The algorithm is about to get a delightful shake-up of absurdity with the arrival of CEEBS, a bold new micro-drama premiering on TikTok September 15. Funded by Screen Australia and VicScreen, the eighteen-episode series reflects a global shift towards embracing short-form storytelling as a sophisticated art form in its own right.
At its heart, CEEBS follows best friends Zion and Ruby as they fight to save their youth centre from closure. Between political intrigue, cult leaders and even a missing magpie president, their platonic rom-com unfolds with razor-sharp wit while tackling the real pressures young people face when adults refuse accountability.
The show is co-created, co-written and performed by two rising Afro-Australian talents carving out their space in the comedy landscape. Betiel Beyin, a Melbourne-based Eritrean-Australian creative, brings her experience as filmmaker, performer, and youth worker to the role of Zion. A graduate of RMIT’s film program, she has directed shorts including Triangle of Opportunities and The Rise and Fall of Bobbymaz, and has long been a driving force at Western Edge Youth Arts, mentoring and leading young creatives.
Alongside her, Leigh Lule, a Ugandan-Australian actor and writer, embodies Ruby. Lule’s career spans stage and screen, with credits such as Turn Up the Volume (ABC ME) and a script attachment on Netflix’s Heartbreak High. She is also a producer, facilitator and founder of Ubuntu Magazine, bringing her passion for community and storytelling from Melbourne’s theatre spaces to digital platforms.
Guiding the series is director Harry Lloyd (Neighbours, Rock Island Mysteries), whose trans masc, non-binary perspective grounds the comedy with authenticity and edge. Backed by producers Nikki Tran (Girl, Interpreted) and Amie Batalibasi (Blackbird, Fresh!), CEEBS blends grassroots creativity with industry polish.
As Lloyd notes, “CEEBS authentically reflects Australia back at itself—chaotic, funny, political, but through the lens of young people.” With its unfiltered energy and championing of marginalised voices, this series proves comedy can be both pure joy and a powerful tool for change.
📸 by
@ceebsseries 
