Press release from SPAA
The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) has confirmed the first of its international guest speakers, Joe Matukewicz of Relativity Media and Bart Walker from Cinetic Media, for their annual Conference which will run from 13 to 16 November at the Hilton in Sydney.
Joe Matukewicz, VP, World Acquisitions, Relativity Media, a leading US independent film production and investment company, was recently appointed to a newly created role within the company. He will serve as the head of acquisitions and work with the Relativity production team to evaluate projects for acquisitions and production for the progressive studio.
Matukewicz is renowned for his “great commercial and critical instincts” in acquiring films of various genres. The worldwide acquisition business is acknowledged as being more entrepreneurial than ever and Relativity is “uniquely poised” to aggressively acquire films at any stage from packaging to finished films.
Matukewicz is former vice-president of acquisitions and co-productions for Paramount Vantage and Paramount Worldwide Acquisitions Group. He started in the entertainment industry at Mandalay Pictures under former Sony Pictures Chairman Peter Guber.
Bart Walker, Partner with Cinetic Media is a long-time film agent, who has joined with co-founders, John Sloss and Robert Nathan on the partnership of a newly created talent management division, Cinetic Management. Walker shares a vision with his partners of how to create a new model for indie film financing and distribution. As a film agent representing film writers, directors and financiers, he worked with ICM, one of the world’s largest talent agencies, as head of its motion picture department. Walker was CAA’s top New York agent before joining Cinetic Media. During his time at CAA his client list included Sofia Coppola, John Turturro, Jim Jarmusch, to name just a few.
Walker will represent clients in the newly created management division, which assembles financing and film packages for filmmakers and investors.
The SPAA Conference attracts up to 700 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 sizeable international contingent from leading media organizations around the world.