SCREEN FOREVER / News / Ireland Connect applications open

16 Nov 2023

Screen Producers Australia (SPA) today announced applications are open for Ireland Connect, the second iteration of the ‘Global Connect’ initiative, and an Australian market first between SCREEN FOREVER and Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) aiming to accelerate co-production and partnership opportunities from 18 March, and for the duration of the official SCREEN FOREVER 38 conference from 19-21 March 2024 on Queensland’s glittering Gold Coast. 

After the success of UK Connect at SCREEN FOREVER 37, SPA aims to provide fresh opportunities for up to 10 Australian producers to advance and potentially finance their TV and film projects through business relationships developed with Ireland-based producers.

Ireland Connect will be a curated and competitive co-production market and part of the SPA Connect Market. The Australian producers selected to participate will be joined by leading Irish screen industry practitioners with projects and business ideas that complement and align with their projects. 

The Ireland Connect delegation will be hosted at SCREEN FOREVER 38 and include specially curated sessions, exclusive events, and bespoke 1-1 introductions to further international relations between screen businesses locally and internationally.  

“We’re excited to host a curated international delegation once again at SCREEN FOREVER off the back of the highly successful and productive UK Connect program earlier this year. Australia and Ireland have an existing co-production agreement, so it makes sense for new business opportunities to be explored and facilitated at Australia’s premier screen industry event,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner. 

“We increasingly understand the need to provide unique, premium opportunities for Australian producers if we are to foster a sustainable and robust screen sector here in Australia. We thank Screen Producers Ireland for their support in bringing the initiative to fruition. We are excited to see how passionate screen professionals from opposite ends of the globe come together to create bold and exciting screen stories for the world,” said Mr Deaner. 

Susan Kirby, CEO of Screen Producers Ireland said “We’re looking forward to working closely with Screen Producers Australia in developing meaningful engagement between Irish and Australian producers. There is a strong link between the two territories, which we hope to leverage with this initiative.”

The Ireland Connect delegation will participate in a curated program of exclusive events commencing on 18 March, the day before the main conference begins, but will also be available for meetings with all delegates as part of SPA Connect.  

Given the exclusivity of the opportunities provided through Ireland Connect, competition will be fierce. SPA encourages all those interested in participating to get their applications in as soon as possible. Ireland Connect applicants from Australia must hold a valid SCREEN FOREVER 38 registration.  

Applicants must be available to be on the ground on Queensland’s Gold Coast from 18-21 March 2024.  

Applications for Ireland Connect close 5.00pm AEDT, Monday, 4 December 2024. More details on Ireland Connect can be found on the SPA Connect Market page of the SCREEN FOREVER 38 website. 

Irish producers will need to apply via  SPI’s direct email link. info@screenproducersireland.com.

More information on SCREEN FOREVER 38 can be found at www.screenforever.org.au, and after a completely sold-out event in 2022 and 2023, delegates are encouraged to register early to secure their spot. 

The full SCREEN FOREVER 38 program will be announced in mid-February 2024.