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About

BUNYA GROUP

TEAM

David Jowsey

Co-Managing Director and Producer Bunya Productions

David Jowsey has had an extensive career as a film and television producer.  In 2009 David formed BUNYA Productions with award winning filmmaker Ivan Sen. Bunya is an independent production company based out of Sydney and the Gold Coast. David is producer of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema selected feature film Mad Bastards directed by Brendan Fletcher. The same year David produced Toomelah by Ivan Sen. The film was selected for the 2011 Cannes Film Festival – in Un Certain Regard. David also produced the Toronto Film Festival 2012 selection, Satellite Boy, directed by Catriona McKenzie. Satellite Boy received a Special Mention at its European Premiere in the Generation section of the 2013 Berlin Film Festival.

In 2013, David produced and self-distributed Mystery Road by Ivan Sen. The film had its premiere with a Special Presentation at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival. This was followed by Ivan Sen’s Goldstone, a sequel to the film Mystery Road, which premiered In Competition in Platform at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and in 2015 David produced Jasper Jones based on the best-selling novel, directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving which premiered at the 2017 Shanghai Film Festival.

In 2016 David Jowsey produced the period western Sweet Country directed by Warwick Thornton which received its world premiere In Competition at the 2017 Venice Film Festival winning the Special Jury Prize and its North American premiere In Competition as the Closing Night Film of Platform at the Toronto Film Festival where it won the Platform Prize.

David more recently produced both series of the television drama Mystery Road as well as the feature film High Ground, starring Simon Baker, which screened in a Gala Presentation at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival. He also produced Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife and Ivan Sen’s Loveland, starring Ryan Kwanten, Hugo Weaving and Jillian Nguyen, as well as Mystery Road: Origin and True Colours. Most recently David produced Ivan Sen’s latest film Limbo starring Simon Baker, Rob Collins and Natasha Wanganeen.

Ivan Sen

Writer | Director | Composer

Throughout the late 1990s Ivan Sen worked on numerous short films, before making his feature film debut with Beneath Clouds in 2002. The film won Ivan global acclaim, screening in Competition at the 2002 Berlinale and winning a Silver Bear. Beneath Clouds also screened at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and earned Ivan the 2002 Best Director Award at the Australian Film Institute Awards.

Ivan has written and produced a number of award-winning documentaries. His documentary Yellow Fella screened in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005.

In 2011 Ivan completed his feature Toomelah, which was selected for Un Certain Regard at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The world premiere of the film at Cannes received a standing ovation. The film won the Grand Prix at the Pacific Meridian Film Festival 2011 and the UNESCO Prize at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2011.

In 2012 Ivan was awarded the prestigious Byron Kennedy Award, for “his unique artistic vision and for showing, by his resourceful, multidisciplinary filmmaking, that telling stories on screen is in reach of all who have something consequential to say”.

In 2013 Ivan wrote and directed the feature film Mystery Road starring Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten, Tasma Walton and Jack Thompson. Mystery Road had its international premiere with a “Special Presentation” at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival and opened the 2013 Sydney Film Festival. Ivan is an Executive Producer on the successful TV drama series adaptation of Mystery Road.

In 2015 Ivan directed Goldstone starring Aaron Pedersen, Jacki Weaver, David Gulpilil, Cheng Pei Pei, Alex Russell and David Wenham. Goldstone premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was the opening night film at the 2015 Sydney Film Festival.

In 2019 Ivan wrote and directed his sci fi Loveland starring Ryan Kwanten, Hugo Weaving and Jillian Nguyen.

Greer Simpkin

Co-Managing Director and Producer Bunya Productions

Greer Simpkin joined Bunya Productions as Co-Managing Director and Producer in March 2015 after many years working in editorial and production roles in broadcasting – ABC (Australia) and Channel 4 (UK).

Since joining Bunya, Greer has produced the award-winning feature films Sweet Country, Goldstone, High Ground, Loveland, The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson and was an Executive Producer on Jasper Jones. She is currently in production on the Ivan Sen feature Limbo.

