Executive Producer/Director – Sally Browning

Sally Browning has 25 years experience in the film and television industry in documentary filmmaking, children’s television, corporate productions, TVC and film financing. She also has a background in journalism.

Her award-winning films deal with subjects ranging from socio-political themes, to personal character studies, to pop culture to children’s comedy drama.

Some of these include the award-winning theatrical documentary, The Diplomat, which chronicles the final tumultuous year of Nobel Prize Winner, José Ramos Horta’s campaign to secure independence for East Timor; the iconic road movie, Taking Care Of Elvis; and The Secret Safari, a film about the African National Congress’s most successful undercover missions during apartheid in South Africa.

Currently she is Executive Producer and creator of the ABCMe format series Project Planet, a factual series empowering children to find ways to save the planet through sustainability. Sally is Executive Producer and creator of two seasons of the family comedy series, Drop Dead Weird. This series follows the hilarious antics of an Australian family who move to Tubbershandy, an isolated seaside village in Western Ireland. She also worked as Executive Producer, co-creator and director of the factual children’s television series, Blue Zoo for ABCMe & RTE Ireland. Her most recent project for ABC Me is called This Is Me and showcases 32 extraordinary kids around Australia in five minute TV morsels and themed 4 x half hours. In their own words and worlds the children provide a snapshot of Australian childhoods.

Sally is a former Head of Development & Investment for Screen NSW and a former Investment Manager for Screen Australia. Prior to this she was a journalist working at Channel 4 Television in the UK.

Project Planet – (8 x 24 min) – Creator/Executive Producer (Season 1)

Five students with a passion for the environment have been recruited as Waste Warriors, to lead a sustainability mission at three Australian schools. Each week the Waste Warriors progress their major mission to reduce waste in all its forms whilst being thrown weekly surprise challenges. Commissioned by ABCMe.

The Stickie Gang – (8x 1min) – Creator/Writer/Producer (Season 1)

Hybrid live action/animation series for ABC Education – Eddie, Angie and Mia are three seven-year-olds living on the same street who hang out together as they are learning new things. In each episode they learn about numeracy through everyday adventures ☺

This is Me – (32 x 5 minutes & 4 x 25 min) – Writer/Producer/Director

A bite of life shared candidly, each with a little drama, humour, adventure and energy or wonder and poeticism – 32 episodes about 32 amazing kids – a snapshot of Australian childhoods in 2016. Commissioned by ABCMe

Blue Zoo – (13 x 25min) – Creator, Executive Producer, Director

Teen factual series following four Irish and four Australian teenagers as they come together to train as marine experts at a marine conservation park to work with rescued animals. Commissioned by ABCMe.

Move It (197 episodes) – Content & Series Producer

Managing the writers room and accuracy of content for a kid’s factual entertainment knowledge show, running the studio shoot as Series Producer. Commissioned by Network Nine for Ambience Entertainment.

Kitchen Whiz Series 6 (120 episodes) – Studio Producer /Post Producer

Children’s foodie quiz show – Hosted by Alice Zaslavsky. Managed the multi-cam recording of each episode from content to talent direction. Commissioned by Network Nine for Ambience Entertainment.

Drop Dead Weird – Executive Producer/Co-creator

Drop Dead Weird is a children’s comedy series that follows the hilarious antics of an Australian family who move to Tubbershandy, an isolated seaside village in Western Ireland. The Champs move to Ireland to save the family B&B.

With three ‘fish out of water’ Aussie kids, one kooky Irish grandfather and two recently zombified parents running a B&B in a remote seaside Irish village… things are going to get weird… Drop Dead Weird!

Blue Zoo – Producer/Director

Blue Zoo is a children’s television series which follows eight Australian and Irish teenagers as they intern at a marine animal rescue and rehabilitation centre. Under the watchful eye of professional trainers, the children participate in rescues and learn to care for both healthy and sick marine wildlife. Faced with the challenge of putting on their own show for the public in only six weeks, the rookies must work hard to master the necessary skills to train the park’s adorable dolphin and seal performers.

The Secret Safari (AKA Guns Under Their Bums) – Producer

Documentary about the ANC’s secret operations during the Apartheid era. Co-production with Maxi-D TV in South Africa with eTV South Africa/YLE-2 Finland/SBS Australia/Alliance Atlantis Releasing Canada/Jan Vrijman Fund Amsterdam. Financed by the Australian Film Finance Corporation.

Stranger in the Family – Producer/Writer/Director

Documentary following the progress of a group of children with autism as they participate in a special program of one-on-one therapy that will give them an opportunity to communicate with their parents, and eventually the world. Network presale: SBS Independent. Developed with the assistance of the NSW FTO. Financed by the Screen Australia. Distributed by TVF International and VEA.

The Diplomat – Producer

A film about the contradictions and complexities of Jose Ramos-Horta, the public face of East Timor, during the final tumultuous year of his campaign for independence for his country. Dir: Tom Zubrycki. Developed with the assistance of the NSW FTO. Network presale: SBS-TV, NRK Norway in association with Screen Australia. Distributed by Screen Australia.

