Screenwest farewells Martha Coleman and Eva Di Blasio
Screenwest farewells Head of Creative Martha Coleman and Talent Development Manager Eva Di Blasio, after valued contributions to the organisation and the WA screen sector.
Screenwest is farewelling both Martha Coleman and Eva Di Blasio this month, with both team members departing to take on new projects and opportunities.
As Head of Creative: Content & Industry Development, Martha has curated a skilled team within the creative department to oversee project, practitioner and industry development, and overseen our First Nations and Diversity & Inclusion funding programs and policies. Martha’s industry experience and expertise have made a positive contribution in the past 12 months, introducing and reshaping a number of programs and initiatives, including the AWG First Break initiative, the Disney Last Days of the Space Age professional placements, West Coast Visions, Elevate and the scripted development program.
Martha has over 30 years experience in the film and television industry in both Australia and the UK, having worked as a producer, executive producer and creative executive, as well as Head of Development at Screen Australia for five years. She is the producer of ABC TV ratings hit Diary of an Uber Driver and the seminal, award-winning Australian feature film Praise, which was an official selection at Sundance, Berlin and TIFF, where it won the FIPRESCI Award. Martha spent eight years in London as a senior creative at Icon and then Material Entertainment, where she executive produced the UK #1-hit film, Run Fat Boy Run, starring Simon Pegg. She is a voting member of BAFTA and AACTA and a graduate of Curtin University, and AFTRS.
“This past year has been a great introduction to the Western Australian screen industry and a valuable insight into the excellent work done by the wonderful people at Screenwest. I leave behind a great team in good hands and I will advocate for the industry and organisation from outside. But my immediate priority is to enjoy a Perth summer at the best beaches in the world! After which I will focus on some projects that need my attention.” said Martha Coleman.
Eva commenced her role as Talent Development Manager in 2018, where she has been responsible for the delivery and management of Screenwest’s talent development initiatives and partnerships including Elevate and Generate, the SBS Emerging Writers’ Incubator, Out Now and the Unreal Engine Short Film Challenge. Continually committed to establishing pathways for emerging WA talent, Eva has also managed Screenwest’s travel support and above the line professional development placements.
Before joining Screenwest, Eva worked as Company Director and Producer at Wild Child Productions. Throughout her filmmaking career, Eva produced feature films Little Sparrows and Sucker, as well as ABC comedy series The Chinaboy Show, and short films Sleepwalking and Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go. Upon graduating from the Australian Film and Television Radio School with a postgraduate diploma in Producing and Screen Business (2012), Eva received the Screen Australia Talent Escalator Program Grant to work in Los Angeles where she worked with Village Roadshow Pictures and The Gotham Group.
In 2023, Eva will be moving into disability services as a support coordinator, helping families find community support and navigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“It’s been a privilege to see so much screen industry growth over the past four years. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed advocating for and working with the fantastic talent here in WA. I’ll miss my time at Screenwest but look forward to embarking on a new chapter.” said Eva Di Blasio.
“Martha and Eva’s passion for championing Western Australian projects and talent has been invaluable. A massive thank you to both for their wonderful contributions to our creative team and to the wider WA screen industry during their time at Screenwest – they will be missed.” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest CEO.
We all wish Martha and Eva a fond farewell, and all the very best with their future endeavours.
If you have an enquiry regarding Travel Support, please contact:
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Screenwest
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E: joshua.gilbert@screenwest.com.au
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