UK and Kiwi producers join forces

Producers in the UK and New Zealand will work together more closely after Pact and Spada inked a deal.

The UK and Kiwi producers’ associations said the memorandum of understanding covers information sharing and delegations from one country visiting the other.

UK trade body Pact already has a similar MoU with the Screen Producers’ Association in Australia.

Australasia is the second biggest export market for UK-originated programming after the US, underlining the rationale for an agreement. UK shows sold to New Zealand include Broadchurch, Masterchef, Grand Designs, The Graham Norton Show and Midsomer Murders.

Sandy Gildea, executive director at Spada, said: “There are well-established ties between New Zealand and UK producers and production companies, therefore it’s important that the independent production sector continues to build and strengthen these international relationships and we look forward to creating more co-production opportunities with our UK counterparts.”

Pact’s director of international development, Dawn McCarthy-Simpson (pictured), said: “This is the sixth MoU with overseas territories Pact has signed in recent years.

“The MoUs form part of Pact’s wider export strategy to develop strong relationships with similar organisations across the world which in turn bring companies closer together leading to an increase in coproductions”.

Pact is about to take a UK indie delegation to China. Prodcos including 3DD, Sixth Sense and Zig Zag Productions will attend the Shanghai Media Festival with Pact.