APSA Jury President Lord David Puttnam at SPAA

The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) has announced that the International Jury President of the 2010 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), Lord David Puttnam, will be a keynote speaker at the annual Conference being held 16 to 19 November in Sydney. The celebrated British film producer, politician and education leader will speak at a special morning plenary session on Friday 19 November, ahead of travelling to Queensland’s Gold Coast to preside over the International Jury for the fourth annual APSA’s.

"Lord Puttnam is recognised as one of the world's great film visionaries. Not only is he an Academy Award winning producer in his own right, he championed the debate in the UK in the early 2000s that led to the revival of the local film and television sectors through the introduction of independent production quotas and the OFCOM's role in determining terms of trade between independent producers and broadcasters. The Australian industry is at a critical time in our development with analogue switch-off in 2013, a media convergence review next year, the future of local content regulation up for grabs and the continuing rollout of the NBN. We need coherent public policy with clear, meaningful and achievable objectives that cover all aspects of the industry. Lord Puttnam's experience and knowledge will be
invaluable as we determine the future landscape." said Geoff Brown, SPAA’s Executive Director.

APSA Chairman Des Power welcomed the announcement this morning saying: “I am delighted that Australia’s film and television community will have further opportunities to engage with Lord Puttnam during his time in Australia.

His breadth of experience across film, politics, public broadcasting and education is extraordinary and his participation in the SPAA conference will add another dimension to his visit to Australia as President of the 2010 APSA International Jury. Lord Puttnam’s contribution to both APSA and SPAA in 2010 further consolidates the close collaborative relationship between our two organisations. SPAA is the Official Submitting Organisation for Australia for APSA and the support of SPAA, in particular that of Executive Director Geoff Brown, has been integral to APSA’s development. I congratulate Geoff Brown on what is shaping up to be another great year for the SPAA conference."

SPAA is the industry association for the independent film and television industry, providing leadership and direction on all debates concerning the economics, creative and technological future of the screen production industries in Australia.

It strives to create the business conditions for the industry to compete strongly in both local and overseas markets.

APSA is a unique collaboration between UNESCO, FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations and the Queensland Government. APSA honours the works of filmmakers across a region covering 70 countries, one third of the earth and half the world’s film output. Films are judged on cinematic excellence and the way in which they attest to their cultural origins. Nominees in the fourth annual APSAs will be announced early October and winners will be presented at the APSA Ceremony on the Gold Coast on December 2.