Broadcast representatives from around the globe will head to Brisbane in November next year for the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP).

“Screen Queensland, in partnership with the Queensland Government, has been successful in its bid for this prestigious conference, wowing the organisers with the city’s cultural activities and Queensland’s role as a film hub,” said Screen Queensland Chair Catherine O’Sullivan.

“The Congress is the top industry event for producers working in the factual and science space, providing insights into industry trends and issues, and featuring cutting-edge seminars, networking opportunities and pitch sessions,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

“It is a coup to secure the Congress in Brisbane, and it will be of enormous creative and professional benefit to our local industry and practitioners who may not have had the opportunity to attend the Congress overseas,” she said.

“The Congress, with its focus on digital technology and science content, will put Queensland in the international spotlight and highlight the depth of local talent and content on our doorstep,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

Joseph Maxwell, Head of Documentaries, SBS, said: “SBS is delighted that WCSFP is coming to Brisbane in 2018, it is a huge coup for the city.  As one of the world’s leading and most creative documentary conferences we are thrilled to be supporting this event which gathers together a great diversity of people, opinions and projects from around the world.”

Steve Bibb, ABC Head of Factual said: “The ABC is proud to be a supporter and co-host of the WCSFP. Science is a key genre for the ABC and no other Australian media organisation is as invested in science as the ABC. You can see, hear and read a wealth of quality science stories across all our platforms every single day. I’m really looking forward to the coming together of the clever science storytelling community next year in Brisbane.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the Congress would coincide with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, providing a platform for Australian and international delegates to forge new connections, artistic collaborations and valuable partnerships with filmmakers and nominees who are attending the gala ceremony.

“Each year, the Asia Pacific’s top filmmakers fly to Brisbane to attend the Awards and with the world’s leading producers, distributors and broadcasters in our city for the Congress, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the screen industry,” he said.

“Delegates will be met with our city’s cutting-edge academic, scientific and research communities, welcomed by a burgeoning film industry and enjoy our ever-evolving calendar of cultural events.”

The annual Congress attracts major international broadcasters such as ABC, SBS Discovery Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic, PBS, Smithsonian Channel, ARTE, BBC, CBC, Channel 4, France Télévisions, MDR, NDR, NHK, PBS, Radio-Canada, Rai, SVT, YLE and ZDF.

Supported by the Queensland Government, Screen Queensland, ABC and SBS, the WCSFP takes place in November 2018 and is expected to attract more than 600 industry professionals to Brisbane.

Brisbane Marketing provided assistance in the bid to secure the Congress.

Media contact for the WCSFP: Andrea Smitko, Media Relations Manager,asmitko@hotdocs.ca