Opportunities abound at SPA Connect market

29 JAN 2021

Premier of Queensland

SCREEN FOREVER today unveiled one of the most impressive SPA Connect market line-ups in the event’s 35-year history.

98 industry leaders from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, USA, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Singapore are accepting pitches at Ready, Steady, Pitch!, while 107 notable names from all facets of the screen sector are hosting Screenrights Roundtables. In total, this represents over 1,400 opportunities for delegates to sell their content and production services. 

Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said that Australian content made for global audiences is in high demand, as evidenced by the number of producers, distributors and broadcasters eager to connect with local filmmakers.  

“As Principal Partner with the Queensland Government, Screen Queensland is proud to be supporting SCREEN FOREVER and its SPA Connect program as an ideal platform for many of our talented screen practitioners to pitch their story ideas and collaborate with content decision makers from around the world,” Ms Munnich said.

“After the challenges of 2020, we were adamant that SCREEN FOREVER had to deliver real business outcomes for the screen sector,” said Screen Producers Australia (SPA) CEO Matthew Deaner.

“I am confident this strong market will deliver opportunities for Australian producers to secure production, financing, broadcast and distribution deals which will drive revenue for the local creative economy and elevate the position of Australian content on the world stage.” 

So, who are these leading luminaries joining SPA Connect's first online offering? On the domestic front, the broadcasters are showing up in force, with Foxtel, Seven Network, Nine Network, Network Ten, ABC, SBS and NITV all sending commissioners to scout for new projects across drama, comedy, factual, entertainment and documentary. 

Local production companies also have boots on the (digital) ground, with Matchbox Pictures, Every Cloud Productions, Easy Tiger Productions, Hoodlum Entertainment, Jungle Entertainment, Lingo Pictures, See Pictures - and many more – all involved in Ready, Steady, Pitch!.

On the international front, there’s something for everyone. For those with a passion for feature film, distributors and sales agents from Working Title Films, Arclight Fims, Cornerstone Films, Flame Distribution, Embankment Films, The Reset Collective and Protagonist Pictures are all taking part. The local cinemascape is well covered too, with representatives from Roadshow Films, Monster Pictures, Sony Pictures, Transmission Films and StudioCanal in attendance.

For delegates focused on the small screen, international distributors from About Premium Content, All3Media, Lionsgate, eOne, DCD Rights, A&E, Cineflix Rights, Red Arrow Studios and ZDF Enterprises are all locked in and on the lookout for Australian series.

Screen professionals looking to connect with the big US agents and discuss packaging their projects can book in with WME, CAA, The Gersh Agency, Endeavor Content and UTA, while producers keen to explore co-production opportunities in Canada and New Zealand are encouraged to book with CBC, Telefilm Canada, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and SPADA to learn more about the co-production environments, tax offsets and filming opportunities available in both countries. 

Last but certainly not least, kids producers are spoilt for choice with ACTF, HBO Max, Peacock, CBC, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Kidoodle.TV, Cartoon Network, WarnerMedia Kids, Amazon and Sky UK all lined up to accept pitches, in addition to publishers and literary agents showcasing the best unproduced children’s book at SCREEN FOREVER’s brand new Kids Publishers Market. 

Want to get involved? Access to the SPA Connect market is included in a Silver Pass to SCREEN FOREVER. The market opens for booking requests at 12:00PM AEDT on Monday, 1 February. Places are limited. Access is strictly on a “first in, first served” basis. All Silver Pass holders will be emailed a direct link to submit their booking requests. Register for a Silver Pass here to ensure you don’t miss out.