Screen Producers Australia (SPA) today revealed one of the most impressive SPA Connect Market line-ups to date.
SPA Connect 2022 has been separated into two distinct events: The Domestic Market taking place in person on the Gold Coast from 28-30 March, and The Global Market running entirely online from 31 March to 1 April.
SPA Connect bookings open at 12:00pm AEDT Thursday 10 March, and delegates will be able to take advantage of 2000+ official networking opportunities, with buyers from Australia, Canada, Europe, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK, as well as local and global production companies seeking co-production opportunities plus commissioners from every local national broadcaster and major streamer.
“After such a challenging few years, we are pleased to again be delivering a domestic and global market that delivers tangible results and outcomes unique to Australia,”
– said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.
“As SCREEN FOREVER hits a 36-year milestone, this year’s SPA Connect Market will distil the best and most diverse and concentrated opportunities for all manner of business to occur and ultimately deliver deals that contribute in a significant way to our industry’s strength and overall success.”
So, which screen industry behemoths will be taking part in the SPA Connect Market, and why should delegates be excited?
Representatives from Acorn TV, Apple TV+, Binge, Netflix, OUTtv, Paramount Australia and New Zealand, Prime Video, and Stan are keen to find out what fresh offerings Australian producers have for their streaming platforms.
With the continued rise of streaming, the role of the international distributor is evolving but one thing is certain, distributors are hungry for Australian content for the small screen. Key global players from Europe, the UK, and the US including About Premium Content, All3Media, Beta Film, Cineflix Rights, DCD Rights, Dynamic TV, Endeavor Content, eOne, ITV Studios, Keshet International, Lionsgate, Newen Connect, Red Arrow Studios International and ZDFE are all eager to connect with innovative Australian content creators during SPA Connect.
Co-productions are now more important than ever, both in terms of funding models and our ability to tell authentic global stories with a local heart. In an exciting SPA Connect first, delegates can participate in a series of 20-minute meetings with executives from some of Australia’s finest production companies including Beyond, Fremantle, Goalpost Pictures, Hoodlum, Northern Pictures, Sticky Pictures and Werner Film Productions as part of the Domestic Co-production Forum. There is no set format for these meetings, delegates can pitch a project they are seeking a production company partner for or simply use the meeting as an initial meet and greet to generate new relationships and build alliances for the future.
Globally, delegates will have the chance to book meetings with executives from a selection of international production companies from the UK, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada to discuss potential co-production opportunities.
Delegates can also discuss their scripted and unscripted TV projects with executives from the development, acquisitions and co-production teams from Channel 4 and ITV in the UK, National Geographic and AMC Networks in the US, RTE in Ireland, plus TVNZ and Sky Network Television Ltd in New Zealand.
Local commissioners representing all domestic broadcasters will be on the ground in the Gold Coast, with the ABC, Foxtel Group, Network Ten, Nine Network, SBS, Seven Network, and NITV all sending commissioners to scout for new projects across drama, comedy, factual, entertainment and documentary.
Feature film is also high on the agenda, with local film distributors including Madman Entertainment, Maslow Entertainment, Monster Pictures, Odin’s Eye Entertainment, Roadshow Films and StudioCanal on the ground looking for the next breakthrough Australian film. Also confirmed are international sales agents from Bankside Films, Cornerstone Films, Level K, Miramax, Universal Pictures Content Group and XYZ who will host virtual roundtables and hear pitches via zoom.
Children’s content will also be a big focus at SPA Connect with buyers and distributors from across the globe in attendance, including APC Kids, CBC Kids, Disney+, ITV Studios, Netflix, Nickelodeon International, WarnerMedia Kids & Family EMEA, WildBrain and YouTube Kids, looking to meet with Australia’s top children’s producers across animation and live-action, from pre-school to teen and co-family viewing.
In another first for Screen Forever, the Publishers Pitch and Market will feature an esteemed lineup of Australian world-class Publishers, Agents and Authors who will be discussing their lead titles from advanced books not yet released to bestsellers and award-winning material.
From one woman’s quest against the dramatic backdrop of the Icelandic countryside to an endearing children’s picture book where an Elephant and Rabbit are best friends to an action space adventure sci-fi for tweens to a crime fiction where secrets and betrayals pile up – the list of books make an incredible entry for this year’s Publisher’s Market.
The who’s who of Australian publishers will grace the stage to pitch these thrilling and engaging lead titles followed by the opportunity for delegates to sit down with them at a series of roundtables, and 1:1 business meetings.
Access to both the SPA Connect Domestic and Global Markets is included in a Gold Coast SCREEN FOREVER pass, and access to the Global Market only is included in a Silver SCREEN FOREVER pass.
SPA Connect bookings open at 12:00pm AEDT on Thursday, 10 March. Places are strictly limited, and access is granted on a “first-in, first-served” basis.
Final Gold Coast tickets are now on sale and delegates are urged to act quickly to secure their place at SCREEN FOREVER.
Link to SPA Connect HERE.
Link to SCREEN FOREVER 36 ticketing information HERE.
Link to SCREEN FOREVER 36 program HERE.
Link to SCREEN FOREVER 36 speaker page including bios HERE.
