Screen Australia is an investor in many of the Australian feature films that find their way into cinemas. The agency requires a sales agent – among other things – to be attached to each film so it has the best chance of being pushed out onto the world stage.

Film producers are always knocking on Screen Australia’s door because there’s money behind it.

Sales agents give the low-down on what they want, the reasoning behind some of their recent Australian acquisitions, and more.

Many doors swung open for writer/director Neil Triffett and producer Lee Matthews as a result of the short film EMO the Musical being selected for the Berlinale and subsequently earning a special mention from the jury.

December Media has just begun filming the fifth season of The Doctor Blake Mysteries, which is represented internationally by ITV Studios. It is when shows are recommissioned that revenues start to flow in earnest.

Cineflix Rights handles international sales on the Australian drama Secrets & Lies, which was made by Hoodlum for Network Ten. Chris Bonney discusses the show and the sales scene generally.

Endemol Shine International CEO Cathy Payne on making drama that sells worldwide.

BBC Two commissioned a bushfires doco, but it never would’ve suited an Aussie audience. Under an unofficial co-pro, two quite distinct docos were made.

Sixteen relatively recent Australian television dramas have earned more than $1 million each in gross revenue and nearly $43 million as a group, mostly from abroad.

All three of Essential Media and Entertainment’s most recent dramas – Rake, Jack Irish series 1 and The Principal – are selling well internationally. All are represented by DCD Rights. Ian Collie provides some thoughts on the international sales scene, then discusses each drama.

Secrets & Lies doesn’t have the recognition factor of many others in the list of Screen Australia dramas that have sold well but it has spawned two seasons of a US version, is near the top of the list because of its international popularity and was a game changer for Hoodlum because of how many doors it has opened and is still opening.

Australian/UK company See-Saw Films and New Zealand’s Escapade Pictures produced Top of the Lake, which is represented by BBC Worldwide. Emile Sherman talks about its success and explains the value of co-commissioning.