Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has congratulated all of its members who were honoured at the 20th SPA Awards on the final night of the Screen Forever conference.
Nineteen screen professionals and production businesses took home a SPA Award.
Northern Pictures took home the night’s major award – the Media Super Production Business of the Year Award, as well as two others – acknowledging their recent work across multiple genres including scripted, children’s television, factual and documentary, with a diverse slate including Life on the Reef, Love on the Spectrum and See What You Made Me Do.
The ABC’s head of drama, entertainment and Indigenous, Sally Riley, took home the inaugural Commissioner of the Year Award for her continuing career championing diverse programming, and Bob Campbell was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award noting his career as one of Australia’s most prolific and successful producers.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich congratulated all nominees and winners, including local Queensland winners Ludo Studio and Orange Entertainment.
“Every year, the SPA Awards are an acknowledgement of Australian screen industry excellence, uplifting diverse, locally-made productions with cultural impact and worldwide reach. Alongside the Queensland Government as Principal Partners, Screen Queensland is proud to have brought Screen Forever back to the Gold Coast — a globally renowned screen industry hub and a dazzling setting for the celebrations,” said Munnich.
“SPA members continuously raise the global bar for creativity and skilful producing, and tonight that talent was on full show. The task at hand is storytelling, and the winners of our 2022 Awards take this task seriously. They understand the significance of their work and the contribution it makes to the Australian economy, generating jobs for local creatives, and showcasing Australia and its unique heritage to millions around the world,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.
The Ludo Studio team are going to need a bigger trophy cabinet
2022 SPA Awards winners
Animated Series Production of the Year – Kangaroo Beach, Cheeky Little
Children’s Series Production of the Year – Bluey (Season 2), Ludo Studio
Comedy Program or Series Production of the Year – Fisk, Porchlight Films
Documentary Program or Series Production of the Year [Tie] – Old Peoples Home For 4-Year-Olds (Season 2), Endemol Shine Australia & See What You Made Me Do, Northern Pictures
Drama Series Production of the Year – The Newsreader, Werner Film Productions
Feature Documentary Production of the Year – Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra, In Films
Feature Film Production of the Year – High Ground, Maxo Studios, Bunya Productions & Savage Films
Gogglebox executive producer David McDonald
Light Entertainment Series Production of the Year – Gogglebox (Season 13), Endemol Shine Australia
Online Series Production of the Year – The Tailings, The Two Jons
Reality Series Production of the Year – Love on the Spectrum, Northern Pictures
Short Film Production of the Year – You and Me, Before and After, Mad Ones Films
Telemovie or Mini-Series Production of the Year [Tie] – A Sunburnt Christmas, Every Cloud Productions & Stateless, Matchbox Pictures
Breakthrough Business of the Year – Bronte Pictures
Commissioner of the Year – Sally Riley
Bob Campbell (left) with his longtime Screentime business partner Des Monaghan
Lifetime Achievement Award – Bob Campbell
Media Super Production Business of the Year – Northern Pictures
Team from Goalpost Pictures
Screen Business Export Award – The Invisible Man, Goalpost Pictures
Services and Facilities Business of the Year – Count Out Loud for Retrograde, Orange Entertainment
Top photo: Team from Northern Pictures including David Haslingden (third from left), chief executive of the parent company