This year’s Spada Screen Industry Award Recipients were announced at the prestigious industry Award’s ceremony on Thursday, 10 October 2024, and of course, our members are among the winners!
Congratulations to Joyce Wong for winning the Runner Up in the Spada Emerging Producer Award (Principal Sponsor - Hinterland)! And a massive congratulations to Angela Cudd for winning the Spada Independent Producer of the Year (Sponsored by Gallagher Insurance)!
ANGELA CUDD, Producer of the Year
Despite stepping into the role of producer just five years ago, Angela Cudd has quickly become a force to be reckoned with.
From producing the award-winning factual series WHEN BOB CAME, which shed light on Bob Marley’s historic concert in Aotearoa, to her first feature film UPROAR, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is rolling out internationally in 2024.
Cudd’s work includes 'BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A Season 2, a powerful Tongan horror series – currently on NEON and COCONET, as well as producing and directing AHI & THE STARS, a TVNZ anthology episode and two NZFC Catalyst Shorts. She has also been instrumental in developing new works, such as the premium series AUĒ, based on Becky Manawatu’s award-winning novel.
Angela Cudd has not only has developed an impressive slate of projects, but she is committed to nurturing emerging talent and future proofing in the screen industry. From mentoring new filmmakers to providing opportunities for interns, Cudd is dedicated to the independent screen industry, elevating diverse voices and creating compelling, impactful stories.
JOYCE WONG , runner up for the Spada Emerging Producer Award
Joyce Wong committed to being a screen producer in 2021 following a career in the tech sector where she raised 1.5 million in funding for startups. She has carried this experience into her approach as a producer - she asks her key creatives to define what they want to achieve and how a project will increase their skillsets, then applies an agile methodology to ensure the projects are continually developing and moving forward.
The success of this model can be seen in her achievements to date, with a short film and scripted series pilot already released, she is currently in production with a short film and her funded scripted series ‘Camp Be Better’ recently released on TVNZ+ . She also has two more short films in pre-production, and an extensive development slate.
Wong is focused on a sustainable screen business that enables her to elevate the people, stories, and projects she is passionate about, particularly Asian and female creatives and crew. She volunteers on the Board of Proudly Asian Theatre, contributes development feedback to writers through Auckland Table Reads, and provides pro bono business consulting.
Wong has held key roles on local and international projects of scale, and her nominator says that “in an industry where Pan-Asian producers are still underrepresented, she brings a much-needed fresh voice and perspective.”
The Emerging Producer Award Runner Up will receive business planning support from principal sponsor Hinterland, along with a 12-month Spada membership.