Taking Care of Elvis – Producer

A documentary about the phenomenon of Elvis Presley who lives on in death through the annual Elvis Week held at Graceland, Memphis every year. Directors: Katey & David Grusovin. Developed and produced with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission. Distributor: Echo Bridge Entertainment, US.

Staying Out – Writer/ Director

One hour TV documentary following the lives of two inmates over 18 months as they leave prison to return to the society that locked them up. Terry is a 44 year-old armed robber who has spent over half his life in jail. Christie is 26 and the mother of two children and is attempting to win back her oldest son. Network presale: ABC Television. Distributed by Screen Australia.

Calling Young Hong Kong – Producer

Digital video documentary about the youth culture and politics in the lead up to the 1997 Hong Kong changeover to mainland China. Directors: Rachel Potter & Robert Wilkins. Network sale: SBS-TV. Financed by the Australian Film Finance Corporation. Distributed by Emerald Films.

The Christmas Cake – Producer

A documentary about two very old, very tiny, highly spirited Labor Party matriarchs who have shared the same house for almost 60 years. Directed by Katey & David Grusovin. Developed and produced with the assistance of the AFC and ABC. Distributed by First Run Features, US.

Raskols – Producer/Director

16mm one-hour documentary about the youth gangs and their ‘raskol’ culture in Papua New Guinea. Made in association with SBS-TV Independent and Channel 4 UK. Financed by the Screen Australia. Distributed by Emerald Films.

End Violence Against Children – 1 x 60 sec/1 x 30 sec/1 x 15 sec – Producer

Public Service Announcement for the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People (NSW) which was used to launch the 2017 campaign highlighting efforts to end violence against children everywhere.

iCare Real Life Stories – Producer/Director

A series of corporate mini documentaries for the client iCare Insurance – 2-4 minute stories of people who have made extraordinary recovery from devastating injuries and improved their lives through iCare assistance.

HBO Real Sports (US) – Location Producer/BTS/ Diver

A revealing story about the Great Barrier Reef in peril, produced with Bryant Gumble – shot entirely on location on the GBR above and below the water.

Women Heal Women – Producer/Writer

25-minute AIDS education drama produced for female inmates and for the Prison AIDS Project through the NSW Film & TV Office.

Awards

  • 1992 – SPAA Cannes Film Festival travel award
  • 1992 – Ethnic Affairs Commission Award – She’s An Angel (short film)
  • 1993 – Cinema Papers/Qantas Young Film Maker Award
  • 1994 – Heidtman & Co Award – Leichhardt in Love (best unproduced screenplay)
  • 1995 – AFI Nominations: Best Documentary; Best Sound; Best Cinematography    Raskols
  • 1996 – Gold Mobie    Women Heal Women
  • 1996 – Mobie Craft Award:  Scriptwriting    Women Heal Women
  • 1996 – Mumbai International Film Festival – Silver Prize    Raskols
  • 1997 – ATOM award for Best Educational Film – Women Heal Women
  • 1997 – Best Australian Film – Flickerfest Short Film Festival – The Christmas Cake
  • 1997 – Best Documentary – Tampere International Film Festival – The Christmas Cake
  • 1997 – Best Documentary – The Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards – The Christmas Cake
  • 1997 – Rouben Mamoullian Award – The Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards – The Christmas Cake
  • 1997 – Honorable Mention Certificate – CINDY Awards USA– Women Heal Women.
  • 2000 – Most Popular Documentary – Sydney Film Festival – The Diplomat
  • 2000 – AFI Awards: Best Documentary; Best Direction – The Diplomat
  • 2000 – UN Media Peace Awards – Nomination: General Television Category – The Diplomat
  • 2000 – Hawaii International Film Festival: Golden Maile award for Best Documentary – The Diplomat
  • 2000 – Austcare Media Awards: Winner in TV Category; Overall Winner – The Diplomat
  • 2001 – One World Film Festival: Winner Rudolf Vrba Award – The Diplomat
  • 2001 – Nomination – TV Week Logies Awards – The Diplomat
  • 2001 – Best Documentary, Dendy Awards – The Secret Safari
  • 2002 – Highly Commended, Dendy Awards Staying Out
  • 2015 – Nomination – Best Direction in a Children’s Series, Australian Director’s Guild Blue Zoo
  • 2018 – Nomination – Best Children’s Program, IFTA gala awards, Dublin – Drop Dead Weird
  • 2018 – Nomination – Australian Writer’s Guild: Best Screenplay – Episode: Letter In A Bottle – Drop Dead Weird
  • 2018 – Nomination – Australian Director’s Guild – Episode: Mum Loses Her Head – Drop Dead Weird
  • 2018 – Nomination – Best Children’s Series of the Year – SPA Producer Awards – Drop Dead Weird
  • 2019 – Nomination – Best Children’s Series – AACTA Awards – Drop Dead Weird
  • 2019 – Nomination – Best Children’s Series of the Year – SPA Producer Awards – Project Planet
  • 2019 – Nomination – Best Children’s Series of the Year – SPA Producer Awards – Drop Dead Weird
  • 2019 – Nomination – Best Children’s TV series – ATOM Awards – Project Planet