Spada Podcast

Join Vista Foundation 48Hours alumni producers Sara Chen (Permanently Confused, 2025 Regional Winner), Finn O'Connor (Couch Kumara, 2024 Regional Winner), and Emily Ardern (Videoshop, 2025 Regional Winner) as they share their tips and tricks to help producers prep their team for success in this year's competition and reflect on the competition's impact on their professional producing practice and trajectory.

Hosted by Thomas Coppell, this webinar is a collaboration between Spada (Screen Producers NZ) and Vista Foundation 48Hours.

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Paul Wiegard, Co-Founder and CEO of Madman Entertainment, in conversation with Dr David Court, as he reflects on 30 years of Australia and New Zealand’s most progressive indie film distributor. 

Discover the story behind Madman Entertainment’s evolution, from releasing over 35 Oscar®-nominated films to launching DocPlay,  a dedicated documentary streaming platform. 

Recorded live during the 2025 Spada Conference.

www.spada.co.nz
www.madman.co.nz
www.docplay.com

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Co-Productions are key to ambitious storytelling. As funding tightens and audiences expand, producers are looking offshore for scale and opportunity. This discussion explores what's changing, and how NZ-supported partnerships can go global.

Panel: Poppy Dowle (Film Finances), Michele McDonald (Screen Australia), Emma Slade (Producer, Velvet Moss) and moderator Jennifer Wilton (NZ Film Commission).

Recorded live at the 2025 Spada Conference, held in Auckland, NZ, 20 & 21 November 2025.

www.spada.co.nz

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The 2025 NZ On Air John O'Shea Memorial Address: In Coversation with Stephen Stehlin, was the opening session of the 30th Spada Conference.

A producer with four decades experience in the Aotearoa New Zealand screen industry, Taualeo'o Stephen Stehlin spoke with Ngaire Fuata about his career, creating Pasifika stories for screen, and 38 years of Tagata Pasifika.

The John O'Shea Memorial Address is sponsored by NZ On Air, with CEO Cameron Harland providing the introduction. This conversation was recorded live during the 30th Spada Conference, held 20 & 21 November 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Producers face unique pressures. This session explores strategies that support producers' mental health on and off set, with insights from data, case studies, and real world experiences. 

Panel: Kelly Lucas (ScreenSafe), Miranda Rivers (Casting / Mental Health First Aid), Emmett Skilton (Director / Actor) and Kevin Denholm (Film Chaplain / Director). 

Recorded live at the 2025 Spada Conference, held 20 & 21 November 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand.

www.spada.co.nz

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Award-winning New Zealand author J.P. (Josh) Pomare (Ngā Puhi) takes the stage with Paula Browning (We Create) to share insights into IP ownership, screen adaptation rights, and building on an international profile as a writer.

Recorded live during the 30th Spada Conference, held 20 & 21 November 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand.

www.spada.co.nz

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Join Steve Crombie, CEO and Founder of Totem Global, and TVNZ’s Chief News and Content Officer, Nadia Tolich, for an engaging conversation on the strategies   and steps needed to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a digital-first content landscape. Moderated by Natalie Apostolou (C21 Media Aus/NZ Editor).

Recrded live at the 2025 Spada Conference, held 20 & 21 November 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand.

www.spada.co.nz

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Frances Valintine (CNZM, academyEX) last set the tone for Spada in 2016, exploring disruption, AI, and the future of screen. Nearly a decade on, the world she forecast has arrived at speed. In this keynote Frances revisits her predictions and charts the next frontier for a sector in rapid transition. 

Recorded live at the 2025 Spada Conference, held 20 & 21 November 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand.

www.spada.co.nz

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The path to profit, growth, and career longevity lies through audiences. Our panel  discusses how understanding your audience can unlock elusive private investment. Panel: Paul Wiegard (Madman Entertainment), Jas McSweeney (Umbrella Entertainment),  Dr David Court (Compton School). Moderator: Rosie Hole (Hinterland). 

Recorded live at the 2025 Spada Conference held in Auckland, NZ, on 20 & 21 November 2025.

www.spada.co.nz

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A new generation of producers share how they craft bold, authentic stories for the fast-moving  world of social media – connecting rangatahi with local content that resonates. Panel: Jessica Todd (Cable Maiden Prod.), Perrin Hastings (Director), Hope Papali’I (Producer). Moderator: Sheldene Seth (Able). 

> 'First Place' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzXb-XlI3f8

> 'The Sender' https://www.instagram.com/thesendernz/?hl=en

> 'The Gender Agenda' https://www.youtube.com/@The_Gender_Agenda

> 'Sight Unseen' https://able.co.nz/our-productions/sight-unseen/

'Hook, Hold, Repeat: Capturing Rangatahi Attention Online' was recorded live at the 30th Spada Conference, 20 & 21 November 2025.

www.spada.co.nz 

Subscribe for more screen industry conversations from Spada (Screen Producers NZ).