Netflix signs up as supporting partner of Screen Forever 2018, Lauren Smith to present at conference

The acquisitions team behind the entertainment service Netflix will be exclusively presenting at Screen Australia’s Screen Forever 2018 conference.

Netflix is the supporting partner of the event that will be held at Crown Conference Centre in Melbourne, Victoria from November 20 to 22.

Netflix director of content acquisition Lauren Smith will feature in an exclusive fireside chat canvassing how the internet entertainment service works with Australian creators to bring their stories to the world.

With more than 130 million subscribers around the world, Netflix is in a unique position to share insights on global audience behaviour.

Since the service launched in 2015, Netflix invested in Australian acquisitions, co-productions, distribution deals and original productions such as The Letdown, Tidelands, Pine Gap, Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette, Cargo, The New Legends of Monkey, Glitch, Beat Bugs, Bottersnikes & Gumbles, Kazoops, Mako Mermaids: An H20 Adventure and White Rabbit Project.

“Netflix has transformed the playing field for producers, broadcasters and distributors and we welcome the opportunity to deeply engage with the Netflix content team in Australia,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.

“Coming from a company that is aiming to be simultaneously local, personal, and global, the insights of our special guest executive Lauren Smith will be an invaluable insight into the future of the industry and a prime opportunity for Australian producers to understand Netflix’s global acquisition strategy.”

In her role at Netflix, Smith is responsible for acquiring content from independent studios and producers. She was instrumental in the development of the Laura Waters-produced, untitled Chris Lilley project, which employs up to 350 screen professionals in Queensland.

Further keynote and programming announcements for Screen Forever 2018 will be announced in the coming weeks.