In its 29th year Screen Forever last week played host to both local and international delegates and speakers, consolidating its place as the must-attend event for the screen production business in Australia.
Attracting 727 attendees from 11 countries including an official delegation of twenty one from New Zealand, the conference provided a forum for discussion, connection and partnerships between the who’s who of Australian and industry practitioners across all organisation types, welcoming public, commercial and subscription broadcasters, interactive and games developers, distributors, agents, financiers, lawyers, media, screen agencies and government.
In addition to the numerous informal and impromptu meetings that resulted from the Conference’s networking opportunities, 93 sessions focusing on partnership, monetisation and craft were scheduled over three days to create, build on and develop relationships and successful business outcomes.
Alongside keynote speakers at this year’s conference which included Phillip Adams AO who delivered the Hector Crawford Memorial Lecture; The Walking Dead Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd; Producer of The Lego Movie, Roy Lee; Director of BBC Children’s, Joe Godwin, Mark Scott AO, Managing Director, ABC; Tim Worner, Chief Executive Officer, Seven West Media; Michael Ebeid, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, SBS; and Richard Freudenstein, Chief Executive Officer, Foxtel; both international and local speakers and moderators led sessions that actively promoted business discussion and partnerships. These included the ‘International Partnership Market’, ‘Ready Steady Pitch’, ‘Meet the Buyer’, Masterclasses and social networking events including the 14th annual Screen Producers Australia Awards.
Sixty-four successful applicants participated in the International Partnership Market. Engaging in 321 meetings with targeted prospective business partners, the event provided unparalleled opportunities for Australian producers to foster future partnerships with the 29 leading international film and television producers present, exploring co-venture or co-production opportunities. Australian producers were able to also connect with other key partners such as local and foreign sales agents, financiers and distributors. The Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) joined with Screen Producers Australia in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to further enhance co-production opportunities between the two countries, and to facilitate more creative exchange.
“This year’s Screen Forever has firmly established the event as the major highlight on the screen industry calendar, run by the industry for the industry,” said Matthew Deaner, Executive Director, Screen Producers Australia. “We’re thrilled by the outcomes and feedback we’re already receiving, and expect a number of successful projects and productive business relationships will result directly from the event’s many formal and informal meetings.”
The 2014 conference was held at Crown Conference Centre Melbourne between Sunday 16 – Wednesday 19 November 2014 and featured:
727 attendees
11 countries including an official delegation from New Zealand
93 sessions
29 international speakers
321 International Partnership Market meetings.