24 July 2018

MEDIA RELEASE
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

New Brisbane animation studio to produce three international feature films

Innovative Queensland start-up, Like A Photon Creative (LAPC), is set to develop three animated feature films for international distribution from their new Brisbane-based animation studio.

Following the state’s success in gaining international screen production, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the spotlight had now focused on Queensland’s homegrown stars.

“We are thrilled to back this Brisbane company led by Kristen Souvlis and Nadine Bates – two dynamic women who have built their business from the ground up,” the Premier said.

“This company – another proud Queensland screen success story – is now working across live action and animation in television and feature films, while also developing innovative apps and platforms for children’s content.”

Like A Photon Creative is a fast-growing content creation company specialising in the development and execution of children’s content.

In 2014, LAPC became only the second Australian company to produce for Sesame Street USA, as well as the first female Australian writers and producers for the channel.

Premier Palaszczuk said LAPC was set to produce three animated feature films concurrently, enabling them to expand and establish a new studio in Brisbane.

“The expansion of Like A Photon Creative will have both direct and indirect economic benefits for Queensland, driving new jobs and investment in our state,” the Premier said.

“When work commences later this year, LAPC will employ over 50 Queensland practitioners on each animated feature and will also offer significant mentoring opportunities to upskill local creative practitioners, motivating the future innovators of our growing screen industry.”

Nadine Bates, Creative Director of LAPC, said the company was excited to embrace the challenges and opportunities which lay ahead.

“To be able to bring an entire story world to life through this slate of films is a dream come true.

“We can’t wait to build an innovative and sustainable studio model in our home state,” Ms Bates said.

Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira congratulated LAPC on their most recent success and their ability to continue to build an international reputation for creating ground-breaking children’s screen content.

“We are proud to have supported Nadine and Kristen on their career pathways so far, where they are developing an exciting slate of projects and delivering high-quality work for an international market,” Ms Vieira said.

The Queensland Government via Screen Queensland has supported other LAPC projects including Balloon Barnyard, an animated children’s television series commissioned by Disney Australia.

Media Contact:                 Susan McGrady – Premier’s Office – 0488 996 667

Screen Queensland is a government-owned company that invests in people and projects to grow a creative, innovative and successful screen industry with a focus on stories and global audiences, secures production to Queensland, and delivers an active screen culture across the state.

Go to screenqld.com.au to view all our programs and initiatives.

SQ Media contact: Angela Samut – Screen Queensland – 07 3248 0500