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SAFC farewells Head of Production and Development Beth Neate
05 April 2024
The SAFC bids a fond farewell to Head of Production and Development Beth Neate, who is leaving the agency this month after six and a half years.
Beth has had a 20 year association with the screen sector both in South Australia and nationally and is a former Media and Policy Advisor to the United Nations and ABC Producer for the East Kimberley region of WA.
She first joined the SAFC in 2007 as Project Officer, returning in 2017 as Production and Development Executive where she worked extensively across feature film and television drama as well as unscripted program.
In 2020 Beth was appointed Head of Production and Development, a role in which she has led the development and delivery of many key SAFC initiatives including the ground-breaking SAFC Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2032, the South Australian Screen Workforce Development Strategy, Australia’s first rebate for video game development, the re-boot of the feature film program Film Lab: New Voices and the ABC/SAFC Content Pipeline Fund. Beth also led the SAFC’s COVID-19 response and drove several periods of record production activity in SA backing an impressive slate including The Tourist, The New Boy, Talk To Me, Monolith, Firebite, Aftertaste, My Name is Gulpilil, The Stranger, Beep and Mort, Teenage Boss, First Day, A Sunburnt Christmas, The Royal Hotel, The Survival of Kindness, Desert King and Ladies in Black.
SAFC CEO Kate Croser said: “With unwavering dedication, clear-mindedness and passionate advocacy, Beth has delivered colossal impact for the SA screen industry, particularly in the past four years in her role as Head of Production and Development. An instrumental part of the SAFC’s leadership team, Beth has been a driving force for the SAFC’s programs and initiatives to support and grow the South Australian screen industry.
“Personally, I have truly valued working closely with Beth, she is one of a special band of people who foster positivity and inspire others to live by their values. I know that Beth is valued and respected by the SAFC team, as well as the SA and national screen industry, for her professionalism and commitment to her role and she will be sorely missed. We all wish Beth the very best for the next chapter in her life.”
Beth Neate said: “It has been an honour and a joy to have led the SAFC’s Production and Development Team and to have collaborated with so many exceptional professionals from all aspects of the screen industry over many years. I am immensely proud of the outstanding screen work being made in South Australia and the next wave of talent we have championed and supported. I thank my SAFC colleagues, past and present, and the SAFC Board for their trust, collegiality and friendship.”
Shana Levine will continue as Consulting Head of Production and Development to support the SAFC team until the end of May.
The SAFC is currently recruiting for a new Head of Production and Development. For more details and to apply, please visit the EP Australia website.