Roundtables | Mercury CX

ALASDAIR DOLAN

Alasdair heads up business development and external relationships for the Flame group.

Drawing on his previous life as a journalist and producer Alasdair has the first-hand experience to help producers accomplish their production goals at all stages from concept to broadcast.

Establishing and maintaining relationships with key players such as networks, government bodies, and brands, Alasdair is able to help productions piece together funding from a variety of sources and potentially unexplored possibilities.

Alasdair also manages Flame’s stock footage business as well as the Flame Coproduction Alliance, a network of likeminded producers combining strengths and resources to create international content for the Flame Distribution catalogue.

Working with the Distribution team, Alasdair is actively involved with the creation of new concepts and programme ideas, including the writing of treatments, finance plans, and collecting sales forecasts.

Alasdair also regularly attends broadcast conferences to track new markets and emerging trends, to bring new clients and opportunities to Flame’s ever-growing offering.

GAIL KOVATSEFF

Gail manages Adelaide Film Festival’s programming department, responsible for film submissions, selection and Awards alongside industry development, audience expansion and AFF Youth. A prominent figure in the SA Screen Industry, Gail led the Media Resource Centre and Mercury Cinema for 12 years as CEO, transforming its professional program including introducing the Screen Makers Conference and establishing the cinema as a vital part of the city’s cultural life via launching programs such as Seniors on Screen. Gail graduated university with an on-going love of American Literature and European History.

JOHN MYERS

John is the Executive Manager for Growth at Media Super, the industry superannuation fund for people working in the print, media, entertainment and arts sectors. As your industry fund, Media Super is a profit for member fund, run only to benefit members. Media Super actively supports various industry community groups in professional development, recognition of professional excellence, industry connectivity and superannuation literacy programs. John has been with Media Super for 15 years and and active member and supporter of the creative industries during that time.

DARREN CHAU

1:1 Pitches, Roundtables, TV Format Lab

Darren Chau is the Senior Director of Production across Australia and New Zealand for Discovery Inc, where he is responsible for content commissioning, development and production across multiple platforms for the region. His current content slate includes global hits Aussie Gold Hunters and Outback Opal Hunters, as well as international franchises The Block NZ, Dancing with the Stars NZ and the Masked Singer NZ. In addition to leading the full portfolio of content, Darren has been instrumental in driving the growth and globalization of the local content slate, as well as diversifying Discovery’s ANZ business onto new platforms across both markets including co-creating and launching free-to-air channel 9Rush as part of a joint venture with the Nine Network. Darren has a successful and award-winning background working extensively in creating and developing formats, channel management, content strategy, production, programming, scheduling and digital across all genres for both free and subscription platforms. He also serves as an official judge of the International Emmys, was appointed expert moderator for the Comedy Nominee Panel Session at the Emmy’s World Television Festival in New York and is an elected Member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Documentary, Lifestyle Entertainment, Branded Content

For the Discovery Channel the genres we’re interested in are - tough jobs, motoring, mystery science, off the grid, and precincts.
For our other brands and platforms across ANZ we’re looking for Reality (including Relationships & Medical transformation), Lifestyle, Entertainment, Comedy, Drama, Telefeatures, Factual, Documentary, True Crime and Brand Funded ideally with strong trans-tasman and/or global appeal.

We are not currently commissioning for Animal Planet, Turbo or Discovery Science.

AARON CONNOR

Aaron has over seven years of experience organising workers within the Entertainment Industry, assisting both performers and crew alike - be they on set or on stage or behind the camera and curtain.

PAUL RYAN

Paul Ryan is an Adelaide based Producer and Director whose experience spans the last three decades, working across a range of projects from documentaries, film and corporate projects. Early in his career, Paul produced some of Australia’s most successful children’s programs for Channel Nine.
Independently, he has been an extremely active Producer, often drawn to projects with a strong social conscience or health focus. In the early nineties, Paul managed Foundation Studios, producing over 20 titles on Women and Children’s health issues. He spent three years working for The South Australian Film Corporation as Manager of Government Film, before moving back to an Independent Producer/Director role working for various advertising agencies and local Adelaide Production Companies.
As Owner/Director of 57 Films, Paul works closely with his team to ensure effective storytelling content that connects and engages with audiences. Paul has tertiary qualification in media and education which has underpinned his communication career
Paul established 57 Films to produce high-quality, story-driven content for television and factual series for national and international audiences, including Chef Exchange, a food and wine show broadcast across China and Australia. Paul managed the Australian component of the production of Speed, a 40-part Chinese TV series. Paul facilitates international productions seeking to film in Adelaide. His recent successes include CHS Media’s If Time Flows Back, and Barefoot Through Australia for Berlin-based Schiwago Film. And Produced the theatrical released feature “This Is Port Adelaide” in 2020

