Sophie Hyde is a director, producer, writer, and founding member of the film collective Closer Productions. She lives and works on the lands of the Kaurna people in South Australia. Her debut feature drama, “52 Tuesdays,” won the Directing Award at Sundance and the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Her work has won a BIFA for Best Debut Screenplay, Australian Academy Awards, Australian Directors Guild awards, and the Australian Writers Guild award for Best Series. Her documentaries have won the Australian Documentary Prize, premiered at Sundance and Hotdocs, and screened on PBS (USA), ABC (Australia), and ARTE (France and Germany).

Kirsty Stark is a Producer at Epic Films and Development Producer at Matchbox Pictures, running their SA office. She began her career in camera department and is on the committee of the ACS SA branch.

Thirteen years’ experience based in London working across production, development, financing and sales which included Producer credits on two feature films, before relocating to Australia. Mentored by producer Cassian Elwes (Lawless, The Butler, Dallas Buyers Club) based in his LA office. Selected by the Natalie Miller Brilliant Careers program for another mentorship with Angus Clunies-Ross (Head of Sales, Sony Pictures releasing). Chosen as one of three mid-career producers by Screen Australia and Creative Content Australia to attend and meet with all the major studios and exhibitors at the International Movie Convention. Chair of Mercury CX and Company Director with business partner Helen Leake AM of dancing road productions, which has developed a number of international partnerships and a strong feature film slate.