Screen Producers Australia has confirmed its international executive lineup for the Screen Forever 2015 International Partnership Market.
This year's lineup will include International Drama Commissioner, UK broadcaster Channel 4, Simon Maxwell; Voltage Pictures’ Vice President, Acquisitions and Development, Babacar Diene (US); A24 Chief Operating Officer Matthew Bires (US); All3 Media International Head of Acquisitions, Maartje Horchner (UK); and Acquisitions Executive Emily Gotto from international sales company Protagonist (US).
The Screen Forever International Partnership Market takes place during Screen Forever 2015 conference, which runs from November 17-19 at the Crown Conference Centre in Melbourne.
Screen Producers Australia Chief Executive Matthew Deaner said he was delighted to have such highly regarded executives participating.
"Each brings with them outstanding experience in developing and overseeing critically and commercially successful productions for film and television around the world," he said.
“Through Screen Forever and the International Partnership Market, the international participants, along with those still to be announced, provide real opportunities for Australian producers to develop creative partnerships with effective global business outcomes.”
Maxwell is Head of International Drama at Channel 4 where he helped to launch Humans, the channel’s first international drama co-production with AMC, which achieved record ratings.
As Head of Drama and Comedy at Red Arrow Entertainment, Maxewell launched the Red Arrow Group’s UK scripted operation where he specialised in developing and producing drama for the international market and Executive Produced the international thriller Odyssey, picked up as a 13-part series for NBC. Previously Simon was Head of Film & TV at indie Greenroom Entertainment where he ran a slate that included crime drama Rogue for DirecTV and he Executive Produced the BBC Sitcom Off the Hook and the feature film Killing Bono, for which he co-wrote the screenplay.
Babacar Diene is currently Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, at international finance, production and distribution company Voltage Pictures (The Hurt Locker, Dallas Buyers Club). Since joining Voltage in 2012, Diene has been closely involved in several exciting, upcoming projects, including the feature films Fathers & Daughters starring Russell Crowe; Amanda Seyfried and Aaron Paul; Pay The Ghost starring Nicolas Cage; and Good Kids among others. Previously, Diene was Vice President, Acquisitions & Apsara Distribution at IM Global, as well as holding positions at Icon Entertainment International and GreenseStreet Films International.
Matthew Bires co-founded A24 in 2012 with partners Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges. He serves as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all aspects of operations, finance, business development and strategy. Prior to A24, Bires worked as an investment professional at global financial services firm Guggenheim Partners. Bires graduated from Amherst College with a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish.
Maartje Horchner is an international television distribution professional, who specialises in program acquisitions. She has over 15 years of experience in the TV industry. Maartje’s background is in entertainment and factual production as she started her career at leading Dutch Producer IDTV. She moved to the UK in 2001 where she continued her career by working in acquisitions for independent distributor Chrysalis Distribution and now heads up the Acquisitions department at ALL3MEDIA International, where she leads the international assessment of the Drama, Factual, Factual Entertainment, Format and Comedy genres. Maartjie has excellent producer relationships with a wide range of independent producers across all genres and around the world.
Emily Gotto began her career in Dublin specialising in independent production and distribution for companies Fastnet Films, Blinder Films and Treasure Entertainment before relocating to Los Angeles to join Occupant Entertainment. Moving back to London in 2012 and joining international sales company Protagonist Pictures as Acquisitions Executive she has been involved in successful projects including The Lobster (Jury Prize Winner Cannes International Film Festival 2015) starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz and John C, Reilly, Testament of Youth starring Alicia Vikander and Kit Harrington and the critically acclaimed ’71 starring Jack O’Connell. Commercially minded and creatively spirited, Protagonist is committed to strong relationships with filmmakers, investors and distributors. Protagonist Pictures shareholders include Film 4, Vertigo Films and Ingenious Media.
Screen Producers Australia has worked closely in developing appropriate partnership opportunities for participating producers through the International Partnership Market with Screen Australia and Ausfilm who are major sponsors of the International Partnership Marke