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Documentary

● Episodic series
● 20th century history with international appeal
● Popular science and natural history (Human Animal, World’s Most Toxic, Baby Animals
● Factual and factual entertainment with international appeal
● Feature Docs

Yes not looking for Animation

JAM HASSAN

1:1 Pitches, Roundtables, Speaker

Jam is the Executive Producer and a Director at Monster Children Films. Our doors have been open for nearly 20 years. Monster Children Films is the natural progression of what started as a magazine and grew into a community of unrivalled creatives. With offices in Sydney and Los Angeles, we’ve taken this pony show worldwide.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Episodic, Web Series, Shorts, Documentary, Lifestyle/Entertainment, Branded Content

Ideas that are made for cultural entertainment. From environmental series to sports documentaries. Shorts about artists or films about humans and our natural world. Would love to develop ideas that tell a story of a subculture and how we can create an emotional connection for a wider audience. Personally I love humble human stories about people who are moving mountains or anything about the ocean. Anything with heart and soul.

We are pretty open in what we are looking for. Just anything with heart and soul.

LISA DUFF

Lisa Duff’s producing career spans over 20 years. Her feature film credits include producer of feature films Last Train to Freo, Last Cab to Darwin starring Michael Caton and the Academy Award® nominated Jacki Weaver and Unindian, the first feature film financed by the Australia India Film Fund, starring Brett Lee and Tannishtha Chatterjee.

Lisa was producer of the critically acclaimed documentary Sexing the Label for SBS and theatrical release in Australia, The Future Makers for Discovery Channel and a number of short TV dramas and documentaries for Australian broadcasters, including drama Road for SBS and Leah Purcell’s short drama Aunty Maggie & The Womba Wakgun for the ABC’s series The New Black.

Lisa has completed a Masters thesis on the impact of the global film industry on Australian film making culture and has a Juris Doctor degree. She worked as a Senior Production Investment and Development Manager at Screen Australia for 5 years overseeing feature film and TV drama projects and is currently the Head of Scripted at EQ Media Group.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Episodic, Childrens

We are looking for TV Drama projects

VIRGINIA WHITWELL

Virginia Whitwell is a highly experienced film practitioner and producer with over twenty years in the industry. She is the Head of Production for the newly formed Good Thing Productions after five years as Head of Production at Madman Production Company. She has co-produced and produced many scripted and factual projects including That Sugar Film, Save Your Legs!, A Month Of Sundays, All For One and soon to be released feature documentary 2040 directed by Damon Gameau. Hailing from the UK, she has worked on numerous productions all over the world. Her extensive production experience includes projects for Warner Bros, HBO, Lucasfilm, EON, 20th Century Fox and Universal. Virginia is currently producing The Australian Dream, an Australian-United Kingdom co-production with Passion Pictures directed by Dan Gordon and Below, a scripted feature film directed by Maziar Lahooti starring Anthony LaPaglia and Ryan Corr.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Episodic, Documentary, Branded Content

We like entertainment with big ideas inside it. Ideas that can translate internationally also welcome.

We are not looking for children’s entertainment or pure animation (though a doco with animation elements for instance wouldn’t be off-putting !).

TODD ABBOTT

Todd leads the commissioning and creative execution of the public broadcaster’s narrative and scripted comedy programs across multiple platforms. He has produced landmark television programs including the globally-lauded ABC series Please Like Me with Josh Thomas and the iconic Olympic comedy series The Dream with Roy & H.G. Other career highlights include reimagining Geoffrey Robertson’s Hypotheticals for Seven, rebooting Rove for Ten in 2007, and producing Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey for the ABC and the short-lived but fondly remembered Micallef Tonight for Nine. He has produced comedy, entertainment, sport, current affairs and documentary content for the ABC, Seven, Nine, Ten, Foxtel, Stan, Amazon Prime and Pivot, and prior to joining the ABC he was Creative Director at Guesswork Television.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Episodic

Our number one aim is to find laugh-out-loud, half-hour comedy series of 6 - 8 episodes to appeal to the established audience of FTA viewers on Wednesday nights and to build the rapidly-growing streaming audience on iview.

