Screen Producers Awards 2018: winners

Kevin Whyte’s Guesswork Television last night won the top award at the Screen Producers’ Awards at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne.

Guesswork Television, which has been a key partner in multiple ABC comedy and light entertainment series for years, also picked up the Comedy Award for Rosehaven.

Manager and producer Kevin Whyte (pictured above, centre) said, “The great thing is we get to work with artists across their careers and the opportunity to take them to screen has been a real thrill.”

Bunya Productions was a big winner, scoring 3 awards as Breakout Business, plus honours for Mystery Road and the feature film Sweet Country.

Jungle Entertainment’s newcomer Mr. Inbetween was a surprise win in the Drama Series category.

The evening included a Lifetime Achievement honour for producer Michael McMahon (pictured above) from Matchbox Pictures, whose body of work includes Ali’s Wedding, The Slap and Nowhere Boys. McMahon thanked his SPA, Matchbox colleagues, Film Victoria and Matchbox producer Tony Ayres, currently in London.

“Tony became my partner in life of 39 years,” McMahon said, “and in business for most of that time as well. He’s been an inspiration and supporter of many people in the screen industry, but to me in particular. So thank you Tony and I’m sure that is going to get to you in some way through some means of communication.”

The event, hosted by Anne Edmonds, capped off the Screen Forever conference and was followed by a Gala Party.

Winners in bold:

Production Business of the Year
· Bunya Productions
· CJZ
· Easy Tiger Productions
· Flying Bark Productions
· Goalpost Pictures
· Guesswork Television
· Hoodlum
· Jungle Entertainment
· Matchbox Pictures
· See Pictures

Drama Series Production of the Year
Rake, Easy Tiger Productions
Wentworth, FremantleMedia Australia
Harrow, Hoodlum
Mr Inbetween, Jungle Entertainment & Blue-Tongue Films
The Secret Daughter, Screentime

Telemovie or Mini Series Production of the Year
Mystery Road: The Series, Bunya Productions
Sunshine, Easy Tiger Productions
Picnic At Hanging Rock, FremantleMedia Australia
Safe Harbour, Matchbox Pictures
Romper Stomper, Roadshow Rough Diamond

Comedy Series Production of the Year
Sammy J, Buxstock Entertainment
Rosehaven, Guesswork Television
Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell, ITV Studios Australia
Squinters, Jungle Entertainment
Sando, Jungle Entertainment

Light Entertainment Series Production of the Year
Gruen, CJZ
Talkin’ Bout Your Generation, ITV Studios Australia
The Voice, ITV Studios Australia
Everyone’s A Critic, Matchbox Pictures
Hughesy We Have A Problem, Screentime

Reality Series Production of the Year
Great Australian Bake Off, FremantleMedia Australia
Love Island, ITV Studios Australia
I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, ITV Studios Australia
Real Housewives of Melbourne, Matchbox Pictures

Animated Series Production of the Year
Kitty is Not a Cat, BES Animation
Jar Dwellers SOS, Viskatoons

Children’s Series Production of the Year
Drop Dead Weird, Ambience Entertainment & Air Pig Productions
Grace Beside Me, Magpie Pictures
Mustangs FC, Matchbox Pictures
My Year 7 Life, Princess Pictures
The New Legends of Monkey, See-Saw Films

Documentary or Documentary Series Production of the Year
Muslims Like Us, CJZ
Body Hack 2.0, Essential Media and Entertainment
The Ghan, Mint Pictures
Outback Opal Hunters, Prospero Productions
Anh’s Brush with Fame, Screentime

Online Series Production of the Year
F*!#ing Adelaide, Closer Productions
Deadlock, Every Cloud Productions
A Message From Malcolm, Future Pictures
Homecoming Queens, Generator Pictures
The Edge Of The Bush, Guesswork Television
Kiki and Kitty, Porchlight Films
The Kununurra Kid, Princess Pictures
Gun Ringer, Ronde Pty Ltd

Interactive or Game Production of the Year
Every King Tide, Bunya Productions
30 Minutes of Danger, Happening Films & The Pulse Originals
Wentworth VR, Start VR & FremantleMedia Australia
Dimensions VS, TeePee Studios

Screen Business Export of the Year
· Aquarius Films
· BES Animation
· Blacklab Entertainment
· Bunya Productions
· Jungle Entertainment

Breakthrough Business of the Year
· Blacklab Entertainment
· Bunya Productions
· Cobbstar Productions
· LateNite Films
· Lingo Pictures

Services and Facilities Business of the Year
· Docklands Studios Melbourne
· Fox Studios Australia
· Monypenny
· Soundfirm
· Tracks Post Production