Screen Producers Australia launches SPA Connect Program

Screen Producers Australia this week announces the launch of its inaugural SPA Connect program.

The International Partnership Market (IPM) at November's Screen Forever conference has been a key activity driver, with numerous productions being created and/or advanced directly from meetings that took place at the IPM. In seeking ways to increase the range and variety of business opportunities at Screen Forever and beyond, Screen Producers Australia has seen the need for an overall body to draw the many threads of the international marketplace together and streamline existing business-to-business events.

SPA Connect will now become the overarching umbrella under which members and international and domestic business will be coordinated. Existing strands such as the IPM, Roundtables, Ready Steady Pitch, and a series of networking functions and events will now be organised under the SPA Connect brand.

Through SPA Connect, new initiatives such as a Domestic Partnership Market (DPM) will be created. Roundtables and Ready Steady Pitch will be rebalanced to maximise member opportunities for business engagement.

Matthew Deaner

“We consider increasing opportunities for producers to meet potential partners both internationally and on the domestic scene as key to growing the media business in this country,” said Matthew Deaner, CEO, Screen Producers Australia.

“With co-productions and global financing now commonplace across all content platforms, the opportunity to forge new relationships, or grow/extend existing partnerships, is more important than ever. This new initiative announced as part of Screen Forever 2016 is a chance to really drive growth in the independent production sector and provide real production and business opportunities.”

Deaner added: “Our commitment to encouraging a healthy production sector is undiminished. SPA Connect will be the mechanism by which Australian producers can do business at Screen Forever and we look forward to using it to optimise business opportunities for all sectors of the industry.”

SPA Connect at Screen Forever 2016 will open for business in September 2016. This will include details for registration in the IPM, the DPM, Ready Steady Pitch, the Roundtables and networking and social functions.

Places are limited and will be available only to registrants for Screen Forever 2016.

For details and registration information visit screenforever.org.au.