Not looking for short form or web series, and not looking for “the Australian version of…” whatever is hot internationally right now. Be original, or have an original spin on a well-known genre.

TARNI JAMES

1:1 Pitches, Roundtables, TV Format Lab

Tarni is executive producer of entertainment for the ABC, based in Melbourne. She has worked in the industry for many years across most genres and all Australian FTA networks. Entertainment, News, Current Affairs, Documentary, Comedy, Children’s, Factual and sport. An advocate for ‘not waiting for the doors to open” but finding “a window that might be ajar, ” she values creative and innovate approaches.

STEPHEN DE VILLIERS

Stephen is a producer/director who has made more than 20 narrative films. Throughout his career, he is privileged to have worked with some of South Africa and Australia’s top actors, including Ian Roberts (Tstosi), Sean Cameron Michael (24, Black Sails) and Socrates Otto (Wentworth).

An alumnus of the directing program at AFTRS, his most successful narrative film to date, ‘Super Sounds’, screened at over 50 festivals, winning awards and nominations at many, including San Francisco International FF, Giffoni, Flickerfest, and was selected by Virgin for their in-flight entertainment. His broadcast credits span documentary and drama and he is currently in active development on his first feature, with equity finance secured from the private sector.

In a commercial capacity, Stephen has been directing for all screens full time for 12 years, with his work taking him to over 20 countries on five continents.

He recently directed a half-hour broadcast documentary about the life and legacy of Australian war hero and sporting legend, Bob Quinn and has recently completed his latest short, Butterfly, which he co-directed wth his wife, Chloe Gardner and which is scheduled to premiere at the world’s largest Children’s film Festival, Giffoni.

SAMANTHA LAIDLAW

Samantha is the Founder and CEO of Femflix, an SVOD subscription service dedicated to bringing audiences the very best curated content created by women from Australia, New Zealand and around the world. The service is focused on ensuring fair, transparent & accelerated revenue streams for rights holders while aligning with UN Women’s goal to achieve economic empowerment by closing the gender pay gap. Samantha was recently nominated as a Top 3 Finalist for the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards 2021 as an Emerging Entrepreneur.

Prior to launching Femflix in 2020, Samantha worked with Screen Queensland as a Content Director and in 2019 was appointed (Acting) Executive Vice President - Content, responsible for overseeing the management and operations across all funding programs which apply to film, TV, multi-platform and games projects. Samantha has previously worked as a Producer, Creative Executive, and in physical production in the Australian and North American film and television industry.

She produced a feature documentary “Built to Fail” documenting the history of streetwear in America which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival. She has produced multiple short films including “The Boggabilla Bus” winning festival awards and securing international distribution through Flickerfest, most recently being screened throughout ASEON (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) within a program initiated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She’s previously volunteered as proxy to the Chair of WIFT Australia and was also a member of the steering committee of WIFT Queensland advocating equality for all women in the Screen Industry.

SAM MATTHEWS

Roundtables, Screenmakers Conference

Sam Matthews is a director who established her career in the film industry in post-production. She is co-owner of creative production agency Beyond Content and works across a variety of projects as a director, editor, colourist and animator.

Projects aiming to increase the diversity of characters on our screens often consult with Sam. These are opportunities for her to raise greater public awareness of queer and transgender identities. In 2017, Sam directed ‘Unboxed’, an award-winning 6-part documentary series about trans artists for the ABC’s Art Bites initiative.

Her recent post credits include My Name is Gulpilil (2021, colourist, dir. Molly Reynolds), The Rover of Tobruk (2021, editor/animator, dir. Stephen de Villiers) Aquaphobe (2020, editor/colourist, dir. Melanie Easton), Yer Old Faither (2020, colourist, dir. Heather Croall), Damage (2020, colourist, dir. Madeleine Blackwell), Getting Their Acts Together (2020, colourist/animator, dir. Richard Jasek) and Lucy & DiC (2019, colourist, dir. Jeremy Kelly-Bakker).

