Screenwest announces inaugural West Coast Visions Documentary Feature
Screenwest and Lotterywest today announced director Tom de Souza’s documentary feature, The Long Road Home as the first recipient of the West Coast Visions Documentary initiative.
West Coast Visions Documentary builds on the success of West Coast Visions, Screenwest’s scripted feature film program that has supported 14 Western Australian made feature films since 2005 – launching the careers of local filmmakers and exporting WA stories to the world.
With support from the Western Australian Government through Lotterywest, West Coast Visions Documentary recipients receive a total of up to $500,000 in production funding for their project.
The Long Road Home follows the life of Western Australian Tom de Souza. From a place of addiction and teenage crime, Tom embarks on a multi-year journey around Indonesia, hoping transformation might be found somewhere on the road. The rich and restless journey ultimately leads back to himself.
The filmmaking team includes Western Australian producer Nick Calpakdjian and impact producer Amelia Hapsari, with Jamie Holt (Garage Entertainment) and Adam Shand attached as executive producers.
Lotterywest General Manager Grants and Community Development Lorna Pritchard, Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall, Producer Nick Calpakdjian and Director Tom de Souza. Credit Ezra Alcantra.
The Long Road Home Director Tom de Souza said “I’m absolutely stoked and honoured to take out this year’s West Coast Visions Documentary initiative. Walking your own creative path is a road lined with risk and self-doubt, and it’s a huge green light of affirmation to know that committing to who I truly am is finally paying off.”
The Long Road Home Producer Nick Calpakdjian said “I’ve always wanted to produce films that build cultural connections between Australia and our neighbours in Southeast Asia, particularly between my home of Western Australia and Indonesia. The Long Road Home embodies that vision, and we’re thrilled that Screenwest has recognised the project’s potential through its support of the West Coast Visions program.”
Designed to uncover, inspire and develop talented Western Australian filmmaking teams with a distinctive vision, the West Coast Visions initiative provides grant production funding for a local director’s debut feature length film that will be made in Western Australia.
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall said “West Coast Visions Documentary showcases the magnitude of talent in Western Australia and provides documentary filmmakers extra support to take their storytelling to new heights.
Congratulations to our inaugural West Coast Visions Documentary recipient, whose cinematic, first-person documentary blends raw adventure with a reflective homecoming to WA.”
Lotterywest CEO Colin Smith said “Lotterywest has supported Screenwest for more than 30 years, to grow WA’s screen sector and create opportunities for local creative talent to thrive.
As the first documentary supported through the West Coast Visions initiative, The Long Road Home represents an exciting new chapter for the program and highlights the continued growth and development of Western Australia’s screen industry.”
Western Australia has long been known as a leader in documentary. This year WA-made feature documentaries Jebediah: Are We Ok? and Hard As Puck premiered as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund program, before their Western Australian premiere at CinefestOZ.
Learn more about Screenwest’s funding and incentives.
The Long Road Home will enter production in late 2026.
The Long Road Home is a Scenic Route TV production. Principal production funding from Screenwest and Lotterywest, and Screen Australia. Local distribution by Garage Entertainment / Madman Entertainment.