Karena Slaninka :: director

Karena is an award winning writer/producer and has worked in film and television in Australia and the UK for over fifteen years.

After graduating from the BA Producing program at the AFTRS in 1996, Karena set up independent production company Pagan Films, developing and producing a range of projects including: CHRIS DOYLE: STIRRED NOT SHAKEN, Winner of the ATOM award for Best Documentary 2000 - a bio-pic on maverick Australian cinematographer Chris Doyle, who won the prestigious Camera D'Or at Cannes Film Festival in 2000. LOVE AND ANARCHY: THE WILD WILD WORLD OF JAIMIE LEONARDER, a revealing insight into the former presenter of the SBS Movie Show, ALIEN UNDERWORLD, Winner Grand Jury Prize Beijing Science Film Festival 2002 and the winner of the Eureka Prize for Science Journalism. Her films have screened at numerous international festivals including Edinburgh, Chicago, Clermont Ferrand, New York, Cork, Sydney, Shanghai, Taipei, Helsinki, Turin, Hong Kong, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, St Kilda, and sold to networks worldwide including Showtime, Channel Four UK, and Canal+ France.

Prior to moving to Tasmania, Karena was the Senior Project Officer at the NSW Film and Television Office where she managed the New Feature Film Writers Scheme, and assessed projects for production and development investment. Projects she was instrumental in supporting whilst at the FTO include: Mary Bryant, Bryan Brown's Two Twisted series, Unfolding Florence, Hating Alison Ashley, Blue Water High (Series 1&2), The Colony, Hell Has Harbour Views, Disgrace, Ten Empty.

Karena has also worked for brief periods in the positions of project co-ordinator and production manager at the Australian Film Finance Corporation (FFC) and has taught producing and production management at Metro Screen, Sydney University evening college and the AFTRS. She was formerly the NSW chapter head of the Screen Producing Association from 2000 – 2002.

Karena.Slaninka@screen.tas.gov.au

Peter Howard :: business manager

Peter joined Screen Tasmania in 2004 following eight years in arts administration and event management.

Peter spent four years with Opera Australia, finishing as Company Manager in 2000 to take on the role of Cast and Production Co-ordinator for segments of the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies. In October 2000 he joined Sydney company 4-D International as Production and Event Manager for a number of events, including the Opera in the Vineyards series.

As Business Manager for Screen Tasmania, Peter liaises with all stakeholders involved with the programs of assistance, including producers, funding agencies, legal representatives and broadcasters as well as acting as liaison for intra-governmental communications.

Peter.Howard@screen.tas.gov.au

Lynne Vincent McCarthy :: project manager

Lynne Vincent McCarthy is an experienced screenwriter, script editor and assessor and has worked in the film & television industry for over 10 years, primarily in the area of film development. She studied screenwriting and script editing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School where she graduated with a Master of Arts in 2000. While at AFTRS she wrote and script edited short films that have won awards and screened at festivals all over the world.

She has since focused on developing original feature film scripts and adaptations whilst working as a freelance script editor and external assessor for the NSW Film & Television Office, Film Victoria, The Pacific Film & Television Commission and Screen Tasmania. She has also worked as a script editor and assessor for productions companies including Mushroom Pictures, Stewart & Wall Entertainment, Beyond and New Town Films. Her recent credits as script editor include the television series Two Twisted and the feature film Acolytes for which she also wrote additional material.

Lynne's original screenplay Axe-fall was a recipient of the NSW Film & Television Offices Aurora Script Development Initiative in 2002 and is currently in the financing stage. Lynne also designed and taught a 'writing the short film' course for the UBS Media centre, Sydney University, and has been a guest lecturer in script editing at the AFTRS. Prior to her film work Lynne spent many years working as a film projectionist and cinema manager for Dendy Cinemas, Sydney.

Lynne.VincentMcCarthy@screen.tas.gov.au

Laura Banks :: communications and marketing manager

Laura Banks joins the Screen Tasmania Team as Communications and Marketing Manager. Laura has a background in Events Management, where she worked for a number of years on the Hobart Summer Festival, The Taste of Tasmania and the Antarctic Midwinter Festival. Laura recently returned from 18 months in Auckland, New Zealand where she was Senior Events Manager for the New Zealand Marketing Association, delivering over 60 events annually to New Zealand's marketing community.

As Communications and Marketing Manager for Screen Tasmania, Laura is involved across all areas of Screen Tasmania's activities and looks after the development of the Screen Tasmania website and e-newsletter, promotional activities, public relations and special events.

Laura.Banks@screen.tas.gov.au

Jane Stapleton :: production liaison officer

Jane started her working life as a teacher but diverted into a media career by gaining a Graduate Diploma in Applied Film and Television through Swinburne University of Technology's Film School (now VCA). She then worked as a Producer/Director for ABC TV and Radio in their Education Department for 11 years. After the ABC made her production unit redundant, she set up her own educational media business with her late partner, Roger Penny.

In 1997, she worked on contract for ABC International Development as a consultant to the South African Broadcasting Corporation and was, for 6 of her 12 months in Johannesburg, the Executive Producer of the newly-formed SABC TV Education Service, controlling 9 production teams and 2 hours of live TV per day.

As Producer of ABC Education Radio National in Hobart, Jane's team won Silver and Bronze medals at the New York International Radio Festival, and she has continued her association with Radio National through producing and presenting the 11-part series, "A Walk in the Park". These programs and their accompanying DVD/CD sets featured National Parks in Tasmania, NSW, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

Jane is also a photographer and has her works available at various outlets throughout the state.

Jane.Stapleton@screen.tas.gov.au

Anne Hutchinson :: executive assistant

Anne Hutchinson joined Screen Tasmania in late 2008 as Executive Assistant to the Director.

With over 20 years experience in an office environment, Anne is highly experienced in the provision of customer service and support. For the past 10 years Anne has worked within the Tasmanian Brewing industry, providing customer service, personal assistance, liaising with stakeholders and supporting internal staff.

In her role as Executive Assistant for Screen Tasmania, Anne provides support and assistance to stakeholders, internal staff and Board members.

Anne.Hutchinson@screen.tas.gov.au

Josie Hurst :: program manager

Josie will be working Monday through to Wednesday inclusive as Program Manager. Josie's role will look after programs including the Filming in Tasmania scheme, Industry and Cultural Development Funding and administering the program and funding guidelines. As one of the UTAS first graduates from a multimedia degree that combines Fine Art and Information Systems with a major in electronic media, Josie joins the team with skills in system design and development and a keen interest in cultural industries.

Having worked for the past 2 years at the Devonport Regional Gallery as the Exhibitions and Public Programs Officer, Josie's working history also includes experience in radio, web development and involvement with numerous contemporary art Galleries and organisations including CAST Gallery, Hobart; 6a, Hobart; Experiementa, Melbourne; Tasmanian Regional Arts, Latrobe; and Arts Tasmania, Hobart. Josie has also exhibited locally her own new media based artwork and written published catalogue essays.

Josie.Hurst@screen.tas.gov.au