Four NITV shows up for screen awards

NITV said it was thrilled to see a number of their titles nominated for the 24th Annual Screen Producers Australia Awards, celebrating storytelling that comes from Country, community and culture.

The nominations, NITV said, honour not only the stories and the culture they come from, but also the creatives, producers, and teams whose dedication ensures these First Nations voices reach audiences across Australia and beyond.

Dreaming Big – Finalist for Children’s Production of the Year. (Wirrim Media Pty Ltd, WildBear Entertainment Place, Richard Jameson OAM Abraham Byrne-Jameson Andrew Dillon Veronica Fury, Kaitlin Woodforth Smith)

Journey Home, David Gulpilil – Finalist for Feature Documentary Production of the Year. (Savage Films Brindle Films Trisha Morton-Thomas Margaret Miles Rachel Clements, Wityana Marika, Jida Gulpilil)

Moonbird – Finalist for Online Series Production of the Year. (Seal Pot Entertainment Pty Ltd, Sheoak Films & Kutikina Productions, Nathan Maynard, Adam Thompson, Catherine Pettman, Peter Carrodus)

Reckless – Finalist for Drama Series Production of the Year. (BBC Studios Production, Kodie Bedford, Warren Clarke, Annalise Brown, Stuart Page, Beck Cole, Andy Walker, Kylie Washington).

Finalists were determined by a secret ballot of SPA members, reflecting peer recognition from across the independent production sector. Winners will be revealed at the SPA Awards ceremony on April 30, the final evening of SCREEN FOREVER 40, at The Star, on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said the breadth and quality of this year’s finalists highlights the strength and resilience of Australia’s screen production businesses.

SPA CEO Matthew Deaner.

“These finalists represent the extraordinary range of storytelling being delivered by Australian producers – from premium drama and feature films to innovative factual, entertainment and children’s programming. Being recognised by peers makes this acknowledgement particularly meaningful,” he said.

This year’s finalists span animation, scripted and unscripted series, feature films, online productions and short-form storytelling, demonstrating the diversity and ambition of Australian screen production.

24th Annual SPA Awards Production Award Finalists

Animated Production of the Year

Do Not Watch This Show – Lee Bones Productions (ABC)
Kangaroo Beach S3 – Cheeky Little (ABC)
Space Nova S2 – SLR Productions (ABC)
Tales From Outer Suburbia – Flying Bark Productions & Highly Spirited Productions (ABC)

Children’s Production of the Year (Excluding Animation)

Dreaming Big – Wirrim Media (NITV)
Fizzy & Suds S2 – Tilt Media & Entertainment (ABC)
Hard Quiz Kids – Thinkative TV (ABC)
Knee High Spies – Werner Film Productions (ABC)

Comedy Program or Series Production of the Year

Austin – Northern Pictures & ITV Studios Australia (ABC)
Bump S5 – Roadshow Rough Diamond (Stan)
Ghosts: Australia – BBC Studios Productions (Network 10)
Good Cop/Bad Cop – Jungle Entertainment (Stan)
Top End Bub – Goalpost Pictures (Prime)

Documentary Series Production of the Year

End Game with Tony Armstrong – Allstory Pictures, Barking Mad Productions & Smashing Films (ABC)
Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies – Ambience Entertainment (ABC)
Revealed: Death Cap Murders – Dreamchaser Entertainment & Den of Martians (Stan)
The Assembly S2 – Helium Pictures & Bus Stop Films (ABC)
The Kimberley – Wild Pacific Media (ABC)
The People Vs Robodebt – CJZ (SBS)
The Piano S1 – Eureka Productions (ABC)
When The War Is Over – Mint Pictures (ABC)

Drama Series Production of the Year

Black Snow: Jack Of Clubs – Goalpost Pictures (Stan)
Mystery Road Origin S2 – Bunya Productions (ABC)
Playing Gracie Darling – Curio Pictures (Paramount+)
Reckless – BBC Studios Production (SBS/NITV)
Scrublands: Silver – Easy Tiger Productions (Stan)
The Family Next Door – Beyond Entertainment (ABC)
The Newsreader S3 – Werner Film Production (ABC)
The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer S3 – Easy Tiger Productions & Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia (Foxtel & BINGE)

Factual Series Production of the Year

A Girl’s Guide to Hunting, Fishing, and Wild Cooking S2 – Broken Yellow & Barking Mad Productions (SBS)
Australia: An Unofficial History – Stranger Than Fiction Films (SBS)
Grand Designs Australia – Eureka Productions (ABC)
Outback Truckers S11 – Prospero Productions (7 Network)
Restoration Australia – Eureka Productions (ABC)

Feature Documentary Production of the Year

Ballkids – Run Wild Productions & Mischief Media
Edge of Life – Stranger Than Fiction Films
Jimmy Barnes – Working Class Man – CJZ
Joh: Last King of Queensland – WildBear Entertainment
Journey Home, David Gulpilil – Savage Films & Brindle Films
PNG Road to Independence – WildBear Entertainment
Surviving Malka Leifer – In Films
The Raftsmen – WildBear Entertainment

Feature Film Production of the Year

How to Make Gravy – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia
Jimpa – Closer Productions & Mad Ones Films
Kangaroo – STUDIOCANAL, Brindle Films & Bunya Productions
Lesbian Space Princess – We Made A Thing Studios
One More Shot – GoodThing Productions & Truce
The Correspondent – Pop Family Entertainment
Together – Princess Pictures
Spit – Freshwater Pictures

Light Entertainment Production of the Year

Dancing With The Stars S23 – BBC Studios Productions (7 Network)
Farmer Wants A Wife – Eureka Productions (7 Network)
Hard Quiz – Thinkative TV (ABC)
MASTERMIND – BBC Studios Productions (SBS)
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering – Thinkative TV (ABC)

Online Series Production of the Year

Moonbird – Sheoak Films and Kutikina Productions
Not Russian Anywhere – Lucinda Bruce, Annisa Belonogoff & Nicole Scharf
Ruff & Ruby – Jessica Trinity Fisher
Run Club – Laughlines AU
The Worst That Could Happen – Haven’t You Done Well Productions

Reality Series Production of the Year

Australian Idol – Eureka Productions (7 Network)
The Amazing Race Australia S10 – Eureka Productions (Network 10)
The Great Australian Bake Off S8 – BBC Studios Productions (Foxtel & BINGE)

Short Film Production of the Year

I’m The Most Racist Person I Know – Suriyna Sivashanker
Safe Haven – Blue Sparrow Entertainment
The Day We Saved the Zoo – Media Stockade
They Kill By Night – Grace Uther
Writers in Love – Jacqueline Kerwick

Telemovie or Mini Series Production of the Year

Apple Cider Vinegar – See-Saw Films & Picking Scabs (Netflix)
Invisible Boys – Asphodel Films & Feisty Dame Productions (Stan)
Mix Tape – Aquarius Films (Foxtel & BINGE)
The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Curio Pictures (Prime)
The Survivors – Matchbox Pictures & Tony Ayres Productions (Netflix)