Twenty-five of Australia’s boldest and brightest screen industry professionals and production businesses took home prestigious SPA Awards after being recognised for their tireless dedication and originality during an annual opportunity for industry practitioners to gather and collectively applaud excellence in the Australian screen production industry.

Australian comedian Nath Valvo hosted the ceremony which saw internationally acclaimed See-Saw Films awarded the Media Super 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.

Minister for the Arts, the Hon Tony Burke MP took to the stage addressing many of Australia’s most prolific screen practitioners, encouraging them to keep up the outstanding work. Australian screen stars including Brenton Thwaites (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Giver) Chika Ikogwe (Heartbreak High), Erik Thomson (Aftertaste, Black Snow), Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin), along with Actor and Producer Marta Dusseldorp had the opportunity to congratulate each of the winners personally as awards presenters.

“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,” said SPA CEO Matthew Deaner [pictured].

Category winners:

  • Animated Production of the YearBluey, 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
  • Feature Film Production of the Year – The Power of the Dog, See-Saw Films
  • Games, XR and Immersive Media Production of the Year – Lustration, New Canvas
  • 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
  • Short Film Production of the Year – Voice Activated, Mad Ones Films & Spaceboy Productions
  • Telemovie or Miniseries Production of the Year – Savage River, Aquarius Films
  • Media Super 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
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – JOINT WINNERS
    • Su Armstrong, SixtyFourSixty
    • Brian Rosen, SixtyFourSixty

The Awards ceremony also saw Emma Roberts 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.

Shares: