SCREEN FOREVER / News / 40 Years Strong: SCREEN FOREVER Program Launched

10 March 2026

Screen Producers Australia (SPA) today unveiled the conference program for SCREEN FOREVER 40 (28-30 April 2026), marking the 40th anniversary of Australia’s premier screen industry event.

This milestone edition centres on local and global opportunities, bringing together more than 150 speakers from across Australia and around the world to explore the creative, commercial and strategic pathways shaping the next phase of the screen sector.

Structured around five core pillars - Influence Unlocked, Critical Change, Financial Futures, Creative Acceleration and Market & Audience Amplified - the program examines everything from global collaboration and branded storytelling to industrial reform, audience strategy and craft development.

Introducing the XRAY series, a new part of the program with a global focus, spotlighting SCREEN FOREVER’s Global Connect participant countries which include Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Philippines and South Korea.

Finalists in the SCREEN FOREVER Simpsons Pitching Competition will take to the stage to pitch their feature film projects live to an esteemed jury, while delegates cast their vote for the audience choice winner. The prize is valued at $13,000, with applications open until 22 March 2026.

This year also sees dedicated networking session times built into the program to allow delegates to plan and hold their meetings without missing key conference sessions. There will be more meeting space available including access to the lawn to soak up the sun and get some fresh Gold Coast air.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS BY PILLAR

Influence Unlocked

Influence Unlocked brings together leaders from across the Australian sector to examine the “state of the nation” in State of Play: A Local Lens, moderated by Virginia Trioli and featuring key decision makers from film, drama and unscripted.

Turning outward, State of Play: A Global Lens gathers international film and television sales executives to provide clarity on Australia’s position within the global marketplace.

Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan leads Research & Insight: Building a Future-Proofed Industry, while state screen agencies take centre stage in Show Me the Money: Screen Agency Spotlight. Commissioning conversations continue in Unscripted Originals: Who Is Greenlighting in 2026? and From Commissioning to Connection: Know Your ABC, and following its strong reception last year, Redlight Greenlightreturns with a new spin.

Critical Change

Critical Change looks to the future of the sector. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marksleads Second Act: Reimagining Australia’s Screen Future, in a visionary discussion with Tony Ayres (Big & Little Films), Mark Fennessy (Helium), Rachel Perkins (Screen Australia) and Jude Troy (Wooden Horse).

Industrial reform is examined in Change in Focus: 2026 Industrial Agreements, placing the recently renegotiated agreements under the microscope; and we explore regulatory levers that can be used to strengthen producer rights in IP: Is a Rights Solution the Right Solution?; and AFTRS presents new research in Producing 2030 to help producers navigate business strategies for the near future.

Market & Audience Amplified

This pillar delivers deeply data-informed insight and practical strategy. Jamie Crick (Allied Global Marketing) explores How Can Australian Content Win Next?; Beyond the Screen: Unlocking New Revenue for Production Companies identifies new commercial opportunities; and Data, Story, Impact: Social Strategies That Workprovides clarity around digital and social engagement.

Australia’s unscripted powerhouses examine expansion pathways in Expanding the Unscripted Ecosystem, while How Big Brother Won Gen-Z unpacks audience connection in a competitive market. Unscripted Originals: Who Is Greenlighting What in 2026 opens the doors to unscripted and factual commissioners across the Australian marketplace including Adrian Swift (Nine Entertainment), Sarah Thornton (Paramount ANZ), Susie Jones (ABC) and Howard Myers-Rifai (Foxtel Group).

Global positioning is explored in Crossing Borders: Co-Production Trends Shaping 2026 while Fandom Is the New Audience Strategy, examines how producers can intentionally build passionate communities around their projects with Luke Bateman (author, BookTok influencer, The Bachelor Australia, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here).

Financial Futures

Financial Futures tackles the big questions around revenue. Content strategist Dan Fahy presents the latest Ampere Analysis data in Content Cashflow: The Future of Revenue.

