NT Screen Summit, The Darwin International Film Festival
NT Screen Summit
In partnership with Screen Territory and Screen Australia, DIFF presents a program of industry events that will engage, inform and inspire screen practitioners of all career levels, as well as broader stakeholders of the screen industry.
Guest speakers and sessions may be subject to change.
Where
This years summit will take place at CDU Waterfront, 21 Kitchener Dr, Darwin City
Schedule
Saturday 24th September
Welcome to Country and Intoduction
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9.00am | 30min | Introduction
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The New Era of Screen Content- Post Pandemic & Altered Audience Appetites
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9:30 am | 45 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Jackie Keast - IF Magazine, Editor
Speakers
Loani Arman - SBS, Commissioning Editor - Scripted
Mary Ellen Mullane - ABC, Managing Editor, Children’s Content
Paul Gartside - ACTF, Head of Content
As the after effects of the pandemic reshape the industry and continues to alter the demands of the screen audience, we ask how has commissioning content changed and what are broadcasters looking for?
The ABC’s Managing Editor, Children’s Content Mary Ellen Mullane and SBS’s Commissioning Editor-Scripted, Loani Arman talk to IF Magazine Editor Jackie Keast on what they want to see from local industry and how to best work with screen makers.
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Film Finance Workshop with Screen Rights
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10.15am | 30 min |
A presentation from Emma Madison, Screenrights' Head of Commercial & Industry Services.
In a data rich presentation, Screenrights sheds light on where the money goes in the screen production cycle. Emma Madison will demystify the complexities of film financing, rights exploitation, and royalties and recoupment with visual examples. Learn how sources of financing impact the recoupment waterfall structure and design, and when the money is likely to flow in over time.
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Morning Break
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10.45am | 15min |
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CASE STUDY: Barrumbi Kids – Telling Regional Tales
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11:00am | 60min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Jennie Hughes - Screen Territory, Director
Speakers
Monica O’Brien - Ambience Entertainment, Executive Producer
Marisa McDowell - NITV, Acting Head of Commissions
Danielle MacLean - Tamarind Tree Pictures,Producer, Writer, Director
Paul Gartside - ACTF, Development Manager
From local book to national and global screens, Barrumbi Kids celebrates the full circle of Northern Territory creative talent.
In this case study session we hear from the producers, developers and broadcasters that nurtured the novels of Darwin based Leanne Norrington and brought them to life, activating the regional community of Beswick, which features many of the area’s local talent.
Filmed during the pandemic lockdowns and against all odds the series represents the new wave of children’s content coming from the Northern Territory showcasing First Nation culture to the world.
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The Hot Doc Boom and the Thirst for Factual – Why Reality Makes the Best Kind of Drama
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12:00pm | 60min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Natalie Apostolou - Journalist, NT Screen Summit Producer
Speakers
Penelope McDonald - Chill Films, Director and Producer
Monica O’Brien - Ambience Entertainment, Executive Producer
Naina Sen - Producer, Director Indigo Productions
The role of documentary and factual filmmaking is finally having its moment in the spotlight.
Evolving from a genre to a crucial component of the content driving broadcasters and streamers programing decisions.
Global audiences appetite for factual on all content platforms continues to rise as the need to delve behind the headlines and get to the truth takes on new power.
We talk to the documentary content creators and decision makers riding this wave.
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Lunch
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1:00 pm | 60 min | Networking
Delicious lunch supplied by DeeBees
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David Brill in Conversation with Erika Addis ACS National President
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2:00 pm | 60 min | Interview
A rare upfront session with one of Australia’s leading lights in media and journalism.
David Brill’s extraordinary career in video journalism and cinematography and discuss the making of Brill’s documentary ‘Story On The Frontlines’ covering his own journey across pivotal moments in history.
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Who’s Story Is It Anyway ….Telling First Nations Stories
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3:00 pm | 60 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Rachel Clements - Producer, Brindle Films
Speakers
Danielle MacLean - Tamarind Tree Pictures, Producer, Writer, Director
Warren H Williams - True Colours, Co-creator
Marissa McDowell - NITV, Head of Commissions
As mainstream Australian screen content embraces inclusivity and representation of a more authentic mirror of our cultural and social diversity, the responsibility of telling First Nation tales and who has the right to tell them remains a core development priority. We celebrate how far the industry has come and what still needs to be done.
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Case Study: True Colours
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4:00 pm | 45 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
TBC
Speakers
Warren H Williams - Co-Creator
Rarriwuy Hick - Actor
Danielle MacLean - Tamarind Tree Pictures, Producer, Writer, Director
True Colours is a trailblazing series that showcases the power house of creativity in the Northern Territory.