Greer has produced all three series of award-winning television drama series Mystery Road. The Mystery Road franchise has won a total of 15 AACTA Awards and a TV Week Logie Award for Most Popular Drama. The series has been a ratings hit – the second series was the highest rating Australian drama on free to air in 2020, the third series Mystery Road: Origin was the highest rating drama launch on ABC iview in its 15 year history. The series has been helmed by outstanding First Nations directors Rachel Perkins, Warwick Thornton, Wayne Blair and Dylan River and has starred terrific actors such as Aaron Pedersen, Judy Davis, Deb Mailman, Wayne Blair, Sofia Helin, Mark Coles Smith, Tuuli Narkle and Tasma Walton

In 2021 Greer also produced True Colours a ground-breaking series set in the art world of Alice Springs and a remote Indigenous community, and with much of the series spoken in the local Arrernte language. The series stars Rarriwuy Hick, Miranda Otto, Luke Arnold and Warren Williams.

Prior to joining Bunya, Greer was Deputy Head of Fiction at ABC Television. Greer was instrumental in commissioning a large slate of new dramas and narrative comedies including The Code, The Slap, Rake, The Time of Our Lives, Paper Giants, Cliffy, Jack Irish, Please Like Me, Upper Middle Bogan, Devil’s Dust, Miss Fisher, Dr Blake and Mabo. As well as overseeing the entire TV Fiction slate alongside Head of Fiction, Carole Sklan, Greer was an Executive Producer of The Code, Hiding, Parer’s War, Serangoon Road and The Secret River.

Before joining the ABC, Greer lived and worked in the UK. She was a Programme Finance Executive for Channel 4 for 6 years and, prior to that, Head of Production for Mentorn Films (now Mentorn Media) and a Producer for acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Brian Duffy.

Sophia Zachariou

Co-Managing Director Bunya Entertainment

Sophia joined Bunya in 2019 as co-managing Director of Bunya Entertainment, alongside  David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin. Bunya Entertainment focusses on scripted television and the slate  includes over 25 scripted dramas and comedy programs in development. Bunya Entertainment produced The Moth Effect for Amazon and is in production on  Limbo for the ABC.

Previously as Create NSW Director of Screen Investment, Engagement and Attraction, Sophia Zachariou led the screen program and prior to that was the Head of Development and Production at Screen NSW.

During her time at the agency, Sophia oversaw the commissioning of award-winning productions such as Warwick Thornton’s, Sweet Country, Rachel Perkins’ Mystery Road, Nash Edgerton’s Mr Inbetween, Bruce Beresford’s Ladies in Black and Jeffrey Walker’s Riot.

Sophia was the leading creative force behind many of the successful TV Drama initiatives that Create NSW implemented, including #shedirects, with Rachel Griffiths, Leah Purcell and Rachel Perkins targeted to increasing female TV drama directors, Cli-Fi – a screen development program with ABC Drama in the genre of climate-change science fiction and the Amplifier Feature Film fund with such talented writers and directors as Luke Davies, Jen Peedom and Kate Mulvaney.

Sophia is also a passionate advocate for the emerging sector and has championed many emerging creative voices from under-represented groups during her entire career.

Prior to joining Create NSW, Sophia commissioned and was the Executive Producer on over thirty award-winning television titles, including Gruen, The Chaser, Kitchen CabinetShaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell and Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey and was also Deputy Head of Entertainment at the Australian national television network ABC TV.

Lauren Mather

Head of Production

Lauren Mather joined Bunya Productions in 2016 as Head of Production where she has overseen the Bunya factual slate including the drama/doc series Blue Water Empire, the feature documentaries Sanctuary and Beautiful Minds: The Agents of Change and the VR film Every King Tide.  

Lauren began her media career in the Marketing and Publicity department at ABC Television before moving to the Drama & Narrative Comedy Unit, supporting a number of Executive Producers on an award-winning slate of commissioned series, web series and telemovies. Lauren has also worked as an Associate Agent at esteemed talent agency Cameron’s Management and has practised law in New South Wales.

Angela Littlejohn

Producer

Angela is a seasoned international Screen Producer and Executive who has worked in the film and TV industry for the past 30 years. Prior to returning to New Zealand in 2000, Angela spent 15 years in the UK working in the film and television industry. She worked as Drama Co-Production Executive and Programme Finance Manager for Channel 4 drama and Film4. Film & TV made during her tenure included Trainspotting, Secrets and Lies, Velvet Goldmine, Queer as Folk, Brookside & Hollyoaks.