NOEL MANZANO

Noel Manzano is the Vice President of International Programming at AMC Networks, working across AMC, SundanceTV and BBC America. In this role, he identifies and develop original content with creative talent around the world, and work within the AMC Networks Entertainment Group to move existing projects forward. Manzano was most recently director of development for Hoodlum Entertainment, where he ran the company’s U.S. content development slate and strategy and drove internationally produced projects. Prior to this role, he worked in film acquisitions for iflix, was director of acquisitions for Dynamic Television and served as a creative executive at Sierra/Affinity. Manzano is a graduate of New York University.

NICK HAYES

Nick has spent his entire working life in the cinema industry. Nick commenced with Dendy Icon in 2008, and has had several roles within the organisation including Head of Cinemas. He has also been the Operation Manager of the Sydney Film Festival and worked for Hoyts Cinemas for a decade. Nick is also currently serving on the board of Independent Cinemas Australia, the peak industry group for Independent Cinemas and is the Vice President of the Australian Independent Distributors Association.

MARION PILOWSKY

Marion Pilowsky is a writer/director/producer. Her debut feature film, The Flip Side starring Eddie Izzard was released by 20th Century Fox in 2018. She has held senior positions in both London and Australia in production, financing, sales and acquisitions before shifting her focus to writing and directing.

MARCUS GILLEZEAU

Marcus Gillezeau [Jillezo] is best known for creating and producing high profile projects for film, TV and digital media.

He has won some of the industries’ most prestigious awards including the AACTA Award (Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts), Best Feature Documentary for “STORM SURFERS 3D” and the International Digital Emmy® Award and Australian Directors Guild Award for the all-media drama “SCORCHED”. He was twice honored by Screen Producers Australia for Best New Media and Interactive Producer of the Year.

Recently, he produced theatrical feature documentaries Own the Sky and Living Universe and was EP on Motorkite Dreaming. He executive produced the feature drama NERVE that screened at Sydney Film Festival and Shanghai Film Festival. He has written, directed and produced prime time television in Australia and for major international networks in Asia, North America and Europe.

Marcus is also a successful author of two books “Hands On - Tips and Experiences in All Media Producing”, and “Hands On - A guide to production and technologies for film, TV and new media.”.

Specialising in all-media development, production and delivery across all platforms, he has built a reputation for being at the forefront of digital innovation, production and distribution.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Documentary

Open to giving feedback and hear your fantastic ideas! Mainly interested in hearing feature docs and features.

No TV episodic and online drama

LYN NORFOR

Lyn is Head of Producing and Production at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. In 2020, she worked with the Screen Industry National Taskforce to develop the COVIDSafe Production Protocols for the screen industry. An experienced producer, Lyn’s credits encompass drama and documentary film and television productions. She produced the feature film Undertow (2018) which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Edinburgh Film Festival and Hot Mess (2018) which screened at the Seattle International Film Festival. She is executive producer of Here out West (2021) an anthology feature film featuring 8 talented writers from the western suburbs of Sydney working with award-winning directors Leah Purcell, Ana Kokinos, Lucy Gaffy, Julie Kalceff and Fadia Abboud.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Episodic, Shorts

We are looking for features and episodic series with a fresh, bold edge - stories we haven’t seen and voices we may not have heard much from.

We are not looking for childrens, lifestyle entertainment, branded content

LISA SHAUNESSY

Partner at Australian production and distribution company, ARCADIA, Lisa produced 2067 (XYZ/RLJE Films/Netflix), starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ryan Kwanten and Deborah Mailman, which debuted as the No 1 movie on Netflix (ANZ) and No 2 on iTunes (US), following its theatrical release. Lisa also produced the critically acclaimed Killing Ground that premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2017 (IFC Midnight) with Joe Weatherstone; The Furies (Sitges Film Festival, 2019, Shudder/StudioCanal); AACTA award-winning series Hipsters (SBS, 2015), hosted by Samuel Johnson; Black & White & Sex (IFF Rotterdam 2013, co-producer) and ASC award-winning documentary Slammin’ Sam (Foxtel, 2013). She is currently in post-production on Sissy (XYZ, LevelK & Arcadia), that stars The Bold Type’s Aisha Dee, and co-stars Hannah Barlow who co-writes and co-directs with Kane Senes.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features & Episodic

Arcadia are looking for projects across feature and TV that stand out in the crowd, are bold and present new ideas from authentic voices. We’re genre agnostic, but we love clever horror, sci-fi and thriller concepts. And rom coms!

We are not looking for projects that are derivative of other projects in the marketplace (especially in the horror, sci-fi and thriller space), or the “Australian version” of something currently or recently successful in the international market. We’re also not looking for takes on hospital, crime or cop dramas.

