Top 25 new Australian Directors
by trishbianca | created - 17 Jun 2012 | updated - 10 Dec 2021 | PublicThis is the current and newest list of the hottest feature film Directors coming out of the land Downunder!
1. Cate Shortland
Director | Lore
Catherine Shortland is an Australian filmmaker from Temora, New South Wales who is known for directing the Marvel film Black Widow. She also directed the feature length films Somersault, Lore and Berlin Syndrome. She directed the short films Pentuphouse, Flowergirl and Joy. She is married to Tony ...
2. Andrew Dominik
Director | Chopper
Andrew Dominik was born on October 7, 1967 in Wellington, New Zealand. He is a director and writer, known for Chopper (2000), Blonde (2022) and Killing Them Softly (2012).
3. Leigh Whannell
Actor | Saw
Leigh Whannell grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where, at the age of four, he developed an obsession with telling stories. Whether it be through acting, writing or filmmaking, his primary love was getting a reaction from an audience. In 1995, at the age of 18, he was accepted into the Royal ...
4. James Wan
Writer | Saw
James Wan (born 26 February 1977) is an Australian film producer, screenwriter and film director of Malaysian Chinese descent. He is widely known for directing the horror film Saw (2004) and creating Billy the puppet. Wan has also directed Dead Silence (2007), Death Sentence (2007), Insidious (2010)...
5. David Michôd
Writer | The King
David Michôd is known for The King (2019), Animal Kingdom (2010) and The Rover (2014). He is married to Mirrah Foulkes.
6. Warwick Thornton
Cinematographer | Samson & Delilah
Warwick Thornton was born on July 23, 1970 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Samson & Delilah (2009), Sweet Country (2017) and Green Bush (2005).
7. Jennifer Kent
Director | The Nightingale
Jennifer Kent was born on March 5, 1969 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She is an actress and director, known for The Nightingale (2018), The Babadook (2014) and Monster (2005).
8. Michael Spierig
Director | Predestination
Michael Spierig was born in Germany. He is known for Predestination (2014), Daybreakers (2009) and Winchester (2018).
9. Serhat Caradee
Actor | A Lion Returns
An award winning Australian filmmaker. Serhat is also a trained actor and switches between working behind and in front of the camera regularly. His second feature A Lion Returns (2020) was released to critical acclaim in 2020 and made it onto The Guardian, The Australian, Flicks and Filmink ...
10. Justin Kurzel
Director | Snowtown
Known for his bold career growth, Australian director Justin Kurzel, who, after the striking debut feature The Snowtown Murders (2011), which conquered hearts of people on many festivals, has chosen a Shakespearean adaptation (Macbeth (2015)) starring famous international film actors Michael ...
11. Shannon Murphy
Director | Babyteeth
Shannon Murphy is a theatre and film/TV director, known for Babyteeth (2019), On the Ropes (2018) and Killing Eve (2019). Her episode of Killing Eve Are You From Pinner? was nominated for 3 Emmy Awards. She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Director in 2021 for her work on Babyteeth. ...
12. Shane Abbess
Director | Infini
A filmmaker with a powerful vision that compliments stories with heart, Shane is relentlessly passionate and immersive when it comes to his craft. In his early days, he spent the better part of a decade making short films, commercials and music videos with a view to understanding every aspect of a ...
13. Peter Spierig
Director | Predestination
Peter Spierig was born in Germany. He is known for Predestination (2014), Daybreakers (2009) and Undead (2003).
14. Wayne Blair
Director | The Sapphires
Wayne Blair was born on November 28, 1971 in Taree, New South Wales, Australia. He is an actor and director, known for The Sapphires (2012), Mystery Road (2018) and Redfern Now (2012).
15. Louise Alston
Director | Back of the Net
Louise Alston grew up on a farm in rural Australia. Starting out working in local TV news, she went on to study at Australia's national film school, AFTRS. She directed her ultra low budget first feature, All My Friends are Leaving Brisbane for $42,000. It screened around the world and became a ...
16. Nash Edgerton
Stunts | Mr Inbetween
Nash Edgerton was born on January 19, 1973 in Australia. He is a director and actor, known for Mr Inbetween (2018), Gringo (2018) and The Square (2008). He has been married to Carla Ruffino since April 1, 2014.
17. Jeffrey Walker
Director | The Artful Dodger
Jeffrey Walker is an Australian born, multi-award winning director, known for The Artful Dodger, The Clearing, Modern Family, Lambs of God, Riot, Dance Academy: The Movie, Jack Irish and Ali's Wedding. Walker started his career as an actor, turning to directing at age twenty. He has worked between ...
18. Claire McCarthy
Director | The Colour Room
Writer, director, producer and visual artist, Claire most recently completed production on THE COLOUR ROOM starring Phoebe Dynevor, Matthew Goode and Kerry Fox, due for theatrical release in October 2021 in Europe and the US. Prior to this she was set-up / lead director and EP for SKY series DOMINA...
19. Greg McLean
Director | Wolf Creek
After training as a fine artist before working as a director in Theatre and Opera, Australian writer, director, and producer Greg McLean's filmmaking career began when he wrote and directed the horror smash hit 'Wolf Creek.' The film played at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals before going ...
20. Kriv Stenders
Director | Red Dog
Kriv Stenders is known for Red Dog (2011), Boxing Day (2007) and The Illustrated Family Doctor (2005).
21. Kieran Darcy-Smith
Director | Wish You Were Here
Kieran Darcy-Smith was born on June 12, 1965 in Mona Vale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is an actor and director, known for Wish You Were Here (2012), Bloodlock (1998) and Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010). He has been married to Felicity Price since January 7, 2006. They have two ...
22. Adam Elliot
Director | Mary and Max.
Grew up on a shrimp farm in southern Australia together with two brothers, one sister and two parrots. He discerned his artistic abilities at an early age and spent five years studying photography, painting, pottery etc. In 1996 he began his studies at the Victorian College of the Arts where Uncle ...
23. Elissa Down
Director | Feel the Beat
Elissa Down is known for Feel the Beat (2020), The Black Balloon (2008) and The Honor List (2018).
24. Jeremy Sims
Director | Last Cab to Darwin
Jeremy Sims is a prolific and popular figure in Australian artistic life. He works as an actor, director and producer across theatre, film and television. He has directed 5 feature films, over 40 hours of Television and won two AACTA/AFI awards.
In 2006, Jeremy produced and directed Last Train to ...
25. Abe Forsythe
Writer | Little Monsters
Abe Forsythe was born on July 26, 1981 in Australia. He is an actor and writer, known for Little Monsters (2019) and Wolf Like Me (2022). He has been married to Helen Dallimore since April 2009.
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