Producer – Georgia Rowe: Georgia has a Masters in Strategic Design and has honed her skills in Audience and Market Research aligned with the film and television industry. Georgia utilises industry leading techniques to build strategies and help clients design news, educational, entertainment and lifestyle products and services including the BBC, Virgin Media, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Director of Photography – Mikey Hamer: Mikey is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and multi-medium artist, currently based in Fremantle. His recent work includes serving as the Director of Photography on Season 2 of ABC’s ‘Perspective Shift’ and the indie feature ‘Ugly Carter’, set for release in 2025. Mikey embraces his role as a multi-medium artist, merging various artistic forms with his cinematography and directing projects, focusing on innovative, thought-provoking work.
Production Coordinator – Brooke Thomas: Brooke is a regional screen practitioner based in the South West of WA who is passionate about telling authentic Australian stories and has worked in screen conferences and festivals as the Industry Program Manager for CinefestOZ for several years. Brooke has recently worked as the Assistant Production Coordinator on feature film ‘The Surfer’ (2023) filmed in the South West. Brooke is currently attached as a Producer to several projects including development of TV Series ‘Diamond Jack’ with co-producer Patrick Cullen and director Ben C Lucus.
Production Liaison Officer – Mitchell East: Mitchell is one of the minds behind the Genuinely Southern Forests TV Series Production and is a third-generation farmer in the Southern Forests region. Mitchell also owns and operates his own horticulture business including on-farm processing. Mitchell was born and raised in the Southern Forests region and has extensive knowledge and networks within the farming and broader community. Mitchell will act as project liaison to ensure a strong connection and representation of the local agricultural community throughout the project.
Contact:
Please contact Laura Bolitho on 08 9772 4180 or info@southernforestsfood.com
Website: http://www.southernforestsfood.com
Facebook: Genuinely Southern Forests
Instagram: @genuinelysouthernforests
LinkedIn: Southern Forests Food Council
Southern Forests Food Council:
The Southern Forests Food Council was founded in 2010 by a group of passionate local producers who recognised that the wealth and abundance of produce grown in the region made it perfect for major food production and agri-tourism. Its role was formalised in 2012 after receiving a $5 million investment from the State Government. The investment is part of a $7 million allocation to the Shire of Manjimup for its Agricultural Expansion Project. The SFFC has received a further $725,000 over two and a half years through the State Government to focus on activities and implement strategies that secure its long-term sustainability and enhance the Genuinely Southern Forests brand.
The Food Council is committed to unifying the area’s world-class and diverse producers to strengthen the region’s economy, build resilience, attract investment and export opportunities, promote regional pride, and create sustainable jobs. It represents local producers, culinary and agri-tourism operators who live and work in what is WA’s premier food bowl, aiming to ultimately establish the Southern Forests as an internationally recognised sustainable agricultural region and culinary tourism destination.
The Southern Forests produces over 50 different types of fruits and vegetables, truffles and boutique produce, dairy, sheep, pork and cattle farms, as well as award-winning wineries and exceptional culinary experiences. The Southern Forests region is heavily invested in agriculture, with $230 million of agricultural production coming from the region
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