LAUREN HILLMAN

1:1 Pitches, Mentor, Roundtables, TV Format Lab

General Manager Lauren Hillman leads the team at C44 with over 16 years of industry experience. Lauren has had an exciting and varied career in the South Australian TV and media industry working for ABCTV, Channel Nine, and as an independent freelance producer. In 2014, Lauren wrote, directed and produced ‘The Daters’ for ABC which is currently still streaming on iView. Lauren also produced two award winning sold out Adelaide Fringe shows with Annabel Crabb in 2016 and 2019. In 2018 Lauren was named one of Adelaide’s ‘Top 40 Under 40’ business leaders. In 2021, Lauren and her team were responsible for lobbying and successfully securing Channel 44’s free to air licence for three years until 2024. Recently, in collaboration with C31 in Melbourne, Lauren has also spearheaded the rollout and launch of the new national Community TV streaming platform, CTV+.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Episodic, Web Series, Shorts, Documentary, Games, Lifestyle/Entertainment, Childrens, Animation

Channel 44 and CTV+ are looking for short and long form series with ideally a minimum of 6 episodes. We are on the hunt for high quality, locally produced, excellent story telling series. The content can be niche- that’s what Community TV is for. Open to all ideas! Excellent opportunity to test a series on local broadcast TV and online.

Not looking for branded content - Community TV has strict guidelines around sponsorship. We would still encourage local sponsors but not branded content pieces.

LANA GREENHALGH

Lana began working with Foxtel in 2015 after leaving a career in the talent management industry to pursue her passion for television drama. She began as Scripted Production Coordinator working across Foxtel’s scripted production and development slate including Wentworth, A Place To Call Home, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Australia Day, Secret City: Under the Eagle, Lambs of God, The End and Upright.

Lana moved into her present role as Foxtel’s Drama Executive in 2018 where she oversees each current project in Development and Production while actively seeking fresh and exciting projects for Foxtel’s slate.

KRISTIAN MOLIERE

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features and Episodic

We are looking for eatures of all genres that are elevated examples of their genre, that are financeable relative to budget and experience of key creators, understand their audience and have the potential to reach an audience internationally.
For television, we are looking for premium drama content, either limited or recurring series and like features, are elevated examples of their genre.
We predominantly develop adaptations and favour projects with an existing audience already built in. Preference is to work with key creators that have at least one produced credit, with awards and/or festival success.

Not looking for micro budget projects or online projects.

KEN CROUCH

While growing up in country NSW, the opportunity to pursue a career in the arts, screen or cultural industries was never really an option. Sadly, that hasn’t changed much over many decades which now drives me to get out of bed each day and to put blood, sweat and tears into creating more opportunities and jobs in regional Australia.

One month after starting at Screenworks, the Federal Government announced budget cuts which led to the loss of government funding for the organisation. Faced with the potential failure of the organisation, that situation kick-started my entrepreneurial journey to converting Screenworks from a small Northern Rivers-focused association to the national non-profit charity that it is today, delivering programs, initiatives and workshops in regional areas across every state and territory of Australia.

Since starting in 2014, Screenworks’ revenue and memberships have both grown by over 500%, it has delivered over 250 events across regional Australia attended by over 12,000 people. Screenworks is now Australia’s premier regional screen industry and talent development organisation recognised for the quality of its programs and workshops, along with the strong relationships and collaborations it builds with others in the screen industry.

Some of Ken’s greatest achievements at Screenworks include the creation of the Regional Screen In LA program – a two-month international internship providing unparalleled access to Hollywood for an undergraduate or recent graduate from regional Australia – and the Career Pathways Programs that provide tailored professional development opportunities for emerging regional practitioners in the screen industry.

In this role (and roles before this one), Ken has gained a reputation for creating and maintaining strong relationships with a diverse range of industry stakeholders including producers, broadcasters, industry guilds and funding bodies at state and federal levels. In fact, it’s only because of the mutually beneficial partnerships that he has created that so many opportunities for regional Australians have been created.

Outside of Screenworks, Ken has been on non-profit executive boards and advisory groups, and has also mentored many others to help them achieve their success. He has consulted with business leaders and helped provide strategic plans and visions for industries and small businesses in the film & TV sector. He’s also guilty of spending too much time with his dogs.

