For the third year, YouTube has teamed up with Screen Australia to give emerging Australian YouTube creators the opportunity to make more ambitious, longer form content and develop their skills. After receiving dozens of applications for the program, we’re pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Skip Ahead funding (drum roll please):
Brothers Theo and Nathan Saidden, AKA Superwog with their dysfunctional-family comedy;
Kitchen wizards Charli and Ashlee Kelly, who present one of YouTube’s most popular kids-only baking shows, Charli’s Crafty Kitchen;
Adelaide brothers Danny and Michael Philippou who are behind the live action videos on Racka Racka;
Science educator and communicator, Vanessa Hill who explores the human brain on BrainCraft.
The four recipients will share $725,000 between them to realise their projects. Thanks to this funding, YouTube creators will be able to make longer narrative-driven films of at least 30 minutes in length, which can either be one-off films, a series of episode installments, or a pilot for a future idea. Previous Skip Ahead winners such as the Mighty Car Mods, How to Cook That, and Aunty Donna have gone on to reach bigger audiences and global recognition.
Congratulations to this year’s Skip Ahead creators — we look forward to seeing what they’ll come up with next. Watch this space!