Screen Australia and Australians in Film (AiF) have announced the recipients for Talent Gateway and the Global Producers Exchange, two joint initiatives to support established Australian creatives in an increasingly global market by connecting them with key US decision makers and expanding their skills.
Supporting Partners for these industry development programs are Screen NSW, Film Victoria, South Australian Film Corporation and Scripted Ink. Industry Partners are Australian Directors’ Guild, Australian Writers’ Guild, Screen Producers Australia, Screen Canberra, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest and Screenworks.
Screen Australia chief executive officer Graeme Mason said, “We congratulate the successful applicants for both programs, and we look forward to supporting them as they continue to build on their already impressive careers. We received a high volume of applications and this reflects both the breadth of talent we have in Australia and the appetite from Australian screenwriters, directors and producers to connect with the epicenter of the global screen market – Hollywood – and build their reputations internationally.
“With the support of additional Federal Government funding, these programs, along with UNTAPPED, allow us to offer invaluable professional and business development opportunities to these participants, connecting them with influential decision makers via roundtables, individualised mentorships and masterclasses, and ensure our projects are globally competitive.
“Our continued partnership with AiF will ensure Australian screen talent and culture is championed in the US and creates a trusted pipeline for world-class projects and collaboration between Australian creatives and Hollywood decision makers, creatives and executives.”
Australians in Film executive director Peter Ritchie said, “The thirst for entertaining and quality content continues unabated internationally. The excitement of finding a new voice, series or film is what motivates us all at AiF, and we are thrilled to be working with Screen Australia, and all our national, state and territory partners, in delivering these programs to connect leading Australian screen creatives and the US industry.”
Talent Gateway provides Australian screenwriters and directors, who have had some success either internationally or in Australia, with the skills, knowledge, access, and relationships necessary to succeed further in the global market. The program aims to attract US support, investment and partnerships for Australian content and careers.
The Talent Gateway recipients are:
Vanessa Alexander
Jon Bell
Alice Foulcher and Gregory Erdstein
Naomi Higgins and Humyara Mahbub
Elise McCredie
Samuel Van Grinsven
Global Producers Exchange provides Australia’s leading scripted producers the skills, knowledge, access and relationships necessary to succeed in the global market and to attract foreign investment and marketplace partnerships for Australian scripted content. The exchange aims to give Australian IP and cultural stories the opportunity to be developed with internationally based collaborators who possess a global outlook and a proven track record of success with international audiences, and to help position projects for success in the global market.
The Global Producers Exchange recipients are:
Blackfella Films – Darren Dale and Erin Bretherton
Causeway Films – Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings
Closer Productions – Bec Summerton and Sophie Hyde
GoodThing – Nick Batzias and Virginia Whitwell:
Jungle Entertainment – Jason Burrows and Chloe Rickard
Wooden Horse – Jude Troy and Matt Okine
Top Image: Vanessa Alexander, Jon Bell, Elise McCredie