EXCLUSIVE: Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd, Pachinko creator Soo Hugh and Happy Valley writer Sally Wainwright are headlining this year’s Future Vision global TV exchange in Melbourne, Australia.
The three-day event, held at ACMI, Australia’s national museum of screen culture in Melbourne, on July 14-16, bringing together drama and narrative comedy creators, writers, producers, commissioners and development executives from Australia and across the globe for three days of talks, strategy and debate.
This is the second year of the summit, which Deadline revealed news of a year ago.
Nine Perfect Strangers producer Bruna Papandrea and Tony Ayres (The Survivors) are returning as Co-Chairs, and have been building a line-up based around the concept of ‘optimism in the face of uncertainty. Australians in Film, in association with presenting partners Screen Australia and VicScreen, are the organizers, and See-Saw Films CEO Emile Sherman is Creative Advsior.
Landing Gadd, the multi-Emmy and Golden Globe-winning creator and star of Netflix’s unexpected UK hit, Baby Reindeer; Hugh, the Peabody-winning creator and director of Apple TV+ hit Pachinko; and BAFTA winner Wainwright, who is widely considered one of Britain’s top TV dramatists, will discuss their journeys and provide views on the complex and confusing international industry.
Papandrea and Ayres said in a statement: “We are so enormously thrilled to have three of our television heroes coming to Future Vision this year. Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwright, and Soo Hugh are undoubtedly some of the most exciting television creators in the world today. They create unforgettable worlds and characters that explode onto our screens, and they are masters of their craft. We cannot wait to engage with them in Melbourne and bring their thinking and provocation to the thought leaders at home.”
Gadd said events such as Future Vision were “very important,” as they “bring together people who care about pushing boundaries, taking risks, and telling stories that mean something.”
Wainwright added she was “looking forward hugely to talking telly with everyone,” adding that Australian comedy cop series Deadloch was among her “absolute favourite shows” of recent years. “I loved it because it was as absurd as it was dark, which for me is always a winning combination. I’m thrilled to be able to visit where it was shot in Tasmania.”
Hugh said: “Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to learn from extraordinary storytellers who taught me the power of vision and reminded me how deeply personal stories can resonate globally. I’m excited to attend Future Vision – to listen, exchange ideas, and be inspired by voices that see the world a little differently.”
The first, Monday July 14 is an open day for established creatives, industry stakeholders and other interested parties, which will be streamed globally. The following two days are invite-only and aimed at top-tier writers, directors, producers, and commissioning executives.
Screen Australia COO Grainne Brunsdon said: “With Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwright and Soo Hugh to headline, the 2025 offering will be valuable for our Australian screen sector to come together and learn from key industry players on how we can continue to launch our stories onto a global stage. Considering our local industry is already one of innovation, strong community and resilience, we have good reason to get behind the event’s theme of Optimism.”
Australians in Film Executive Director Peter Ritchie says; “There are real opportunities for the Australian screen sector globally, and we are so enormously grateful to our headline
international guests, our co-Chairs, Screen Australia and VicScreen, all our industry partners, attendees and guests who are coming together so generously to prioritize a strategic approach to the ways we commission, develop and execute our Australian screen stories for international audiences.”
Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks added: “This event connects Australia’s leading screen storytellers with the creators of some the world’s most watched TV series. From global sensation Apple Cider Vinegar to forthcoming new series The Survivors, Victoria continues to be a global screen powerhouse.”
Disney, Netflix and Stan are supporting Future Vision. The venue partner is ACMI and hotel partner the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Here’s a Q&A with See-Saw Films’ co-founder and CEO Emile Sherman, Creative Advisor to Future Vision
DEADLINE: The theme of Future Vision is optimism. Given the troubled state of scripted financing, where is that optimism coming from?
Creativity is always grounded in optimism, an optimism in the ability to reach outside ourselves and connect with the humanity in others. This may be a difficult time for the screen industry, but it’s a great moment to get together as storytellers and rekindle our shared passion for what we do.
DEADLINE: Since becoming part of Mediawan, what have you learned about both See-Saw and the wider business that you didn’t know before?
It’s just the beginning of our new relationship with Mediawan, but we’re hugely impressed with their energy to bring together like minded creatives across their territories and to champion talent. It has reminded us of how unexpected relationships can yield surprising results.
DEADLINE: Where are the areas Australians in scripted TV can be most optimistic and where are they most challenged? What can be done?
I think we’re continuing to evolve as an industry. We have so much talent here, and there’s a great love of Australian screen both here and internationally, but we haven’t yet reached our full potential in creating the number of local and global hits we’re capable of. That’s why I’m excited about Future Vision – it’s a way of us all coming together to think through the challenges we face, bring in some incredible international creatives, and hopefully spark some unexpected ideas.