In a special session on the journey and making of the series we explore the genesis and development of the show from idea to screen with creator Warren H. Williams and the production with lead actor Rarriwuy Hick.
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Networking
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4.45pm | 60 min | Networking
Join us for a drink and a yarn to swap stories and have some focussed discussion about the day and the industry.
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Sunday 25 September
Day 2 start
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9:30am | 45 min |
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Creativity, Catharsis and Making Art from Life
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9:45 am | 30 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Stuart Page - Writer Total Control
Speakers
Del Kathryn Barton - Director Blaze (Zoom Pre-Record)
Huna Amweero - Screenwriter Blaze
Jorrden Daley - Screenwriter The Longest Weekend
Meet the creators and writers of DIFF feature films Blaze and The Longest Weekend.
These emerging writers on the rise will share their creative journeys with acclaimed screenwriter Stuart Page.
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Making Kids TV - The Audience That Keeps You On Your Toes
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10:15 am | 45 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Jackie Keast - Editor, IF Magazine
Speakers
Mary-Ellen Mullane - ABC, Managing Editor, Children’s Content
Rachel Clements - Brindle Films, Producer
Monica O’Brien - Ambience Entertainment, Executive Producer
Justin Schneider - Director, Writer, Producer
The Northern Territory has produced two significant new kids TV series in the last year.
MaveriX and Barrumbi Kids both show Australian life through a non mainstream cultural prism.
How do we encourage more regional kids TV development ?
What are the factors that make local stories resonate with universal appeal?
How do kids screen makers capture the attention of the digitally born generation?
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How to Get Your Project Developed
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11.00am | 45 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Natalie Apostolou - Journalist, NT Screen Summit Producer
Speakers
Sebastian Angborn - Screen Territory, Screen Industry Development Manager
Marissa McDowell - NITV, Head of Commissions
Mary-Ellen Mullane - ABC, Managing Editor, Children’s Content
Loani Aman - SBS Commissioning Editor
A deep dive for local screen practitioners on how to work with agencies and broadcasters as the NT celebrates a production renaissance.
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CASE STUDY: The Making of MaveriX
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11.45 am | 45min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Sebastian Angborn - Screen Territory, Screen Industry Development Manager
Speakers
Rachel Clements - Brindle Films, Producer
Sam Miekle - Lead Writer
Mary-Ellen Mullane - ABC, Managing Editor, Children’s Content
Isaac Elliot - Director, MaveriX
Fuelling the Northern Territory’s screen making renaissance is MaveriX, a high-end, high octane kids TV series for the ABC and Netflix.
Set in the world of motocross, featuring two Indigenous lead actors and produced by Alice Springs based Brindle Films.
We hear the inside story on how this ambitious production was co-created, developed and showcases NT life to a new generation of audiences.
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Lunch
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12.30m | 45 min | Networking
Delicious lunch supplied by DeeBees
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Breaking down the Doors of the Writers Room
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1:15 pm | 60 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Natalie Apostolou - Journalist, Screen Summit Producer
Speakers
Huna Amweero - Screenwriter, Blaze
Stuart Page- Screenwriter, Total Control
Jorrden Daley- Screenwriter, The Longest Weekend
Sam Miekle - Screenwriter, MaveriX
The rules of the old school Writers Room have been slowly re-edited.
Yet getting into the coveted screen writers dominion remains daunting.
We hear from the voices behind the screens on how they broke through, how collaboration has changed, the ways that the industry is changing around them.
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Creating in the Northern Territory & a Wider Lens on the Screen Industry
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2.15 pm | 60 min | Panel Discussion
Moderator
Erika Addis - ACS National President
Speakers
Rachel Clements - Brindle Films, Producer
Andrew Hyde - Exposure Productions: Director/ Cinematographer
Molly Haddon - Director and Producer, The Longest Weekend
Isaac Elliot - Director, MaveriX, Finke: There and Back
Naina Sen - Producer, Director Indigo Productions
Regional screen creativity is peaking nationally with the Northern Territory emerging post pandemic as a key hub for nurturing new talent and developing new productions with global appeal.
What does it take to be a successful screen creator in the NT?
What are the issues facing regional screen production for producers, directors and crew ?
Our panel of local producers across all genres shares their insights. Panel moderator, ACS National President Erika Addis will also share the national findings of the recently released - A WIDER LENS: Australian Camera Workforce Development and Diversity report.
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Apperitivo Drinks and meek the speakers
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3.15 pm | 45 min | Networking
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