Screen Queensland appoints former SBS exec Julie Eckersley as exec director screen content

Australia’s Screen Queensland has secured award-winning commissioner Julie Eckersley to its senior leadership team in the newly created role of executive director of screen content.

Julie Eckersley

Eckersley has worked widely throughout the industry and is the former head of scripted at public broadcaster SBS, which she stepped down from last year. She also served at Matchbox Pictures for over 10 years in senior production and management roles.

During her tenure at SBS, Eckersley was awarded with SPA’s Commissioner of the Year accolade after a transformative period commissioning original series from emerging talent including Easy Tiger’s Indian/Australian production Four Years Later and Magpie Pictures’ Swift Street.

Her appointment follows the departure of chief creative officer Belinda Burns who is stepping down after five years at the government body.

Two new roles have been created in the leadership restructure, with Eckersley’s role and a yet to be filled position of executive director for industry and audience development. Her tenure commences on November 3.

Under Eckersley’s new role, she will drive the agency’s creative direction and champion the Queensland screen industry in supporting and developing local creatives, content developers and producers in addition to delivering opportunities for both emerging and established practitioners across national and global markets to work in the state.

“I’m passionate about supporting our storytellers to build flourishing and sustainable businesses, tell authentic and authored Queensland stories on every platform and connect with audiences around the world,” Eckersley said.

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney described Eckserley’s appointment as an exciting chapter for the state’s screen sector.

“Her understanding of both the creative and commercial sides of storytelling make her ideally suited to lead our creative strategy. Julie’s proven ability to identify unique voices and develop bold, authentic stories align perfectly with our mission to amplify Queensland-made content on screens around the world.”

Screen Queensland also announced that production is underway on new international coproduction thriller The Mark, starring and coproduced by Jessica Alba’s Lady Metalmark Entertainment and local producers Hoodlum and Westbrook Studios. The film is supported by the Location Offset, Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy Incentive and the City of Gold Coast’s Screen Attraction Program.

Highland Film Group is handling international rights to The Mark and co-financing the project alongside Aperture Media Partners.