Mike Cowap

Development Manager, Screen Australia (Melbourne)

Mike has been a Development Manager with Screen Australia (formerly Australian Film Commission) since 2005, with responsibilities across animation, digital media, feature film, television series, and documentary.

Projects funded and managed have included comedy series Wilfred and Bogan Pride, feature film Black Water, documentary features Words from the City and Bastardy, cross-platform projects First Australians Online and Girl Friday, and many others. He has managed a number of award-winning short animations, including Mutt, (Winner Yoram Gross Animation Award at Sydney Film Festival, selected for Annecy, and AFI-nominated for Best Animation) and Ephemeral (Most Innovative Film, Sydney Film Festival, and selected for Palm Springs and Stuttgart). Mike has also managed special animation initiatives in partnership with Australian broadcasters.

Prior to joining the AFC, Mike worked with animation studio Monkeystack, where he produced 2D/3D animation and VFX for television commercials and shorts, and mobile phone content, websites, and games. Projects included Dots & Diamond, an AIMIA-Award winning online animated game for ABC and La Musica Fantastica, an interstitial mini-series for mobile phone for ABC, SAFC and mNet.

Previously, Mike was Manager of Industry Development at the South Australian Film Corporation.  His remit covered all programs and initiatives designed to help nurture and strengthen the film, television and digital media industries in the State.

Prior to emigrating from the UK in early 2003, Mike was co-ordinator of the short film initiatives and related training at the UK Film Council, the British government's strategic film body.  Prior to this, Mike worked in independent feature film and television production in the UK.  During his time as Development Exec at Picture Palace North he was involved in the feature films Large and The Acid House, both for FilmFour.
Mike has also worked extensively in script evaluation, with clients including the Danish Film Institute, North by Northwest screenwriting initiative, the First Film Foundation (UK) and Yorkshire Media Production Agency (UK).