JENEVIEVE CHANG

Jenevieve Chang is a story developer, writer and actor. She currently a Development Executive at Screen Australia, and was formerly Creative Executive at Arclight Films. As an actor and dramaturg/director, she has worked with The National Theatre, Young Vic and Yellow Earth Theatre in the UK; and Bell Shakespeare, Griffin and Australian Theatre for Young People in Australia. Jenevieve’s book, The Good Girl of Chinatown, was published by Penguin Random House in 2017, and she is currently co-writing a play about a young Chinese boy’s journey to the Australian Goldfields for Monkey Baa Theatre

JONATHAN PAGE

1:1 Pitches, Roundtables, Speaker

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Documentary

We are looking for features generally - lower budget, not genre unless elevated, probably not family

Feature docos - with a clear audience in mind

Good teams

I avoid straight genre films mostly (unless really elevated!)

JANELLE LANDERS

Janelle Landers is President of WBMC, a creative production company with offices in Perth and Sydney, working across narrative and documentary projects for features, television and other screen content. She recently completed Rams, directed by Jeremy Sims and starring Sam Neill, Michael Caton and Miranda Richardson. Other credits include Ben C. Lucas’ feature film OtherLife, and Julius Avery’s Son of a Gun, starring Ewan McGregor and Alicia Vikander. She also produced Lucas’ debut feature Wasted on the Young. With a background in visual arts and First Class Honours degrees in Law and Media Arts Production, Janelle worked as a lawyer and producer in Sydney before joining WBMC in 2006. As President, Janelle oversees development and production for all of the company’s screen content.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Episodic, Documentary

WBMC is open to all kinds of ideas striving for excellence, with a clearly defined target audience and a realistic pathway into production.
Ideas that are made for cultural entertainment. From environmental series to sports documentaries. Shorts about artists or films about humans and our natural world. Would love to develop ideas that tell a story of a subculture and how we can create an emotional connection for a wider audience. Personally, I love humble human stories about people who are moving mountains or anything about the ocean. Anything with heart and soul.

WBMC is not likely to be interested in horror or low-budget genre projects.

JAMES MARSHALL

With a career that covers Film, TV, Online, VFX, VR, Game development, Animation, and a brief stint in state government, James is now helping CDW Studios expand into Animation and Games Production. He is also Managing Director of Golden Age Studios and serves on various advisory panels and boards across education and industry advocacy groups.

Previous roles include Head of Learning and Development for Technicolor, Senior Producer at Start VR, Transmedia Producer for Yahoo!7, Chief Creative Officer at Mudita Games, and various others.

IAN MURRAY

Ian founded 113 Partners in 2012. 113 Partners is a strategic advisory firm that that assists businesses in the creative industries to grow, seek investment, and realise their value. They are strategic advisers to Australia’s most cutting edge creative businesses and bring a wealth of insights, access to strategic partnerships, and on the ground experience to his clients.

Ian is an experienced, hands-on media expert who has had senior executive roles in both public and private businesses including COO of the branded content business Brand New Media and COO of the television production company Freehand Productions.

He uses his in-depth commercial experience to assist creative businesses to plan robust and achievable strategies to achieve domestic and international growth, financial stability, sustainable resourcing, and streamlined operations. He has advised many of Australia’s top television production, broadcast, music, design, advertising, media and entertainment companies as well as working directly with several government agencies.

Ian sits on numerous advisory boards and has a passion for all things digital.

ESTER HARDING

Ester Harding is a screen producer and Head of Drama, at Sweetshop & Green. Her focus is on Australian and New Zealand narrative features and series with international co-production and financing potential. Developing from both underlying IP and original ideas, her ambition is to bring talent-driven, culturally diverse and thematically relevant stories to global audiences.

As a development executive for Screen Australia, Ester oversaw narrative features, episodic and extended reality projects, and the fostering of emerging talent. Prior to this, for See Pictures she co-produced feature SWINGING SAFARI (Edinburgh 2018), produced television pilot REMEMBERING AGATHA (ABC 2018) and served as production executive on Simon Baker’s BREATH (TIFF 2017). Ester’s earlier career was in feature and interactive documentary projects, including I AM A GIRL, THE SURGERY SHIP and CALL ME DAD for Media Stockade; STORM SURFERS 3D for Firelight Productions / 6ixty Foot Films; and AFTER 6/4 for Freehand Productions and SBS.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Episodic, Documentary

Sweetshop & Green is an Australian and New Zealand production company that develops, finances and produces narrative and documentary film and series projects for identified domestic and international audiences – local for global. Our sensibilities lie with culturally diverse stories that have something to say; we are open as to genre and period.

