The cinema of Australia had its beginnings with the 1906 production of The Story of the Kelly Gang, arguably the world's first feature film. Since then, Australian crews have produced many films, a number of which have received international recognition. Many actors and filmmakers with international reputations started their careers in Australian films, and many of these have established lucrative careers in larger film-producing centres such as the United States.
Mary Rose Byrne is an Australian actress. She made her screen debut in the film Dallas Doll (1994), and continued to act in Australian film and television throughout the 1990s. She obtained her first leading film role in The Goddess of 1967 (2000), which brought her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and made the transition to American cinema in the small role of Dormé in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), followed by parts in Hollywood productions of Troy (2004), 28 Weeks Later (2007) and Knowing (2009).
Burke & Wills is a 1985 Australian adventure film directed by Graeme Clifford, starring Jack Thompson and Nigel Havers. The film is based on the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition across Australia.
Reckless Kelly is a 1993 Australian comedy film produced, written, directed and starring Yahoo Serious. It co-stars Melora Hardin, Alexei Sayle and Hugo Weaving. The story is a satirical take on a modern-day Ned Kelly, a famous Australian outlaw.
Les Patterson Saves the World is a 1987 Australian comedy film starring Barry Humphries as his stage creations Sir Les Patterson and Dame Edna Everage.
Stone is a 1974 Australian outlaw biker film written, directed and produced by Sandy Harbutt. It is a low budget film by company Hedon Productions.
Matthew Le Nevez is an Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as Doctor Patrick Reid in the TV series Offspring, Detective Brian Dutch in the Tasmanian Gothic sci-fi television show The Kettering Incident and Agent Cal Isaac in the thriller drama series Absentia.
Frauds is a 1993 Australian thriller comedy film starring Phil Collins, Hugo Weaving and Josephine Byrnes. The film focuses on Roland Copping (Collins), a sociopathic insurance investigator who blackmails a married couple about the accidental killing of their friend during a prank gone wrong. It was selected to be In Competition at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.
Last Ride is a 2009 Australian drama film directed by Glendyn Ivin. It is based on the novel The Last Ride by Denise Young. The film follows a young boy accompanying his father, who is wanted by the police, across Australia.
For Love Alone is a 1986 Australian film written and directed by Stephen Wallace and based on Christina Stead's 1945 novel of the same name. It stars Helen Buday, Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill and Naomi Watts in her film debut. The film was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival.
Peaches is a 2004 Australian film, written by Sue Smith and directed by Craig Monahan. The music was by David Hirschfelder, cinematography by Ernie Clark A.C.S., editing by Suresh Ayyar and art direction by Paula Smith.
Russian Doll is a 2001 Australian romantic comedy film directed by Stavros Kazantzidis and produced by Allanah Zitserman, starring Hugo Weaving, David Wenham and Natalia Novikova Set in and around the Bondi Beach area of Sydney, Australia, the film follows Harvey, a neurotic private investigator and wannabe crime writer, who gets asked to marry his best friend's mistress. The film was released on 6 April 2001.
Rebel is a 1985 Australian musical drama directed by Michael Jenkins and starring Matt Dillon, Debra Byrne, and Bryan Brown. It is set in World War Two.
Tender Hooks is a 1989 Australian film directed by Mary Callaghan and starring Jo Kennedy and Nique Needles. It was the directorial debut of Callaghan, who had made an acclaimed short Greetings from Wollongong.
Short Changed is a 1986 Australian film directed by George Ogilvie based on a script by Aboriginal writer Bob Merritt, who described it as a "black/white Kramer vs Kramer".
Wendy Cracked a Walnut is a 1990 Australian romantic fantasy/comedy film directed by Michael Pattinson and starring Rosanna Arquette and Bruce Spence.
True Love and Chaos is a 1997 Australian film directed by Stavros Efthymiou. It is a road movie.
Healing is a 2014 English-language Australian drama film produced by PointBlank Pictures and directed by Craig Monahan and co-written with Alison Nisselle. The film stars Hugo Weaving, Robert Taylor, Xavier Samuel, Justine Clarke, Laura Brent and Anthony Hayes. The story follows the slow social and inner healing of a prisoner as he rehabilitates an injured bird at a rural Victorian correctional centre with the aid of a caring correctional officer. The film's description line is "Inspired by true events, HEALING is a story of redemption, the discovery of hope and the healing of the spirit - in the most unlikely place for the most unlikely men."
The Turning is a 2013 Australian anthology drama film based on a 2005 collection of short stories by Tim Winton. It premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 3 August 2013. It was nominated for the 2013 Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Feature Film, and was screened in the Berlinale Special Galas section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.
