The 12 producers who will make up the SPA Ones To Watch cohort for 2022 have been announced by Screen Producers Australia.
Over the coming months, the SPA Ones To Watch will be matches with leading Australian producers for a one-on-one meeting and will take part in an exclusive webinar series to develop their creative slate and business skills in the lead up to next year’s Screen Forever conference.
Each participant in the program will also have the opportunity to apply for the Ones To Watch Internship, supported by Screen Australia, and secure placement with a production company anywhere in the world to the value of $20,000.
The 12 producers selected for this year’s program are:
- Aven Yap – Nimbus Creative (Qld)
- Bethany Bruce – Staple Fiction (NSW)
- Chanel Bowen – Independent (WA)
- Christopher Amos – Independent (Qld)
- Cyna Strachan – Mad Ones Films (NSW)
- Debbie Zhou – Independent (NSW) (above, far right)
- Emma Roberts – Pernickety Split (Vic) (above, second from left)
- Hanna Griffiths – Blinded By Rainbows (Vic)
- Jason Chong – 1UP Digital (SA) (above, second from right)
- Luke Saliba – Paperless Films (Vic)
- Sierra Schrader – EveryNameTaken (SA) (above, far left)
- Tim Russell – Pivot Studios (NSW)
SPA said this year’s cohort is made up of producers with a passion for creating screen stories base on First Nations families, extraordinary life stories, off-beat edgy comedies, LGBTQI+ narratives, female empowerment and diverse expression.
Matthew Deaner, CEO of SPA, said: “Since Ones To Watch debuted in 2013, scores of producers from every stage of their careers from across Australia have had their skillsets bolstered, and built upon their professional networks through the SPA program.
“The high calibre of diverse and exciting applications to the Ones To Watch program continues to impress me and serves as proof that our screen industry is brimming with talent and creativity unique to Australia, and that Australian culture and stories will continue to delight global audiences in the future.
“I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our program partners for their continued support, and to wish the Ones To Watch luck as they embark on the next stage of their creative careers. I look forward to meeting you all at Screen Forever 37 in 2023.”