McKenna new Screenwest CEO

The state’s peak body for screen funding and development, Screenwest, today announced the appointment of Seph McKenna as its new chief executive, succeeding Ian Booth.

Mr McKenna is the current head of Australian production at Roadshow Films, located in Melbourne, and is responsible for more than $100 million worth of production and local feature film projects, according to Screenwest.

After 12 years at Roadshow Films, Mr McKenna will assume his role at Screenwest on December 4 and will work with Mr Booth prior to his departure.

Under Mr McKenna’s leadership, Roadshow Films produced movies including Red Dog, Red Dog: True Blue, Bran Nue Dae, Paper Planes, and These Final Hours.

Before Roadshow Films, Mr McKenna held positions at Village Roadshow and Warner Bros Entertainment Group of Companies in Australia and the US.

Screenwest chair Janelle Marr said she was delighted Mr McKenna had accepted the offer of a five-year term.

“Seph represents the next generation of screen sector leadership in Australia and will bring a wealth of film investment and production experience,” she said.

“Seph’s appointment marks an exciting time in Screenwest’s journey and will further strengthen a great Screenwest team to realise the vision of bringing world-class Western Australian stories and identity to screen, for the benefit of the community”.

Mr McKenna will be the first non-government chief executive appointment under Screenwest’s corporate structure, after its transition from a government agency to an independent not-for-profit in July this year.

“Seph joins Screenwest after a period of strong production growth that has extended skills development opportunities and jobs for the WA economy, not only on production sets, but within the wider community of hospitality and tourism, construction, education, local government, community services and regional business networks,” Ms Marr said.

“With our new structure and board fully operational, Screenwest is in a very strong and settled position to enable a smooth hand over process for our new CEO.”