Meet the Nominees: Unscripted Producers

Presented by Screen Producers Australia

Friday 9 February

2pm AEST

Discover the secrets behind screen excellence with AACTA's Meet the Nominees series. Meet the Nominees: Producers – Unscripted, where the visionaries behind your favourite factual and unscripted content will share their behind-the-scenes stories and expertise.

This is a rare opportunity to gain first-hand insights into the art of producing award-winning screen content. Register now, as seats are limited, and hear directly from the masterminds behind your favourite screen content.

Confirmed Panellists are Celia Tait (Ningaloo Nyinggulu), Deb Spinocchia (Great Australian Bake Off), Steve Bibb (Matildas: The World At Our Feet), Helen Panckhurst (The Giants) and Blayke Hoffman (Harley & Katya)

Featuring

Matthew Deaner

Matthew Deaner is the Chief Executive Officer of Screen Producers Australia (SPA), a national organisation that unites the screen industry to campaign for a healthy commercial environment. SPA supports the interests of businesses, large and small, in their production of feature films, television programs, interactive content and games across all genres and formats. Matthew oversees all aspects of Screen Producers Australia's advocacy work, industrial negotiations, events and operational issues. He also works closely with the SPA Council to set the strategic direction of the organisation as well as identify and execute new business development opportunities. Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge to Screen Producers Australia with his experience as a lawyer in both Sydney and London and in senior policy and strategy positions with Screen Australia and the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association.

Steve Bibb

Steve Bibb is one of the two executive producers of Matildas: The World at Our Feet. His company, Barking Mad Productions, produced the six-part documentary series along with Station 10 Media for Disney+.

Regarded as one of Australia's leading documentary producers, Steve launched Barking Mad Productions in 2020. In that time, the company’s credits include A Symphonic Odyssey with Professor Brian Cox (ABC), Shipwreck Hunters Australia (Disney+), Inside the Sydney Opera House (ABC), Claremont: A Killer Among Us (Channel 10/Paramount) and Fightback Farmers: Feeding Australia Together (ABC). 

An award-winning television producer, director, writer, and media executive, Steve is the former Head of Factual at the ABC. Earlier, Steve enjoyed success as an executive producer of factual with the independent production company CJZ, where he created Great Southern Land (ABC) and co-created Hardliners (FOX8) and MegaTruckers (A&E), among other titles.

Steve is a former newspaper journalist in Sydney and London who spent a decade as a producer at the Nine Network.

Blayke Hoffman

Blayke is an International Emmy winning producer with a passion for fascinating, moving and aesthetically interesting stories.

In 2022, Blayke co-wrote, with director Selina Miles (MARTHA: A PICTURE STORY), and produced, with Jo-anne McGowan and Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury, the feature documentary HARLEY & KATYA. It won the 2023 International Emmy Award for Best Sports Documentary, was the ABC’s most watched Australian feature documentary for 2022, and in its first week on Netflix, achieved a top 10 film ranking in the UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, South Africa, and Ireland. It was longlisted for a Walkley Award for excellence in journalism and has also received nominations in the 2024 Realscreen Awards and 2024 AACTA Awards.

Blayke began her career in fiction, coming up as part of the commissioning teams at SBS Independent then Network 10, before moving into factual roles with Network 10 and Red Bull Media House – in Australia, Europe and the US. Blayke is currently in post-production on the feature documentary DEEPER directed by Jennifer Peedom (SHERPA, MOUNTAIN) which follows the Australian heroes of the Thai Cave Rescue, as they risk it all to pursue a dangerous obsession.

Helen Panckhurst

Helen Panckhurst (she/her) is a Matchbox Pictures founder and Head of Production for the company, supervising production of the entire Matchbox and Tony Ayres Productions (TAP) slates.

Recent Matchbox/TAP credits include long-form series Class Of ’07, Irreverent, Fires, Clickbait and Stateless, the serial The Heights, feature film Ali’s Wedding, and children’s series Spooky Files, Turn Up The Volume and Mustangs F.C.

Helen has produced and executive produced television drama, documentaries and feature films. She executive produced The Giants and Freeman with Laurence Billiet and Rachael Antony’s company General Strike, and counts both documentaries as personal passion projects. Other documentary highlights are Mrs Carey’s Concert, First Australians and The Matilda Candidate.

Deb Spinocchia

Deb is the Head of Unscripted at BBC Studios. She joined the company in 2022 as the Head of Development and Content from Screentime Australia where she was Executive Producer of SAS Australia and The School That Tried to End Racism, which received a 2021 AACTA nomination for Best Documentary or Factual Series. Prior to Screentime Australia, Deb was an executive producer at Seven Studios where she oversaw productions including House Rules, Zumbo’s Just Desserts, First Dates and Back with the Ex. She has also worked as a producer for many leading companies including Southern Star Entertainment, Endemol Shine, Fremantle Media, SBS and ABC on shows such as World’s Strictest Parents, So You Think You Can Dance, Big Brother, Undercover Boss and Beauty and the Geek.

Celia Tait

Celia Tait is managing director of ARTEMIS MEDIA, based in Fremantle. Celia has worked as a writer, producer, director and executive producer and won national and international awards for her work.

Artemis produces ‘stand out’ high quality factual TV for domestic and international networks and is renowned for stories that inspire, delight and inform. Artemis’s focus is on creating entertaining documentaries with social purpose, including Saving Andrew Mallard, The Dream House, Don’t Stop the Music, Storm in a Teacup, Australia’s Biggest Singalong and Australia’s Health Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley.

Currently in production is Every Family has a Secret Series 4, New Leash on Life and Australia’s Sleep Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley. Artemis wildlife films include Lobster Tales, Return to Eden, Dolphins Day and Eye of the Tiger. Artemis has designed, facilitated and co- funded social impact campaigns.

Celia is the Chair of the IAGC (Industry Advisory Group Committee) that advises the Screenwest Board to engage with, monitor and maintain currency with emerging issues and trends affecting the WA screen industry. Celia is also a Committee member of Screen Voice, an association for Australian independent screen producers, and has been a judge on the Wildscreen Festival panel.