More than 250 delegates from 12 countries have gathered in Coffs Harbour for the 2024 Australian Childrens Content Summit.
Writers, producers and creatives from the children’s sector have gathered with execs from ABC, NITV, Nine, BBC, Disney, PBS plus Screen Australia, Screen NSW and the Aust. Children’s Television Foundation representatives for the annual confest discussing the creative, producing and distribution side of children’s television.
Coffs Harbour has turned on magical weather for the event based at Pacific Bay Resort, also the site for future Coffs Harbour studios. The event is again under the steerage of Suzanne Ryan and Dean Sutherland and the team from SLR Productions.
The day began with VIPs taking a helicopter flight an a locations tour before a Welcome to Country snd Smoking Ceremony from Troy and Auntie Jenny.
NSW Minister for the Arts John Graham (pictured below) said, “This is an incredible moment. Congratulations to Suzanne and Dean for getting you all here to this beautiful moment. I can see why you’ve come having made it here, but it is really special to have this group of people here, and the work you do, the connections you make over the next few days, will be incredible.”
Gurmesh Singh, Member for Coffs Harbour, said, “It’s the biggest event of its type in Australia. And this year we’ve got many representatives from organisations all around the world.
“This event’s really put Coffs Harbour on the map for your industry, and we’re extremely grateful for Suzanne’s work, and Dean, bringing it here … bringing you all together as colleagues and as an industry.”
Kevin Anderson, Shadow Minister for the Arts, said, “This is a fantastic gathering, wherever you come from and wherever studios, little spaces that you work in, as you create and you try to produce and come up with these fantastic ideas -this is where it comes together.
“I’m a big fan of Australian content. I believe a rising tide floats all boats. The more Aussie content that we can create, the more eyeballs across the world look at us and go, ‘We want that’ and it starts to spread. So please continue to produce, think of those fantastic light bulb moments.
“I know there’s 160 meetings this afternoon in amongst all of you to try and pitch so good luck. Put your best foot forward. We want more Aussie content on Aussie TVs and screens right across the world.”
Deidre Brennan from Screen Australia and Jenny Buckland from ACTF announced a joint Kids IP Incubator.
“We’re looking for teams, emerging or experienced, it doesn’t matter, who want to play in the online space,” said Buckland. “We’re going to explore the different creative mindset and business models that we need to think about if you’re going to play in the online space, that could be YouTube, it could be FAST channels, robots, it could be something else we can come up.”
Joined by ACCS Ambassador Emma Watkins, the conference will continue until Thursday featuring over 160 Pitch business meetings with, ABC, Nine, Screen Australia, Screen NSW, ACTF, Screen Territory.
There are 33 Speakers from across the globe, including from ABC, BBC & PBS KIDS, Disney Junior, SLR Productions, Flying Bark Productions, Nelvana & Kids Can Press (Canada), Tony Burke Minister for the Arts and more.
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