Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) have revealed the practitioners for this year’s Talent Gateway and the Global Producers Exchange programs.
Jub Clerc, Gemma Bird Matheson, Brendan Fletcher, Julie Kalceff, Monica Zanetti, and Danny and Michael Philippou will take part in the Talent Gateway, designed to provide Australian screenwriters and directors with the skills, knowledge, access, and relationships necessary to succeed further in the global market.
Representatives from six production companies will take part in the Global Producers Exchange, which aims to give Australian IP and cultural stories the opportunity to be developed with internationally based collaborators, so they may be able to attract foreign investment and marketplace partnerships.
The contingent includes Amplify’s Michelle Melky and Tom Maynard, Easy Tiger’s Ian Collie and Rob Gibson, Epic Films’ Kirsty Stark, Ludo Studio’s Charlie Aspinwall and Daley Pearson, Magpie Pictures’ Lois Randall and Ivy Mak, and Princess Pictures.
In congratulating the recipients, Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said his agency was pleased to support another crop of creatives to build their networks in North America and gain opportunities to advance their projects and careers.
“In such a global market we’re passionate about cultivating a strong pipeline of Australian screen projects and talent to gain exposure in the US, and leverage opportunities to reach international audiences and create strategic international alliances,” he said.
“This program also creates an important pathway for Australian IP to be developed with internationally based collaborators who can help give ideas a global outlook.”
Australians in Film executive director Peter Ritchie agreed, noting the development of Australian talent and stories, and the subsequent execution of content needs to be world-class “more than ever” to attract finance and to find an audience, both at home and abroad.
“AiF shares a passion with Screen Australia for our stories to travel internationally, and cannot wait to start working with these incredibly talented Australian content creators and matching them with our respected and highly connected US partners,” he said.
Supporting Partners for these industry development programs are Screen NSW, VicScreen, South Australian Film Corporation, and Scripted Ink. Industry Partners are the Australian Directors’ Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild, Screen Producers Australia, Screen Canberra, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest, and Screenworks.