TV3 Drama Executive for SBS

SBS has announced New Zealand’s TV3 Head of Drama and Comedy, Caterina de Nave (left), as a new Executive Producer, Drama and Comedy.

de Nave has previously commissioned Outrageous Fortune, bro’Town, children’s drama Being Eve and New Zealand’s first prime time Asian show – A Thousand Apologies.

SBS Exec Matt Campbell said, “She’s got a terrific track record and a long career in film and television and will bring her experience in top class, internationally successful story telling to SBS screens. We look forward to introducing her to the Australian production community – many of whom will be familiar with her work – and to her continuing SBS’s successes in Drama and Comedy.”

In the last twelve months SBS lost Sue Masters and in 2007 Debbie Lee.

de Nave’s appointment follows the head of Screen Australia also being drawn from New Zealand.

Press Release:

SBS today announced it has appointed Caterina De Nave as Executive Producer, Drama and Comedy.

Ms De Nave is currently Head of Drama and Comedy for New Zealand’s TV3 and Channel 4 and has been responsible for a string of highly successful commissions including the drama series Outrageous Fortune (winner of 43 awards across all categories and sold in nine countries with remakes in the UK, US and Italy), Being Eve (a children’s drama which received an Emmy nomination), animated comedy series bro’Town (shown on SBS and sold to 18 countries) and New Zealand’s first prime time Asian show – A Thousand Apologies. She has also commissioned for online including initiating the 3Comedy.

A highly experienced producer, Ms De Nave has worked on productions including Shortland Street – New Zealand’s first five day per week serial, and she has Executive Produced 25 one-off dramas as well as feature films and a swag of documentaries. Her Executive Producer credits include Peter Jackson’s first foray into television with a mockumentary called Forgotten Silver.

SBS’s Director of Television and Online Content, Matt Campbell, said Ms De Nave has been responsible for bringing top quality drama and comedy programming to screens in New Zealand that feature a diverse, multicultural cast of characters.

“SBS is extremely happy to welcome Ms De Nave to our Commissioning team.

“She’s got a terrific track record and a long career in film and television and will bring her experience in top class, internationally successful story telling to SBS screens. We look forward to introducing her to the Australian production community – many of whom will be familiar with her work – and to her continuing SBS’s successes in Drama and Comedy.”

Ms De Nave will begin at SBS in April 2009 and will report to the Manager, Production and Development, Denise Eriksen.