Screen Producers Awards 2023: winners

Screen Forever wrapped last night with the winners announced in the annual Screen Producers Australia Awards.

Nath Valvo hosted the ceremony which saw See-Saw Films awarded the Production Business of the Year and Feature Film Production of the Year Awards, while Ambience Entertainment, Fremantle Australia, Mad Ones Films, and Ludo Studio all took home two SPA Awards each.

Presenting awards were Brenton Thwaites, Chika Ikogwe, Erik Thomson, Mark Coles Smith, Marta Dusseldorp.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said, “A lot has come to pass since the last SPA Awards, including the release of the government’s new National Cultural Policy, and it is here tonight that the enthusiasm and passion for authentic storytelling within the Australian screen sector shone through in front of Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke MP. I want to congratulate all nominees and Awards winners and encourage them to keep up the outstanding work, dazzling audiences across the globe and showcasing unique Australian heritage, culture, and stories.”

TV and related winners:

• Animated Production of the Year – Bluey, Ludo Studio
• Children’s Production of the Year – Barrumbi Kids, Ambience Entertainment & Tamarind Tree Pictures
• Comedy Program or Series Production of the Year – Colin from Accounts, Easy Tiger Productions
• Documentary Series Production of the Year – Muster Dogs, Ambience Entertainment
• Drama Series Production of the Year – Heartbreak High, Fremantle Australia

• Entertainment Production of the Year – Joint winners:
Gogglebox Australia, Endemol Shine Australia
Grand Designs Australia, Fremantle Australia

• Feature Documentary Production of the Year – Incarceration Nation, Bacon Factory Films & Bent3Land Productions
• Online Series Production of the Year – Latecomers, Mad Ones Films & Lazy Susan Films
• Reality Series Production of the Year – The Great Australian Bake Off, BBC Studios Australia
• Telemovie or Miniseries Production of the Year – Savage River, Aquarius Films
• Production Business of the Year – See-Saw Films
• Screen Business Export Award – Bluey, Ludo Studio
• Breakthrough Business of the Year – Bus Stop Films

• Services & Facilities Business of the Year – Joint winners:
Silver Trak Digital for Firebite
Cato Location Services for Limitless

• Commissioner of the Year – Julie Eckersley SBS (pictured)

• Lifetime Achievement Award – Joint winners:
Su Armstrong, SixtyFourSixty
Brian Rosen, SixtyFourSixty

Emma Roberts was named as the recipient of the $20,000 Ones To Watch Screen Internship grant, supported by Screen Australia, and SPA members Lazy Susan Films and Mad Ones Films awarded the annual SDIN Award for their production Latecomers.