Essential Media and Entertainment wins SPAA’s independent producer award

The production company behind the ABC series Rake and a new film starring Tom Hanks has been named Independent Producer of the Year at the 2012 Screen Producers Association of Australia awards in Melbourne over night.

The Awards were presented at a gala event during the SPAA Conference, currently being held at Docklands in Melbourne.

Essential Media and Entertainment had a strong year in 2012, not only delivering a second series of Rake but also producing two Jack Irish tele-movies starring Guy Pearce and securing Hanks and Emma Thompson to star in Saving Mr Banks, about the Australian author of Mary Poppins.

Essential Media’s CEO Chris Hilton said of the win: “It’s a great honour to be receiving this prestigious industry award. We would like to thank all our production partners, the writers, actor, directors and fantastic crews who have contributed to this success.”