Genre financing is explored in The Genre Advantage: Packaging Indie Films That Travel, while The New Brand Entertainment Playbook: Unpacking RIVALS cracks open new ways of building commercial partnerships.

Sessions including Serving The World: Positioning Your Company for Studio Service Work, Star Attraction: Importing International Talent and Private Investment: Risk Return & Reality examine practical strategies for adapting business models and unlocking new capital. And we put emerging platforms under the microscope in Wait a Hot Minute: The Business Case for MicroDramas.

Creative Acceleration

Creative Acceleration centres on storytelling craft and global ambition. Jub Clerc and Jodie Bell present Universe of First Nations Stories That the World Doesn’t Know, interrogating collaboration and storytelling with First Nations creatives.

With source material increasingly driving development, Option Fever: How Aussies Can Win the Global Story Rights Race examines how Australian producers can compete internationally for premium IP.

In From the Headlines: Inside the DEATH CAP MURDERS, the creative team takes audiences inside the development of a documentary that captured a global media moment.

The creative team behind the hit show take to the stage in Goolagong: How to Ace a Biopic.

Story Development: Please Sir Can I Have Some More brings together commissioners, writers and producers to explore new development pathways, and Play the IP: Bridging Screen & Games delivers practical solutions to connect screen and gaming IP.

In Bound for Screen: Books in the Spotlight, it’s your opportunity to get a front row seat to the publishers and literary agents with hot IP begging for adaptation.

Acclaimed director Justin Kurzel and musician/screenwriter Megan Washington talk about their experience navigating creative careers in Double-Double: Making it As a Multi-Hyphenate.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said the 40th edition reflects both the maturity and ambition of the Australian screen sector.

“SCREEN FOREVER 40 is about bringing the industry together to confront change with clarity and confidence. This program balances creative ambition with commercial realism, ensuring producers leave with practical insight, stronger connections and a clearer understanding of where opportunity lies, both locally and globally.”

Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said SCREEN FOREVER 40 presents a valuable opportunity for screen practitioners to connect, collaborate and strengthen their creative and business capabilities while celebrating the depth of talent across Australia’s screen sector.

“Queensland continues to be a premier destination for screen production. The Crisafulli Government, through Screen Queensland, is committed to growing a strong and sustainable screen industry, with investment helping to support local stories for a global audience and create jobs for Queensland’s skilled crew and creatives.

“Our screen sector plays an important role in the state’s economy and cultural identity, and events like SCREEN FOREVER bring industry leaders together to share ideas, build partnerships and drive the sector forward."

"Forty years of making screen magic and four decades of nurturing tomorrow’s screen talent,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

"This year's conference builds on the fantastic workshops and forums from recent events and has attracted more overseas interest. Through festivals like this, the Gold Coast is forging a reputation as a destination of choice for the industry. Let’s celebrate success and build on the momentum through SCREEN FOREVER 40.’’

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said, “The Queensland Government’s partnership with SCREEN FOREVER continues to play an important role in supporting a globally connected screen industry.

“As our industry continues to evolve at pace, events like SCREEN FOREVER 40 create an important opportunity for the industry to share ideas, challenge ourselves and move from good to great, building projects that are creatively ambitious and globally competitive. I commend Screen Producers Australia for delivering a forward-thinking program and the chance to be part of transformative discussions that will help define the future of Australian screen production."

The event will also see the return of key networking events including the Audio Network Opening Night Drinks, the fast-paced Screenrights Speed Networking Hour, the City of Gold Coast Mayor’s Sunset Social, and the final celebratory event of the conference, the SCREEN FOREVER Gala Party.

The conference culminates in the 24th Annual SPA Awards, celebrating excellence in Australian screen production, held on the final night of SCREEN FOREVER 40, Thursday 30 April 2026.

For full program details and to register for SCREEN FOREVER 40, visit www.screenforever.org.au.

SCREEN FOREVER is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Screen Queensland. 

Principal Partner - Screen Queensland

Major Partner - Invest Gold Coast / Gold Coast Film Commission

Major Government Partner - Screen Australia