We are not looking for reality or factual formats; features with budgets less than AU$1.5M; fantasy, horror, westerns, comedy (unless the storyworld and point-of-view reflect an under represented voice in the Australian and New Zealand market); projects that feature violence against women, or mass murder.

ELLA MACINTYRE

Ella McIntyre has over 10 years entertainment industry and IP management experience, ranging from television and films to video games. She started her career in Film and Television, transitioning to the games industry in 2013 in a marketing role, quickly transitioning to product development and design. One of Mighty Kingdom’s first employees she has shipped more than 10 titles in 6 years. As a member of the Mighty Kingdom executive team, Ella oversees new product development and steers the company’s product vision.

EDWINA WADDY

1:1 Pitches, Roundtables, Screenmakers Conference, Speaker

Edwina is responsible for assessing and developing all Australian and NZ projects for theatrical release. Prior to this she ran programming and strategy for ABC2 then ABC COMEDY across television and iview. Edwina was previously a Commissioning Editor and Executive Producer for ABC Factual and Documentaries, and spent a number of years with the Specialist Factual Department at Channel Four UK. She began her career working with writers, directors, designers and actors at talent agencies including William Morris Agency UK (now WME), Curtis Brown UK, and HLA Australia. Recently released and upcoming Australian titles include THE DRY, PENGUIN BLOOM, GO!, MISS FISHER AND THE CRYPT OF TEARS, RAMS, THE DROVER’S WIFE: THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON, BLUEBACK, SERIOUSLY RED and UNBREAKABLE: THE JELENA DOKIC STORY.
Roadshow is currently expanding its development slate through early development and co-production opportunities with a number of Australian and NZ producers. Upcoming cinema releases include Go!, Rams, Miss Fisher And The Crypt Of Tears and The Dry.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features

We’re looking for stories with broad appeal for wide theatrical release.

Not looking for Genre/ Horror/ Sci Fi

DAMIAN DAVIS

1:1 Pitches, Roundtables, TV Format Lab

Damian is the Head of Comedy and Entertainment at CJZ, and is responsible for JULIA ZEMIRO’S HOME DELIVERY (ABC), MR BLACK, STREET SMART and SKIT HAPPENS (Ten), LIFE DRAWING LIVE (SBS) and a large development slate of scripted and unscripted projects.
A highly experienced producer and director, Damian has created several long running series and produced shows for all networks. He is a published author with a Masters of Journalism.
His long list of credits include YOU’RE SKITTING ME, SLEEK GEEKS and TWO ON THE GREAT DIVIDE (ABC), THE FULL BRAZILIAN (SBS), RONNIE JOHN’S HALF HOUR and GUERRILLA GARDENERS (TEN). Pre-CJZ they include MONSTER HOUSE and COMEDY INC. (Nine), 110% TONY SQUIRES (Seven) and several series of ROY AND H.G.’S CLUB BUGGERY, THE FAT and STUDIO 22 (ABC).

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Episodic & Lifestyle/Entertainment

Looking for - entertainment & factual entertainment ideas for series. Entertainment formats

Not looking for Animation or Branded Content

CAROLYN JOHNSON

Carolyn Johnson is an award-winning producer of documentaries and dramas.

Her films include Tanna which was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2017. Carolyn’s films have won awards and screened in festivals throughout the world including Venice, Berlin, Busan, London, Hong Kong, Rotterdam, and many others.

Carolyn’s credits include A Sense of Self, A Law Unto Himself, Stumbling in Hillary’s Footsteps, First Footprints, Son of a Lion, and The Last Goldfish.

Carolyn is the Australian Producer of Life in Colour.

BERNADETTE O’MAHONY

Bernadette O’Mahony is an award winning Executive Producer and Producer and is the Head of Content at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation overseeing the Foundation’s development, production and international distribution activities.

Across her career Bernadette has worked on a wide range of genres including documentary, current affairs television, prime time drama, feature films and children’s film and television.

Bernadette’s Producer credits include Crash Zone, Legacy of the Silver Shadow, The Worst Year of My Life, Again! and the award winning series Round the Twist and Mortified.

