Who we are
Departments

Development

The Development Department aims to support the development of a range of high-quality, audience-engaging and culturally relevant feature film screenplays and digital storytelling across all genres. We encourage highly skilled development practice in Australia to facilitate the delivery to the production sector of quality screenplays.

In selecting projects to develop we value strong authorial voices, original ideas, audience awareness and an acute understanding of the craft of screenwriting.

Head of Development -
Martha Coleman

   Martha Coleman

Martha Coleman worked in the United Kingdom for seven years as the Head of Development at Icon Entertainment International, the Head of Creative Affairs at Material Entertainment and as a consultant producer. As Head of Development at Icon, Martha was responsible for the company’s UK development slate as well as being involved in their production investment decisions. At Material Entertainment, she developed projects with some of the UK’s top creative talent and was executive producer on the UK box office hit, Run Fat Boy, Run. Before working in the UK, Martha was an independent feature film and commercials producer based in Sydney where she produced the acclaimed Australian feature film Praise. In January 2009 Martha returned to Australia to take up the position as Head of Development at Screen Australia.

  

Development Executive, Feature and Professional Development -
Susan Boehm

   Susan Boehm

Susan has been the Managing Director International of Independent Feature Project (IFP) since 2005, the largest and oldest filmmaker organisation in the United States. In this role, Susan was responsible for IFP’s international programs including the No Borders International Co-Production Market for narrative projects in New York. Prior to this, Susan was involved with project selection and strategy for film sales and financing at Cinetic Media and worked in the Literary Department at the William Morris Agency. Susan has worked as a marketing consultant for Broadway productions, producer of off-Broadway plays, and actor on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in regional theatres. Susan studied at Oxford University and graduated from Brown University.

 

Development Executive, Feature and Professional Development -
Veronica Gleeson

   Veronica Gleeson

Veronica is a well-established Australian script developer, writer and script assessor. Her experience includes being a project analyst at Icon Shanahan Films, development executive at the NSW Film and Television Office (FTO), and regular consultant roles for the FTO, Screen Tasmania, Film Victoria and Screen Australia. She has also worked for several high profile independent producers, screenwriters and directors. Most recently Veronica has worked for the Australian Writers’ Guild where she was instrumental in reconfiguring their script assessment principles and practices. Veronica is the recipient of the Rotterdam Film Festival Young Critics Traineeship and an Australia Council award for emerging talent. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing from UTS and has also worked as a film reviewer and journalist.

 

Development Executive, Feature and Professional Development - Christopher Sharp

   Christopher Sharp

Before coming to Screen Australia Christopher was based in London where he worked as a Development Executive for Material Entertainment, a co-venture between New Line Cinema and Entertainment Film Distributors. Christopher has also worked as a script assessor for UK production entities such as Working Title, UK Film Council, Celador and Ealing Studios. Prior to that he worked as an agent at BLA Management in Sydney and as a producer.

  

Development Executive, Feature and Professional Development - Nicole Dade

   Nicole Dade

Nicole has 12 years' experience working in development, production, commissioning and emerging talent. Recently she was Head of Development at Atlantic Film Group and was previously Head of Production and Development for UK regional screen agency Screen South. Nicole has designed and managed high-profile UK development and production initiatives for BFI London Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival and Warp X. Nicole was a Production Executive at Screen East and executive produced Digital Shorts with the UK Film Council New Cinema Fund. She started her career in film at First Take Films, which commissioned and produced the first short films of filmmakers.

  

Manager, Administration

Charlotte Seymour

Executive Assistant / Administration Coordinator

Diana Burnett

Project Coordinator

Erik Holmberg

Administration Assistant (Melb)

Samantha Dinning

Administration Assistant

Chris Hayes