Her film credits include Anthony McCarten’s Show of Hands and Sima Urale’s Apron Strings Slow West, Separation City and The Changeover. Her TV producing credits include Cleverman Season 1 & 2.  She co-produced Channel 4’s BAFTA winning Not Only But Always starring Rhys Ifans. She was Series Producer on the pre-school animation TV series Kiddets, the first NZ/China official TV co-production

Her recent producer credits include Ivan Sen’s feature film Loveland, and Leah Purcell’s The Drovers Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, Matthew J Saville’s Juniper  (starring Charlotte Rampling) and Michelle Savill’s Millie Lies Low.

She has recently completed principal photography on the 6 part comedy drama series Limbo for the ABC.

Sophia O'Rourke

Development Co-ordinator

Sophia O’Rourke joined Bunya Productions in 2022 as Development Coordinator, having previously worked with the company on two seasons of Mystery Road. 

Sophia began her career working in television at the ABC in the production team for Four Corners and QandA. She moved to Broome and worked as a Radio Producer and Presenter for ABC Kimberley. She has also worked as a Media Adviser in federal politics.

Sophia is a Graduate of AFTRS and has produced short films which have screened nationally and internationally.

BUNYA PRODUCTIONS

FILM

Bunya Productions has produced and collaborated on a slate of award-winning feature films, all of which have premiered at a top international film festival including: High Ground (Berlin), Sweet Country (Venice Competition and Toronto Platform) The Drovers Wife: The Legend Of Molly Johnson (SXSW), Goldstone (Toronto Platform), Mystery Road (Toronto), Jasper Jones  (Shanghai), Toomelah (Cannes), Mad Bastards (Sundance) and Satellite Boy (Berlin and Toronto).

The Film arm of Bunya has won awards such as the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and the coveted Platform Prize at the Toronto Film Festival and the APSA award for Best Film (all for Sweet Country). More recently, The Drovers Wife won the APSA 2021 Grand Jury Prize and the 2022 AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a film. The latest film in production is Ivan Sen’s Limbo, starring Simon Baker and Rob Collins.

TELEVISION

Bunya Productions’ television division produces the ratings hit Mystery Road franchise. The latest series, Mystery Road Origin won 7 AACTA awards including Best Drama Series in 2022. It was the highest rating Drama launch on ABC iview in its 15-year history.

The first Mystery Road series, starring Aaron Pedersen and Judy Davis won 5 AACTA Awards including Best Drama Series as well as Most Popular Drama at the 2019 TV Week Logie Awards. Mystery Road Season 2, starring Aaron Pedersen and Sofia Helin (The Bridge) and directed by Warwick Thornton and Wayne Blair, premiered at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival. It won the 2020 AACTA Award for Best Drama Series and was the highest rating Australian adult TV drama series on free to air television in 2020. The Mystery Road franchise has the highest ever number of AACTA nominations for a television series.

Bunya Productions also produced True Colours for SBS – a ground-breaking series set in the art world of Alice Springs and a remote Indigenous community, and with much of the series spoken in the local Arrernte language. The series stars Rarriwuy Hick, Miranda Otto, Luke Arnold and Warren Williams.  True Colours was nominated for Best Miniseries at the 2020 AACTA awards.

Both Mystery Road Origin and True Colours screened at the 2022 Sydney Film Festival. Mystery Road Origin also premiered in September at the Toronto Film Festival in the coveted PrimeTime section alongside outstanding international series such as Handmaid’s Tale.

BUNYA ENTERTAINMENT

Bunya Entertainment has produced The Moth Effect sketch comedy series for Amazon and is in production on comedy series Limbo starring Ryan Corr and Bob Morley for ABC Comedy. The Moth Effect was nominated for a 2021 AACTA for best comedy/entertainment series.

DARK MATTER

Bunya’s distribution arm has released features and documentaries including the features Mystery Road, Loveland, The Leadership and Sanctuary. In 2022 Dark Matter will release the feature film We Are Still Here and Ivan Sen’s Limbo.