TORONTO, ON, May 2, 2025 — The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) today unveiled the delegation of 14 producers travelling to Australia to accelerate global partnerships through curated programming and meetings.

Beginning in Sydney, producers will gain market insights and build relationships with potential collaborators through a series of meetings and networking events, coordinated by Ontario Creates and Screen Australia.

Producers will then travel to Gold Coast, Australia, to participate in Canada Connect, a joint initiative with the CMPA and Screen Producers Australia (SPA). Held as part of the SPA Connect Market at SCREEN FOREVER 39, the event brings together established television and film producers from Australia and Canada who are seeking global partners and financing. The curated co-production program will feature exclusive talks, bespoke B2B meetings and industry networking opportunities.

Producers will also attend SPA’s SCREEN FOREVER 39 event, one of the largest congregations of screen industry professionals in the southern hemisphere, featuring leading Australian and international industry professionals.

Canada’s delegation to Australia is supported by Ontario Creates, Telefilm Canada and CanExport for Associations (Global Affairs).

The delegation to Australia is the latest in a series of international delegations led by the CMPA to strengthen relationships and collaborations for Canadian producers at festivals and markets around the world. Recent CMPA delegations have included the UK’s Content London, Germany’s Berlinale, Denmark’s CPH:DOX, and France’s Series Mania.

Quotes:

“The CMPA is thrilled to support this important delegation. Both Canada and Australia have large English-language audiences, diverse shooting locations, world-class crews, and robust production infrastructure, which make our two countries natural partners in television and film production. We look forward to further strengthening this partnership through our respective governments’ efforts to modernize the current Canada-Australia audiovisual co-production agreement.”

  – Reynolds Mastin, President and CEO, Canadian Media Producers Association

“Building on many years of facilitating partnership opportunities between Ontario and Australia, Ontario Creates is pleased to collaborate on leading this exciting trade mission. Ontario offers a range of competitive incentives to support our thriving screen industry and exceptional producers, and we look forward to investing in new Canada-Australia film and television coproductions as a result of the robust program in Sydney and at Screen Forever.”

  – Karen Thorne-Stone, President and CEO, Ontario Creates

“Good stories cross borders and bring people together—and strong international partnerships play a huge role in making that happen, creating economic opportunities and boosting global reach for creators and companies. Australia has long been a trusted collaborator, with Screen Australia and the broader screen sector sharing our commitment to creative excellence. I am thrilled to take part in this delegation on behalf of the CMF to further strengthen the ties between our industries and our talent.”

  – Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund

“Australia and Canada are natural screen partners, with a long history of successful collaboration across drama, documentary, animation and feature film. We’re pleased to host a distinguished Canadian delegation at SCREEN FOREVER 39 as part of Canada Connect, our Global Connect Initiative. To build on this strong foundation, it’s vital that our governments work together to modernise the co-production treaty to reflect today’s screen landscape better and unlock new opportunities for both countries.”

  – Matthew Deaner, CEO, Screen Producers Australia

Producers from Canada:

• Beth Iley, VP, International Series Development, Lark Productions
• Borga Dorter, Producer, Gearshift Films
• Carla de Jong, Head of International Co-Productions and Partnerships, Sinking Ship Entertainment
• Christina Fon, VP, Strategic Partnerships & Scripted Content, Shaftesbury Inc.
• Kulbinder Saran Caldwell, Founder & CEO, REALLIFE Pictures Inc.
• Jane Loughman, Producer, Monkeys & Parrots
• Kevin Krikst, Producer, Rhombus Media Inc.
• Mackenzie Donaldson, Vice President, Scripted TV, Blink 49
• Paula Devonshire, Producer, Devonshire Productions Inc.
• Sarah Timmins, President / Executive Producer, Black Birds Entertainment
• Shant Joshi, President / Executive Producer, Fae Pictures
• Silvana Rose Miller, Development Executive / Producer, OYA Media Group
• Steph Song, Founder, Werewolves of London
• Tania Koenig-Gauchier, Producer, Wapanatahk Media

                              
Industry representatives from Canada:                   

• Gallant Law, Board Member, Racial Equity Screen Office
• Karen Thorne-Stone, President & CEO, Ontario Creates
• Lisa Broadfoot, Vice-President, Industry and Business Affairs, Canadian Media Producers Association
• Sarolta Csete, Director, Mentorship & International Development, Canadian Media Producers Association
• Valerie Creighton, President & CEO, Canada Media Fund

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ABOUT THE CMPA

The Canadian Media Producers Association is the national advocacy organization for independent producers, representing hundreds of companies engaged in the development, production, and distribution of English-language content made for television, cinema, and digital media channels. For more than 75 years, the CMPA has worked to promote the continued success of the Canadian production sector and to ensure a bright future for the diverse content made by our members for both domestic and international audiences. cmpa.ca

Gamiela Fereg
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications, CMPA
gamiela.fereg@cmpa.ca