Debra Richards.
Newly-anointed Netflix director production policy for the APAC region Debra Richards will be joining New Zealand’s SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand) conference in November.
SPADA 2019 will be held at Auckland’s Aotea Centre across November 20-21 and will be officially opened by New Zealand’s Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, the Hon Kris Faafoiand.
Richards, a veteran of the Australian screen industry will bring her 30 year experience working with Ausfilm, ASTRA and the ABC to the conference. The event will mark the former Ausfilm CEO’s first public New Zealand address since joining Netflix in early September.
Special international speaker Simon Crawford Collins, the founder of UK drama production house Slim Film & TV will also take stage, joining the international guest speaker list led by headliner, Orange is the New Black showrunner Jenji Kohan.
Slim Film & TV is currently working with the Seven Network and three European broadcasters on the high budget adventure remake of the Jules Verne classic Around the World in 80 Days.
Simon Crawford.The co-production had been commissioned by the Alliance, a new partnership formed by leading European pubcasters France Television, Germany’s ZDF and Italy’s Rai. Slim Film + Television and Federation Entertainment are co-producing the show in association with 247 Films.
Crawford Collins has been spearheading the project’s development which is being run by Ashley Pharoah, known for Life on Mars.
The addition of Debra Richards and Simon Crawford Collins to the SPADA conference this year are incredibly timely and exciting inclusions for the industry. We’re delighted to have their collective wealth of experience on board,” SPADA executive director Sandy Gildea said.
Crawford Collins was formerly joint MD of Kudos, which is behind multi-award winning, international series Spooks, Hustle and Ashes to Ashes. During his time at Kudos he served as producer and head of drama. He launched his own drama vehicle Slim Film & TV in 2011.