The much-awarded Matchbox Pictures added to the trophy cabinet, taking away both the Media Super Production Business of the Year and Screen Australia Children’s TV Production of the Year gongs.
The latter award was for Nowhere Boys (pictured, top), which was repeating last year’s win.
Expat NZ producers Helen Bowden and Helen Panckhurst are founder members of Matchbox, although Bowden departed following the completion of the sale of the business to NBC Universal.
Other winners with NZ connections included Greenstone owner Cordell Jigsaw, which took the Documentary TV Production of the Year award for Go Back To Where You Came From, and the Drama Television Production of the Year winner, Playmaker Media, for The Code, which featured Chelsie Preston Crayford and Lucy Lawless.
The SPA award recipients were:
Media Super Production Business of the Year
Matchbox Pictures
Lifetime Achievement Award
Natalie Miller AO
Drama Television Production of the Year
The Code, Playmaker Media
Comedy Television Production of the Year
Please Like Me S2, Guesswork Television
Documentary Television Production of the Year
Go Back To Where You Came From, Cordell Jigsaw Productions
Children’s Television Production of the Year
Nowhere Boys S2, Matchbox Pictures
Light Entertainment Television Production of the Year
Agony, High Wire Films
Reality Television Production of the Year
The X Factor S5, Fremantle Media Australia
Telemovie or Mini Series Production of the Year
The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment
Feature Film Production of the Year
Holding The Man, Goalpost Pictures
Feature Documentary Production of the Year
That Sugar Film, Madman Production Company
Short Film Production of the Year
Emo (The Musical), Matthewswood Productions
Interactive and Online Production of the Year (tied)
How To Talk Australians, Jason Byrne Productions
Interactive and Online Production of the Year (tied)
Sherlock: The Network, The Project Factory
Breakthrough Business of the Year
Brindle Films
Services and Facilities Business of the Year
Fox Studios Australia
