Bunya Productions, the prolific feature film and TV drama production company owned by producers David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin and writer/director Ivan Sen, has appointed Sophia Zachariou as CEO for the group.
Zachariou was, until recently, director of screen investment, engagement and attraction for Create NSW, the state’s film, television and arts funding agency.
Prior to joining Create NSW, Zachariou was deputy head of entertainment at ABC TV where she commissioned and executive-produced hundreds of hours of television across all genres.
Zachariou was the network executive producer on all the satirical advertising-focused Gruen panel series, Kitchen Cabinet with Annabel Crabb, Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey, comedy quiz show The Chaser’s Media Circus, satirical comedy The Chaser’s War on Everything, variety show Saturday Night Crack Up, comedy series Agony, consumer affairs show The Checkout and At the Movies.
She also developed digital formats for ABC’s streaming platform iview such as comedy series Fresh Blood and Canberra Al Desko with Annabel Crabb, which featured interviews with Australian politicians during their lunchbreaks.
Prior to her time at the ABC, Zachariou was the producer of the legendary short film series Eat Carpet for SBS and, as an independent, she produced Australia’s first short-film initiative for smartphones, Micromovies, in 2004.
Zachariou said: “I am very excited to be returning to independent production and a hands-on role. It is a truly great time to be involved in Australian production with the international opportunities now available. Bunya Productions is lauded for its films and programs such as Mystery Road and Secret Country, which have outstanding production values, and I see great opportunities to grow the group internationally.”
Bunya Productions’ David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin at the SPA Awards
Bunya Productions intends to grow a slate of television productions and feature films along with a factual slate.
Producer David Jowsey said: “It is a great coup for the Bunya Group to attract a talented and admired executive such as Sophia, who has deep experience and wide respect within the industry.”
Bunya Productions received six nominations at the 18th annual Screen Producers Australia (SPA) Awards, winning three of them.
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Top Photo: Sophia Zachariou