The Screen Producers Association of Australia will hold its 23rd Annual SPAA Conference, the screen industry’s premier business and networking event, from 12 to 14 November at the Sheraton Mirage Resort on the Gold Coast.
With the Producer Offset up and running, producers are finding new ways to finance and cash flow their productions across all genres. The Conference will focus on some of the ways producers are adapting to the opportunities afforded them by the new initiatives.
SPAA Executive Director Geoff Brown says of this years Conference, For producers to thrive in this new financing environment they need to be entrepreneurial and seek out ongoing partnerships.
A thorough understanding of what is now driving the international marketplace will be examined as the conference presents a number of case studies of high profile businesses that have managed change and succeeded.
The SPAA Conference has expanded Kids Day to include two full days dedicated to social and networking events with a strong emphasis on the business of making childrens television. A highlight will be a Kids POW WOW, with some of Europes most influential players in the business to be on hand to tackle hard questions from Australian producers and commissioners.
Delegates can also expect an expanded version Ready Steady Pitch and a re-run of the successful Comedy Gold.
The SPAA Conference attracts up to 650 industry representatives and key decision makers including producers, directors, distributors, financiers, exhibitors, television network heads, commissioning editors, lawyers and accountants. Of these there is a sizable international contingent from leading media organisations around the world.
SPAA is the industry association for the independent film and television industry, providing leadership and direction on all debates concerning the economics, creative and technological future of the screen production industries in Australia
It strives to create the business conditions for the industry to compete strongly in both local and overseas markets.
The Conference’s Welcome Drinks and Dinner will be held on Wednesday, 12 November. The Asia Pacific Screen Awards will be on Monday 11 November and the Inside Film Awards on Thursday 13 November.
[release from Fran Lanigan]