Launched in 2015 and based in Sydney, LINGO PICTURES is owned by Helen Bowden and Jason Stephens, two of Australia’s most prolific and highly awarded drama producers. In 2022, ITV Studios acquired a majority stake in Lingo Pictures, making it their first ever Australian scripted label.
Nimble and passionate, we work with the best writing, directing and on screen talent to create innovative and ambitious scripted content.
HELEN BOWDEN / Managing Director has recently delivered Erotic Stories, an anthology series for SBS and ITV Studios which was AACTA and Logie nominated in 2024; Queen of Oz, a comedy series starring Catherine Tate (Doctor Who) for BBC1 and Fifth Season; and After the Party, a thrilling drama starring Robyn Malcolm (Far North) for TVNZ, the ABC and ITV Studios which was selected for Series Mania 2024 and was named ‘The Best TV Show Ever Made in New Zealand’ by cultural outlet The Spinoff. After The Party will screen on Channel 4 in the UK in late 2024.
She has produced two seasons of The Secrets She Keeps, starring Laura Carmichael and Jessica De Gouw, which played on BBC1 in primetime and sold to major players in almost every territory worldwide. Helen has twice received the Logie and the AACTA for Best Mini-Series in the same year – for The Slap in 2010 and for Devil’s Playground in 2015.
Prior to forming Lingo, Helen was a founder and the founding Managing Director of Matchbox Pictures, which sold to NBC Universal in 2014.
JASON STEPHENS / Creative Director was the Director of Development at FremantleMedia from 2006 and Creative Director from 2010. Under the Lingo banner, he has produced two seasons of the critically acclaimed series Upright, an international co-production between Foxtel Australia and Sky UK, starring Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock which won Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actor at the 2020 AACTA Awards; and Lambs of God, starring Emmy Award-winning actress Ann Dowd, Essie Davis and Jessica Barden. Lambs of God received a record-breaking 18 nominations and 9 wins at the AACTA Awards.
In 2023, Jason delivered two productions: The Messenger, a drama starring William McKenna for ABC, adapted from the novel by Markus Zusak; and Prosper, an original new series starring Richard Roxburgh and Rebecca Gibney which was commissioned by Stan Australia and Lionsgate.
Jason is currently producing the upcoming series Watching You (based on a J.P. Pomare novel) for Stan Australia which commences shooting in Sydney shortly.
TESS NOVAK / General Manager joined Lingo Pictures in 2016, after previously working in factual at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. As Lingo’s Development Manager, she worked across Wake in Fright, Lambs of God, On the Ropes, Upright, and The Secrets She Keeps. For the latter three, Tess was also part of the production team, in the role of Associate Producer. At the beginning of 2020, Tess was promoted to General Manager where she oversees the running of the company, whilst continuing to work across Lingo’s projects in development and production. She was also the Co-Producer on The Secrets She Keeps S2.
BEC CUBITT / Head of Development first joined Lingo as a Development Producer. Now after some years working in London with companies including New Regency, she has returned to the role of Head of Development. Before joining Lingo, Bec was Head of Development at Aquarius Films and worked in development in London for Scott Free Films and Rooks Nest Entertainment. She has produced award winning short films such as Bat Eyes, Boot, and Red, which starred Cate Blanchett and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Bec oversees the development slate and is responsible for scouting projects for development.