Highly experienced UK film executive Sally Caplan has been named Screen Australia's head of production, which combines development and production investment.
Caplan replaces Ross Matthews, who is stepping down as head of production investment, and head of development Martha Coleman, who is joining Goalpost Pictures. Both depart the agency at the end of the year. Matthews intends to take a break before he returns to independent production.
A former entertainment lawyer, Caplan worked with Screen Australia’s new CEO Graeme Mason for five years from the mid-1990s at Polygram Filmed Entertainment and at Universal, where she was senior VP, worldwide acquisitions.
She has worked as a consultant in the UK since June after leaving eOne where she was managing director of international film sales operations.
Sally headed the UK Film Council’s premiere fund for five years until 2010, responsible for funding and overseeing the production from script stage of more than 45 films, including The King’s Speech, Miss Potter, The Guard and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Among other films she nurtured are Brighton Rock, Tamara Drewe, Another Year, Happy-Go-Lucky, Death Defying Acts, Tracker, Made in Dagenham, Harry Brown and Nowhere Boy.
Before that she was president of Icon Film Distribution UK. She also worked for Momentum Pictures. She’ll start at Screen Australia in late January or early February.
Separately, Jane Supit has been named as the agency’s head of legal services, having acted in the role, seconded from the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) since August. Before that she practised in commercial law specialising in technology and ICT projects.
“I’m delighted to welcome both Sally Caplan and Jane Supit to the senior leadership team at Screen Australia,” said Mason. “Sally is a highly respected and seasoned veteran in the international film industry whose roles have covered all aspects of the business from creative to commercial. Her tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise is a huge asset to Screen Australia. Having spent five years in a similar role at the UK Film Council, she has been extremely successful in combining her strong creative, commercial and business acumen within a government body.
“Jane has a great breadth of experience in working within a government framework and her solid commercial experience and specialist knowledge in intellectual property issues in the area of information communication technology will be invaluable to Screen Australia as the screen industry increasingly moves to multi-platform format.”