Screen Producers Australia (SPA) has opened submissions for SPA Connect, its flagship business and market program, as part of SCREEN FOREVER 40, returning to Queensland’s Gold Coast from 28–30 April 2026.
Responsible for generating more than $250 million in business annually, SPA Connect remains one of the Australian screen industry’s most critical commercial platforms, designed to create targeted, high-value opportunities for producers to connect with commissioners, distributors, financiers and strategic partners from Australia and overseas.
The program will again combine in-person activity on the Gold Coast with an Online Global Market, running from 21–22 April 2026, extending access to international buyers and decision-makers ahead of the physical event.
Where SCREEN FOREVER does its real business
SPA CEO Matthew Deaner said SPA Connect sits at the commercial core of the conference, evolving alongside the realities of a global market under pressure.
“SPA Connect sits at the heart of SCREEN FOREVER because it’s where real business happens. It’s designed to create focused, strategic opportunities for producers to advance projects, build partnerships and respond to a global market that continues to evolve at a pace,” Deaner said.
Submissions are now open for both Global Matched Market Meetings, delivered online, and In-Person Matched Market Meetings on the Gold Coast.
A sharper approach to matching projects and buyers
The Matched Market Meetings represent a significant evolution of SPA’s long-running Ready, Steady, Pitch! sessions, shifting to a more targeted, application-only model.
Under the refreshed format, projects are competitively assessed and pre-matched with commissioners, distributors and sales agents, enabling one-on-one meetings that are more precise, prepared and commercially aligned.
Deaner said the changes reflect how deals are increasingly being done.
“Matched Market Meetings reflect how business is increasingly being done, with greater precision, preparation and alignment. This refreshed model ensures producers are meeting the right people for their projects, and buyers are engaging with ideas that speak directly to their current priorities,” he said.
Building pathways for partnerships and scale
Submissions have also opened for the Production Partnerships Forum, a dedicated initiative that connects independent producers and smaller production companies with established Australian production businesses.
The Forum is designed to support longer-term industry sustainability, creating pathways for co-productions, collaborations and strategic partnerships that extend beyond the conference itself.
For 2026, SPA has introduced a new, streamlined submission process that integrates applications for both the Matched Market Meetings and the Production Partnerships Forum directly into the SCREEN FOREVER registration system.
Delegates can submit projects during registration or return to update their submissions at any time before the relevant deadlines, lowering friction for early registrants while accommodating project development timelines.
Marketplace intel and getting deal-ready
SPA also confirmed booking dates for its popular Marketplace Roundtables, which offer delegates direct insight into buyer acquisition strategies, commissioning priorities and emerging content gaps:
• Global Marketplace Roundtables (online): bookings open 1 April 2026
• In-Person Marketplace Roundtables (Gold Coast): bookings open 8 April 2026
In addition, SPA will again deliver Launchpad, a two-part program designed to help delegates maximise their SCREEN FOREVER 40 and SPA Connect experience.
Led by Monica Davidson of Creative Plus Business, Launchpad begins with a practical orientation session covering key conference sessions, networking strategy and pitch preparation, followed by a fast-paced Speed Networking event connecting delegates with essential services and facilities providers, including lawyers, accountants, financiers, music and education providers, post-production houses and insurers.
Further details on SPA Connect programs, eligibility criteria and key dates are available via screenforever.org.au, where delegates can also register for SCREEN FOREVER 40 and submit projects.