Where to Find the ACTF at Screen Forever

Screen Producers Australia’s annual Screen Forever conference is fast approaching. Among the 120 speakers appearing across 40 sessions this year, SPA’s 2021 conference offers a range of thought-provoking opportunities to discuss the world of children’s television. 

Presented digitally over three days, this year’s conference has been sorted into three ‘tracks’ (Business, Content and Future Proof) for a customisable delegate experience. The ACTF is participating in sessions across all three tracks of the program. Here is where you can find us at this year’s conference:

Roundtables

• Speaker: Jenny Buckland, ACTF CEO
  Date: Thursday 18 February, 12.30PM

• Speaker: Bernadette O’Mahony, ACTF Head of Content
  Date: Thursday 18 February, 3PM

Discussion: How can ACTF help you to develop and produce great children’s content and get it out to the world?

Roundtables provide delegates with a unique opportunity to meet commissioners, producers, production service businesses, distributors, festival directors and screen agencies in a relaxed and intimate environment.

Delegates join a table of 15 to discuss the host's role and organisation, screen industry trends and the types of projects currently being commissioned or financed. Pitching is not permitted. Each session runs for 25 minutes.

Ready, Steady, Pitch!

• Speaker: Bernadette O’Mahony, ACTF Head of Content
  Date: Tuesday 16 February, 4PM
  
  
• Speaker: Holly Alexander, ACTF Development Manager
  Date: Tuesday 16 February, 11AM

Pitching to us: The ACTF looks for high quality, innovative children’s content for the pre-school, primary and teen audiences. We encourage pitches for engaging, original and entertaining television and film projects that can engage an Australian child audience in the first instance, and the ability to appeal internationally. 

Ready, Steady, Pitch! is a high energy, no second chances, fun and fast pitching market for delegates. Participants begin by pitching their project to a network executive, sales agent, distributor or commissioner, before receiving immediate constructive feedback.

Each session runs for 10 minutes (5 minutes pitching and 5 minutes feedback). Delegates will be emailed a direct link to submit their SPA Connect preferences on 1 February 2021.

Session: Brave New World

Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Time: 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM (AEDT)

The world turned upside down? Or new opportunities to succeed? Industry leaders give their view on the major changes to support and regulation in our sector.

The future of our industry looks very different in 2021, with a vastly changed funding and regulatory environment and key decisions coming on quotas for streaming platforms. There’s a new Australian Content Standard, big changes to tax offsets and new money for Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

The panel will give their take on the wash up from the Government’s announcements and what this means for an industry in flux.

Moderator: Karl Quinn, Senior Culture Writer, The Age & The Sydney Morning Herald

Producer: Holly Brimble, Director of Policy, SPA

Speakers: Jenny Buckland, CEO, ACTF

Fiona Cameron, Authority Member, ACMA

Graeme Mason, CEO, Screen Australia

Alaric McAusland, CEO, ADG

Kylie Munnich, CEO, Screen Queensland

Michael Tear, CEO, WildBear Entertainment

Session: Our Kids' Future

Date: Thursday, February 18, 2021

Time: 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM (AEDT)

Brought to you by: Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF)

Children’s content producers are facing an uncertain future following the removal of sub-quota obligations from commercial networks in Australia. At the same time the ACTF has received a short-term boost to its funding. How will they spend this money if there are fewer commissioners in the market? Will the streamers step into the breach? Here to discuss these questions is a panel that is vitally involved in the future of children’s programs in Australia.

Moderator & Producer: Carmel Travers, CEO & Producer, Pop Family Entertainment

Speakers: Jenny Buckland, CEO, ACTF

Sally Caplan, Head of Production, Screen Australia

Libbie Doherty, Head of Children’s Content, ABC

Panel: Hammering Out a Format

Date: Thursday, February 18, 2021

Time: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (AEDT)

Brought to you by: ABC

Factual formats are the one of the most popular genres worldwide and one of the most important tools for legacy broadcasters to maintain audience share through ‘water cooler’ conversations in person and on social media. Every year Australian production companies bring home new formats from overseas and remake them here. But how do we originate them here and sell them to the rest of the world?

In this case study of Are You Tougher than your Ancestors? - commissioned by the ABC - we follow the journey of a format from initial hammering out, through to developing episodes, sourcing cast, production, and preparation of the bible for international sales.

Moderator: Ben Ulm, Head of Content, ITV Studios Australia

Producer: Owen Johnston, Lead Programmer, SPA

Speakers: Amanda Isdale, Development Executive, ABC

Vanna Morosini, Writer & Producer, Flying Kite Pictures

Bernadette O’Mahony, Head of Content, ACTF

Sponsored Session: How Good are Aussie Kids Shows?

Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Time: 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (AEDT)

Brought to you by: Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF)

The Australian children’s production community has built an industry that is both local and export-market focused, producing content that is embraced by our global target audience, is the most profitable sub-sector of the Australian production industry, exploits merchandise, publishing and community engagement opportunities and is multi-award-winning.  With a passion for storytelling, a commitment to quality, high skill levels and a desire to make programming that resonates with children in Australia and abroad, Australian kids’ content productions are considered to be up there with the best! 

In this session we hear from our panel of international buyers and investors why Australian children’s programs work.  Why do international companies look to Australia to invest in and co-produce with?  We discuss global trends, what our panelists are looking for, and why Aussie shows stand out in a sea of international competition. Let’s celebrate Australian children’s content production and the incredible impact it has had internationally.

Moderator & Producer: Donna Andrews, Director & Writer, Sticky Pictures

Speakers: Deirdre Brennan, Executive Vice President Content Partnerships, Wildbrain

Jessica Ellis, Head Content Sales & Distribution, ABC Commercial

Jane Gould, Senior Vice President, Consumer Insights and Programming Strategy, Disney ABC Television Group