Bernadette is an International Emmy Award winning Executive Producer who has helped producers develop, finance and produce series including Hardball, Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors?, Thalu, First Day, The Inbestigators, Little J and Big Cuz, Dance Academy, Little Lunch, Ready For This, Lockie Leonard, and My Place; as well as feature films including Paper Planes and Dance Academy – The Comeback.

Bernadette has worked with broadcasters across all platforms from Free to Air, SVOD and Pay Television both locally and internationally and her knowledge and experience in development, production, financing and distribution of children’s television is unparalleled.

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Childrens

ACTF looks for high quality, original and innovative live action or animated children’s series or films that will appeal to an Australian child audience. Projects should be Australian created and led, have an Australian voice and point of view and reflect the diversity of Australian child audience.

Drama or factual programs are both welcome.

We are not looking for game shows. Unlikely to be interested in hosted studio based type of children’s programs.

RUFUS RICHARDSON

Rufus is responsible for the management of Madman’s documentary VOD platform DocPlay. Rufus has a background in film theory and criticism and has worked as a producer, story consultant, script editor, location scout and assistant director. He spent several years in the Netherlands as a journalist/editor and in communications/PR for the Dutch Film Fund. Prior to Madman, he lived in New Zealand where he worked for the New Zealand Film Commission and Doc Edge International Documentary Film Festival. He is a passionate advocate for documentary as a vehicle for social change and social justice and has a particular interest in environmental and music documentaries. Rufus is a graduate of the Australian National University and AFTRS.

TRACEY VIEIRA

Tracey is the Chief Content Officer for Emmy® and BAFTA Award winning film and television production company Hoodlum. Hoodlum operates between Australia, the US and the UK, and has a first-look deal with Disney’s ABC Studios. Prior to Hoodlum Tracey was the CEO of Screen Queensland where she led the organisation through significant cultural change and growth from February 2014 to August 2019. Tracey was named in the 2018 Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence and is the 2016 Telstra Queensland Businesswoman of the Year. Tracey moved to Los Angeles in 2004 where for the next 10-years she took on senior roles at Ausfilm, the industry-government partnership that connects the international screen industry with Australia’s incentives, talent and facilities. Since returning Tracey has launched initiatives for the industry including the first feature film with an SVOD company, a partnership with YouTube, a development partnership with Stan, Australia’s first VR series witha broadcaster and led significant cultural change within the organisation. Tracey also introduced the organisations first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategic Plan and a Gender
Equity Policy to drive change both behind and in front of the screen.

KIRSTY STARK

Kirsty Stark is a television producer based in Adelaide, South Australia, and the owner of independent production company Epic Films.

She has worked in the film industry since 2007, initially as a freelance camera assistant and cinematographer before moving into production in 2012.

Kirsty’s recent work includes producing the acclaimed children’s series First Day, winner of multiple international awards including a Kidscreen Award and aRose d’Or.She also co-produced the 13x AACTA award-winning Stateless with Matchbox Pictures, now screening internationally on Netflix. Her other credits as Producer include Goober, Unboxed and Wastelander Panda: Exile for ABC iview,First Day for ABC ME and the feature filmA Month of Sundays.

Kirsty has presented at SXSW and TEDxAdelaide, and received multiple awards for her work. Epic Films was named the Screen Producers Australia “Breakthrough Business of the Year” in 2016.

BRONWYN KIDD

ARI HARRISON

1:1 PITCHES – WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Format: Features, Documentary, Animation

We are looking for Australian and New Zealand theatrical features and documentaries of all Genres.

We are not looking for TV and Web-based productions.

ANNABEL DAVIS

In her role as CEO at Co-Curious, Annabel has been instrumental in designing, implementing and delivering a number of industry development programs. This includes the Behind Closed Doors program which resulted in feature film anthology, Here Out West, which she produced with Sheila Jayadev from Emerald Productions and Bree-Anne Sykes. She has extensive screen industry experience and a
successful history in creating proposals for key arts and film funding bodies. From 2017-2018 she was the Partnerships Manager with CuriousWorks and prior to CuriousWorks, Annabel spent seven years with the Australian Writers’ Guild, where she played a key part in developing their Pathways Program. She also helped lead the establishment of Scripted Ink, which provides world first development opportunities to Australian writers. Annabel has also worked as a Script Department Manager across a number of Australian and international drama products.

JENNIE HUGHES