Spada celebrates the industry leaders and producers shaping New Zealand screen production
Three outstanding contributors to Aotearoa New Zealand’s screen industry have been recognised at the 28th annual Spada Screen Industry Awards, celebrating their achievements in screen production, industry leadership and championing the next generation of filmmaking talent.
L-R: Thomas Coppell - 2026 Independent Producer of the Year, Kelly Martin - 2026 Industry Champion, Samantha Dutton - 2026 Emerging Producer of the Year.
Kelly Martin, CEO of South Pacific Pictures, has received the Industry Champion Award, while Thomas Coppell has been recognised with the Independent Producer Award and Samantha Dutton with the Emerging Producer Award.
Presented in Auckland this evening, the prestigious awards recognise the people driving New Zealand storytelling, creating opportunities for emerging talent and helping build a strong, diverse and sustainable screen industry.
Kelly Martin, one of New Zealand television’s most influential executives, has been honoured for her outstanding contribution to local screen production and decades of championing New Zealand stories and talent. As CEO of South Pacific Pictures, Martin has overseen an impressive slate of productions including Shortland Street, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Ms X, 800 Words and Westside. Her influence on the industry extends back to her tenure as Director of Programming at TV3, where she championed groundbreaking local hits including Outrageous Fortune, bro’Town and 7 Days, helping redefine the possibilities for New Zealand drama and comedy.
Thomas Coppell receives the Independent Producer Award, recognising their bold, resourceful and collaborative approach to filmmaking and commitment to bringing distinctive New Zealand stories and voices to the screen. Coppell’s first co-produced feature, Big Girls Don’t Cry, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to win the Grand Prix at Nouvelle Vague. Alongside this international success, Coppell continues to champion emerging and underrepresented filmmakers, producing short films including Hawk Dove and She Floats, and serving as executive producer on two films selected for the inaugural Rainbow Shorts 2026.
Samantha Dutton has been named the recipient of the Emerging Producer Award, recognising her creative ambition and growing slate of film and television projects. With producing credits including Green, Breathe, Night Ride and Socks, Dutton is building a promising pipeline of new work. Her current slate includes two feature films that have secured proof-of-concept funding, a further feature in development and a scripted TV series participating in the Rupture programme.
Spada Executive Director Sandy Gildea said this year’s recipients exemplified the creativity, leadership and determination that continue to drive New Zealand screen production forward:
“The Spada Awards celebrate the people who make a real difference to our industry - through the stories they champion, the opportunities they create and the talent they help bring through. This year’s recipients represent different stages of that journey, but they share a commitment to great storytelling, nurturing talent and creating opportunities. Their achievements reflect the depth of talent in our sector and the importance of continuing to invest in its future.”
The Awards were presented at the 28th annual Spada Screen Industry Awards ceremony, held at Auckland’s Maritime Room on Thursday 29 October 2026.
