Ausfilm and Screen Australia sending delegation to forge partnerships with UK

Australian screen industry group Ausfilm and funding body Screen Australia have joined forces to send a delegation to London to broker coproduction and partnership opportunities with the UK business.

Deirdre Brennan

The Partner with Australia (UK) event is set to take place in London from June 16 to 18 and will feature a delegation of Australian creatives and Ausfilm members who will engage with the local screen sector.

The three-day schedule will include roundtables, keynotes and panel discussions, as well as structured networking sessions developed in partnership with UK bodies including the British Film Institute, Film London and producers’ body Pact.

“The UK is one of Australia’s most important creative partners and this initiative will only strengthen the ties of our screen sectors. Partner with Australia is a focused platform to develop new relationships and advance projects that provide exciting avenues for genuine coproduction and co-development,” said Screen Australia chief Deirdre Brennan.

Screen Australia will provide travel funding of up to A$30,000 (US$21,000) for 20 production companies and up to 10 writer/creators. Applications for the support close on March 26.

Experienced producers and creatives are being sought with a “proven ability to deliver projects of scale and a demonstrated connection to the UK market, ensuring the delegation is well positioned to secure new partnerships and advance projects into development and production.”

The delegation will also take advantage of the current momentum in UK-Australian coproductions. Recently announced copros include Netflix and the BBC’s Breakers, as well as Stan, Channel 4 and Easy Tiger’s Careless.

Ausfilm CEO Kate Marks added that the delegation aimed to present a confident message to the UK market, in addition to showcasing production incentives.

“It’s also an opportunity to highlight Australia’s exceptional creative talent, production and post-production expertise and globally competitive screen incentives, which together offer significant value for international collaborators,” Marks said.