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

9.00am | 30min | Introduction

 

 

 

The New Era of Screen Content- Post Pandemic & Altered Audience Appetites

 

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.

 

Film Finance Workshop with Screen Rights

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.

Morning Break

 

10.45am | 15min | 

 

 

 

 

 

CASE STUDY: Barrumbi Kids – Telling Regional Tales

 

 

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.

The Hot Doc Boom and the Thirst for Factual – Why Reality Makes the Best Kind of Drama

 

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.

 

Lunch

 

1:00 pm | 60 min | Networking

 

Delicious lunch supplied by DeeBees


David Brill in Conversation with Erika Addis ACS National President

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.

 

Who’s Story Is It Anyway ….Telling First Nations Stories

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.

Case Study: True Colours

 

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.

 

Networking

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.

 

 


     Sunday 25 September

 

Day 2 start

9:30am | 45 min | 

 

Creativity, Catharsis and Making Art from Life

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.

Making Kids TV - The Audience That Keeps You On Your Toes

 

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?

 

How to Get Your Project Developed

 

 

 

 

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.

CASE STUDY: The Making of MaveriX

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.

 

Lunch

12.30m | 45 min | Networking

 

Delicious lunch supplied by DeeBees


 

Breaking down the Doors of the Writers Room

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.

 

 

Creating in the Northern Territory & a Wider Lens on the Screen Industry

 

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.

Apperitivo Drinks and meek the speakers

3.15 pm | 45 min | Networking