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Warwick Thornton

Warwick Thornton is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. His debut feature film Samson and Delilah won the Caméra d'Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and the award for Best Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. He also won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Film in 2017 for Sweet Country.

Warwick Thornton
Born
Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, cinematographer
Notable work
PartnerBeck Cole (1999–c.2017)
ChildrenDylan River, Luka Magdeline Cole, Rona
MotherFreda Glynn
RelativesErica Glynn (sister)
Rona Glynn (aunt)

Early life and education

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Thornton is a Kaytetye man born and raised in Alice Springs.[1] His mother, Freda Glynn, co-founded and was the first director of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) and was the director of Imparja Television for its first 10 years.

At 13, Thornton was sent to boarding school, Salvado College, in Australia's only monastic town, New Norcia, Western Australia,[2][3] although he later declared he became angry with Christianity and did not consider himself religious.[4][5][6]

He graduated in cinematography from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.[7]

Career

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Thornton began his career making short films and has achieved success with them at film festivals around the world, including the short film Payback (1996) at the Telluride Film Festival.[7] He directed and wrote From Sand to Celluloid – Payback[8][9] under the auspices of the Indigenous Branch of the Australian Film Commission, with production by Blackfella Films. Rachel Perkins was line producer on the film.[10] Other films achieving international success were Green Bush and Nana, at the Berlin International Film Festival.[7]

He describes his decision to become a filmmaker in an interview in 2007:

Where I grew up in Alice I was a DJ for a radio station (CAAMA). The station began a film unit and so I watched people pack cameras and equipment into cars and take off to make films. I was alone at the radio station and I thought that I really wanted to go with them. That's how it started, I made a film called Green Bush which is basically about that time. Eventually I went to AFTRS in Sydney and got really involved as a Director of Photography. I’ve been in the business for 9 years now.[7]

Thornton shared a personal as well as professional relationship with Beck Cole, and along with producer Kath Shelper called themselves "the trinity", working together from 2004.[11]

In 2009 Thornton wrote, directed and shot his first feature film Samson & Delilah, which won awards including the Camera d’Or for best first feature film at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. The following year he filmed the documentary series Art + Soul about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, which was written and narrated by curator Hetti Perkins.[1] The installation Mother Courage (inspired by Bertolt Brecht's 1939 character) was commissioned by dOCUMENTA and ACMI, and first exhibited in 2012.[1]

His 2017 historical drama Sweet Country garnered critical acclaim and several awards, including the Special Jury Prize at the 74th Venice Film Festival;[12][13] Platform Prize at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival;[14][15][16] the Audience Award at the 2017 Adelaide Film Festival;[17] and the Best Feature Film at the 2017 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.[18]

Thornton directed a video used to advocate for the "Yes" campaign in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, a vote to change the Australian Constitution to enshrine a Voice to Parliament for Indigenous Australians. The video, using John Farnham's iconic 1986 song "You're the Voice" as a soundtrack, was released on 3 September 2023[19] and was rolled out on social and other digital media and television.[20][21]

In 2024, Thornton is working on a film that represents his anger at the result of the Voice referendum:[22]

We're still getting the scraps. We asked for Australia to walk with us. We asked to have that dialogue in parliament and Australia proceeded to feel … that they know better and said no.

Other activities

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In 2020 Thornton was co-presenter, with Beck Cole, of a five-day development workshop called the Aboriginal Short Film Initiative, held at South Australian Film Corporation's Adelaide Studios.[23]

Family and personal life

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Thornton's sister, Erica Glynn,[24] is also a film writer and director.[25]

Thornton was formerly married to filmmaker Beck Cole, whom he met in 1999.[5] They have a daughter, Luka May,[26][5] an actress also known as Luka Magdeline Cole or Luka May Glynn-Cole.[27] The couple shared a personal as well as professional relationship (see above).[11] By 2018 Thornton and Cole had separated.[28]

Thornton also has a son, Dylan River, who is a filmmaker who has worked with his father,[29] and another daughter, Rona, from an earlier relationship.[5]

He chooses to continue to live in Alice Springs, which, he says gives him "strength and energy".[22]

Recognition and awards

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Critic David Stratton describes Thornton as "one of our greatest filmmakers", while Cate Blanchett calls him "the most brilliant visual storyteller".[22]

Author and broadcaster Virginia Trioli writes that Thornton's work is "driven by his emotional and intellectual response to the historical dispossession and contemporary despair of his people", using his films to tell stories with the minimum of dialogue.[22]

In 2009, Thorton was named Northern Territorian of the Year[30]

Year Film Award Festival
2007 Nana Melbourne Airport Award for Emerging Talent Melbourne International Film Festival[7]
2007 Nana Best Short Film Inside Film Awards (IF Awards)[7]
2008 Nana Best Short Film Berlin International Film Festival[7]
2009 Samson and Delilah Caméra d'Or Cannes Film Festival[31]
2009 Samson and Delilah Feature Film Screenplay (Original) Australian Writers' Guild Award[32]
2009 Samson and Delilah Outstanding Achievement in Film Deadly Awards[33]
2009 Samson and Delilah Best Director, Best Script and Best Music Inside Film Awards[33]
2009 Nana Best Short Film Director Inside Film Awards[33]
2009 Samson and Delilah Best Film Asia Pacific Screen Awards[34]
2009 Samson and Delilah Best Director and Best Original Screenplay AFI Awards[33]
2009 Samson and Delilah Best Music Dinosaur Design IF Award[33]
2009 Samson and Delilah Award for Best Direction National Film and Sound Archive IF Award[33]
2017 Sweet Country Best Film Asia Pacific Screen Awards[33]
2017 Sweet Country Platform Prize Toronto International Film Festival[35]

