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Screen Producers Awards 2017: winners

ABC shows dominate, Pam Barnes honoured, Matchbox Pictures wins top award.

ABC shows dominated at the annual Screen Producers Awards last night in Melbourne.

Cleverman, Please Like Me, Anh’s Brush with Fame and Nowhere Boys were amongst winners announced at The Forum, in an event hosted by Nazeem Hussain.

Veteran producer Pam Barnes (pictured centre, above) was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Barnes, introduced by Gorgi Coghlan, was given a standing ovation for her body of work, which included In Melbourne Tonight, Hey Hey it’s Saturday, Logie Awards, The Circle and Family Feud. Amongst her many highlights Barnes recalled the landmark Australia Live production in 1988, telecast jointly by Nine, ABC & SBS, with Live crosses to a train, Antarctica and a cosmonaut in space -all before the age of computers & email.

Another standing ovation was given to surprise guest Magda Szubanski following her advocacy in the Marriage Equality campaign. An exhausted Szubanski, her credited much of her tenacity to the spirit of ‘Sharon Strezlecki’ announced Matchbox Pictures as the winner of the Production Business of the Year.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said: “We are delighted to see such a powerhouse talented group such as Matchbox Pictures take out best production company. They continue to expand and forge new pathways in the industry allowing Australian stories to be told through multiple partners on a local and global level. The Awards has showcased the tip of the iceberg of an incredible year of production to which we should all feel very proud. We commend every part of our industry for their fantastic work but particularly our outstanding winners tonight.”

Lion won the Feature Film award.

TV & related winners:

Production Business of the Year
Matchbox Pictures

Lifetime Achievement Award
Pam Barnes

Drama Series of the Year
Cleverman
Goalpost Pictures

Comedy Series of the Year
Please Like Me
Guesswork Television

Series Documentary of the Year
Occupation: Native
Brindle Films

Single Documentary of the Year
The Go-Betweens: Right Here Essential Media and Entertainment

Animated Series of the Year
Winston Steinburger & Sir Dudley Ding Dong
Sticky Pictures

Children’s Series of the Year
Nowhere Boys: Two Moons Rising
Matchbox Pictures

Light Entertainment of the Year
Anh’s Brush With Fame
Screentime

Reality Series of the Year
The Voice Australia
ITV Studios Australia

Telemovie or Mini Series of the Year
Top of the Lake: China Girl
See-Saw Films

Breakthrough Business of the Year
Factor 30 Films

Screen Business Export Award
Tie: Every Cloud Productions and FremantleMedia Australia

Services and Facilities Business of the Year
Film Finances

Ones To Watch SBS First Look Grant
Joel Kohn

3 Responses

  1. You know it’s been a lean year for Aus drama when Cleverman and China Girl take out the top award in their respective categories. At least Newton’s Law didn’t win Best Comedy Series…

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