Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney opened up the day, welcoming the audience and giving a rundown of what Screen Queensland has been focused on in the 12 months since the last In the Frame was held.

All About Online

Moderator: Jesse McCart (Program Manager Online, Screen Queensland)

Panellists: Louise Cocks (Investment and Development Manager Online, Screen Australia), Austin Macfarlane (Filmmaker and Content Creator, The Macfarlane Brothers), Lachlan Macfarlane (Filmmaker and Content Creator, The Macfarlane Brothers), Kauthar Abdulalim (Filmmaker and Producer, Blacksand Pictures), Sara Taghaode (Co-Owner and Executive Producer, Kiosk Films)

We kicked off the day by diving into the online sphere, with panellists sharing insights into navigating the platform algorithms, finding your niche audience and the difference between traditional filmmaking and content creation. The panel emphasised how they were drawn to online creation as an accessible pathway allowing practitioners to finesse their craft and maintain creative control while demonstrating their potential for widespread success.

Navigating Impact: Projects with Purpose

Moderator: Ian Lynch (Acting Head of Content, Screen Queensland)

Panellists: Camilla Mazzaferro (Managing Director, Finch No Worries), Bobbi-Lea Dionysius (Creative and Impact Producer, Disruptor Studios), Malinda Wink (Executive Director, Minderoo Pictures)

In this thoughtful factual session, the panel shared their experiences creating and enacting powerful impact campaigns around the award-winning documentaries they have produced. They shared some of the unexpected ways they appealed to very specific audiences—including engaging with bird-watching community groups—to create real and measurable change on important social topics.

Cultural Fusion: The Future of Screen Collaboration

Moderator: Danielle Ah Boo (Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit, Screen Queensland)

Panellists: Leah Purcell (Creative Director/Co-Director, Oombarra Productions), Mitch Stanley (Producer, No Coincidence Media), Tanya Denning-Orman (Director of Indigenous Content, SBS/NITV)

We returned from a small break to hear from leading First Nations practitioners about the important of sharing cultural responsibility—through thoughtful and intentional collaboration—between non-Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives on productions, The panellists discussed their experiences working on-set and in decision-making rooms, and how First Nations practitioners must often walk in two worlds when community and family relationships become integrated into the process of making culturally-connected screen stories on Country.

Big Break or Small Steps: How New Creative Voices Emerge

Moderator: Phil Enchelmaier (Acting Head of Content, Screen Queensland)

Panellists: Clare Sladden (writer), Josh Tanner (director), Amy Parry (filmmaker and creative producer), Sean Lynch (writer, director, actor)

For emerging practitioners, the road into the industry can be a bumpy and confusing one but in this frank and open conversation, our panellists shared how they found their way, They’ve all traversed highs and lows that taught them how to bounce-back when projects fall through, the importance of forming relationships in the industry, and what qualities you might need in order to navigate the seismic shifts in the screen production landscape.

In Conversation with Miranda Otto, hosted by Sharyn Ghidella

Sharyn Ghidella led a delightful interview with one of Australia’s finest actors, Miranda Otto, who talked about the changes she has seen in the industry over the course of her career both in the United States of America and Australia. “The thing that has never changed here is that the crews are great,” said Miranda. Miranda talked about how she was drawn back to Australia because of the resonance of the stories and that she is always looking for a complicated character.

In Conversation with the Creator of Fake Anya Beyersdorf

Anya Beyersdorf chatted with Screen Queensland’s Chief Creative Officer, Dr Belinda Burns, about how she got her start as a screenwriter after initially pursuing acting. Anya shared how she’s benefitted from being the ‘weird’ or niche writer in the room and the potential for the showrunner model in Australia which provides creators with more control as producers. She talked about how her experiences with rejection through acting prepared her to embrace feedback on her work and the freedom that comes with removing one’s ego from the process. Her advice for emerging creatives included being savvy with networking sideways, which helped her create a safe space for advice and support, and to be unafraid to create projects that are “weird—everyone is bored of normal”.

The State of Play in Screen

Moderator: Jacqui Feeney (CEO, Screen Queensland)

Panellists: Deirdre Brennan (CEO, Screen Australia), Paul Wiegard (CEO and Co-Founder, Madman Entertainment), Amanda Duthie (Head of Stan Originals, Stan), Todd Feldman (Producer, Story Bridge Films)

The final session for the day saw key industry decision-makers share their thoughts on what they look for when backing emerging creatives and the need to diversify and mitigate risks in a changing industry. They discussed everything from the rise of online and the formation of pathways through creative platforms, how knowing your market is essential, and the importance of screen culture, including film festivals, for a healthy and thriving industry.