Filmography

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As director

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As cinematographer

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  • Marn Grook: An Aboriginal Perspective on Australian Rules Football (1997), documentary
  • Radiance (1998), feature film, directed by Rachel Perkins)
  • Buried Country (2000), documentary, directed by Andy Nehl, based on the book by Clinton Walker
  • Ngangkari Way (2001), documentary, directed by Erica Glynn
  • Flat (2001), short film, directed by Beck Cole
  • Mimi (2001), short film, directed by Warwick Thornton
  • Kurtal: Snake Spirit (2002), documentary, co-cinematographer
  • Queen of Hearts (2003), directed by Danielle MacLean
  • Wirriya: Small Boy (2004), documentary, co-cinematographer, directed by Beck Cole
  • Five Seasons (2005), documentary, directed by Steven McGregor
  • The Lore of Love (2005), documentary, directed by Beck Cole
  • My Brother Vinnie (2006), documentary, directed by Steven McGregor
  • Plains Empty (2006), short film, directed by Beck Cole
  • Green Bush (2006), short film, directed by Warwick Thornton
  • First Australians (2006), television series, directed by Beck Cole & Rachel Perkins
  • Samson & Delilah (2009), feature film, directed by Warwick Thornton
  • Here I Am (2011), feature film, directed by Beck Cole
  • The Sapphires (2012), feature film, directed by Wayne Blair
  • Sweet Country (2017), directed by Warwick Thornton

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Warwick Thornton: Mother Courage Education Resource" (PDF). ACMI Learning Resources. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  2. ^ Dow, Steve (27 April 2009). "Salvation in Cinema". Stevedow.com.au. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Finding salvation in film". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  4. ^ Smith, M. "Thornton nails his latest work", The Koori Mail, 21 September 2011, p. 84.
  5. ^ a b c d "Finding salvation in film". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b Brady-Brown, Annabel (29 June 2023). "Director Warwick Thornton and star Cate Blanchett on their long-awaited collaboration The New Boy". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Emerging Talent program - Profiles - Warwick Thornton". Melbourne Airport. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009.
  8. ^ "From Sand to Celluloid". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  9. ^ Payback at IMDb
  10. ^ "Short Films of Warwick Thornton, Part 1: Payback (1996)". Aboriginal Art & Culture: an American eye. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b Delaney, Colin (15 June 2011). "Here I Am's Beck Cole, Kath Shelper and Warwick Thorton are here to stay". Mumbrella. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  12. ^ Anderson, Ariston (9 September 2017). "Venice: Guillermo del Toro Wins Golden Lion for 'The Shape of Water'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  13. ^ Anderson, Ariston (27 July 2017). "Venice Competition Includes Films From George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Darren Aronofsky". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  14. ^ Vlessing, Etan (17 September 2017). "Toronto: 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' Captures Audience Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  15. ^ Kay, Jeremy (3 August 2017). "'The Death Of Stalin' to open Toronto Film Festival Platform programme". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  16. ^ Lodge, Guy (7 September 2017). "Venice Film Review: 'Sweet Country'". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  17. ^ Bunya Productions: Sweet Country
  18. ^ "Australia's Sweet Country Wins Best Feature Film At 11th Asia Pacific Screen Awards". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  19. ^ Visentin, Lisa (3 September 2023). "John Farnham backs Voice, permits his anthem to front Yes campaign ad". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  20. ^ Yu, Andi (3 September 2023). "John Farnham's hit song You're The Voice the official soundtrack for the 2023 referendum Yes campaign". ABC News. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  21. ^ You're the voice that will make history The Uluṟu Dialogue: John Farnham on YouTube (2:47) 3 September 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d Trioli, Virginia (30 April 2024). "Warwick Thornton talks about his next movie on ABC TV's Creative Types with Virginia Trioli". ABC News. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Filmmakers selected for Aboriginal Short Film Initiative". SAFC. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  24. ^ "'It was for us': She gave voice to bush communities". The Junction. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Erica Glynn". Deadly Vibe (78). September 2003. Archived from the original on 5 August 2008.
  26. ^ "The Crew: Beck Cole, writer/director". Here I Am. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  27. ^ Luka Magdeline Cole at IMDb
  28. ^ Maddox, Garry (4 January 2018). "Director Warwick Thornton's film Sweet Country is a bold new take on the Western". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Prepare to be totally captivated by Warwick Thornton's new documentary The Beach". NITV. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  30. ^ Darwin (21 January 2010). "Filmmaker fears Southern Cross becoming a swastika". The Age. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  31. ^ "Aboriginal director honoured at Cannes". ABC News. Australia. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  32. ^ "Australian Performance Writing Shines at the 2009 AWGIEs". Australian Writers' Guild. 31 August 2009. Archived from the original on 11 November 2009.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g "The 2009 Deadlys". Vibe Australia. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011.
  34. ^ "APSA Nominees & Winners".
  35. ^ "Announcing the TIFF '17 Award Winners". TIFF. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  36. ^ "Mimi". Blackfella Films. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  37. ^ Russell, Stephen A. (18 May 2020). "On the beach at the end of the world with Warwick Thornton and his unruly chooks". SBS Movies. Retrieved 28 May 2020.

Further reading

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