Matchbox Pictures, See-Saw Films, Essential Media and Entertainment and Hopscotch were the big winners at the 2011 SPAA Independent Producer Awards.
The awards, held in Sydney last night (Monday) as part of the SPAA Conference, celebrated individuals and companies who have, in the last 12 months, greatly contributed to the independent production industry.
Matchbox Pictures netted the Media Super Independent Producer of the Year award after a successful year, particularly with ABC series The Slap. Producers Helen Bowden and Helen Pankhurst were on hand to accept the award in front of the big crowd.
It was no surprise that See-Saw was announced as the Feature Film Producer of the Year for its work on Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech. Emile Sherman briefly spoke on behalf of the company, which also produced Oranges and Sunshine – the second biggest Australian film of 2011.
Essential Media and Entertainment won in the Television Drama producer category for Rake, while Hopscotch was awarded for Services and Facilities.
Hopscotch’s Troy Lum said over the next six months, the company was on track to bring $100 million of production into Australia. This is through such features as I, Frankenstein, which will be filmed in Melbourne, and Robert Luketic’s Brilliant, which is currently in development.
“Starting the company 10 years ago, we wouldn’t have gotten where we are today without the incredible support from the local industry,” Lum told the packed crowd.
Cordell Jigsaw’s Michael Cordell and Nick Murray won Documentary Producers of the Year for their work on the highly-successful Go Back To Where You Came From. The series, about six Australians who live like refugees for 25 dangerous days, was SBS’ highest-rated show of 2011. Series two is currently in development.
Tassie transmedia company Blue Rocket Productions also took out the New Media Producer of the Year award for their work on My Place series two, while Shine won in the Television Light Entertainment category for Junior Masterchef. Sticky Pictures won for their ABC3 children’s program Dukes of Broxstonia.
Sharmill Films' Natalie Miller took out this year’s Maura Fay Award for her outstanding and continuous service to the industry. She is a pioneer of Australian arthouse cinema and is best known for being the first independent distributor in Australia. See below for the full list of awards.
Meanwhile, the 2011 Screen Music Awards were also held last night in Sydney.
Feature Film Score of the Year went to Snowtown – by composer Jed Kurzel. This was Kurzel’s debut feature film composition, closely working with brother and film director Justin Kurzel.
Screen composer Miles Nicholas netted two awards for Dream On From The Missing Key (Original Song Composed for the Screen) and The Missing Key (Best Music For A Short Film). The latter he shared with Kathryn Brownhill and Jonathan Nix. Burkhard Dallwitz has done it again with another win at the Screen Music Awards, this time for telemovie Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here. Dallwitz is best known for composing The Truman Show and The Way Back.
Sydney composer Rafael May won for Best Soundtrack (Road Train), in which he performed all instruments, from guitars and pianos to massive oil drums. May also scored the original music for Andrew Traucki features The Reef and Black Water.
Other winners included Michael Lira, David McCormack and Antony Partos (Rake), Matteo Zingales (Lachlan Macquarie: Father of Australia) and Christopher Elves (K9: Eclipse of the Korven). See below for full list and photos.
Winners at the 2011 SPAA Independent Producer Awards
Feature Film
The King's Speech, See-Saw Films
Television Light Entertainment
Shine, Junior Masterchef
Children’s Television
Sticky Pictures, Dukes of Broxstonia
Television Drama
Essential Media and Entertainment, Rake
Documentary
Cordell Jigsaw, Go Back To Where You Came From
Services and Facilities
Hopscotch
New Media
Blue Rocket Productions
Breakthrough
Julian Harvey and Enzo Tedeschi, The Tunnel
Maura Fay Award for Services to the Industry
Natalie Miller
Media Super Independent Producer of the Year Award
Matchbox Pictures
Winners at the 2011 Screen Music Awards
Feature Film Score of the Year:
Title Snowtown
Composer Jed Kurzel
Publishers Ivy League Music administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Best Music for a Documentary
Title Lachlan Macquarie: Father of Australia
Composer Matteo Zingales
Publisher Sonar Music Pty Ltd
Best Music for a Short Film
Title The Missing Key
Composers Kathryn Brownhill / Miles Nicholas / Jonathan Nix
Best Soundtrack Album
Title Road Train: Road Kill Soundtrack
Composer Rafael May
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
Title Dream On from The Missing Key
Composer Miles Nicholas
Best Music for Children’s Television
Title K9: Eclipse of the Korven
Composer Christopher Elves
Publishers Fintage Publishing and Collection Australia obo
Resonant Music 1 Limited Partners
Best Television Theme
Title Scariacs
Composer Haydn Walker
Publisher Song Zu Publishing Pty Ltd
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Title Rake
Composers Michael Lira / David McCormack / Antony Partos
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
Title Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer Was Here
Composer Burkhard Dallwitz
Best Music for an Advertisement
Title VW Passat: Change Rooms
Composer Elliott Wheeler
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia*
Composers Adam Gock/Dinesh Wicks
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas*
Composer Neil Sutherland
*Determined by statistical analysis
Winner Miles Nicholas with Sarah Blasko
Winner Rafael May
Brendan Moar, producer Emma Hoy and winner Elliott Wheeler
Winner Miles Nicholas
Winners David McCormack, Antony Partos and Michael Lira
Don Hany, winner Burkhard Dallwitz and Claudia Karvan
Feature Film Score of the Year winner Jed Kurzel
Richard Branco, Ian James, Jed Kurzel, Andy Kelly and Sigrid Thornton