There are few directors as essential to the Australasian region as Jane Campion. Perhaps best known for The Piano and The Power of the Dog, for which she has received two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards, her work has encompassed feature films, television, and documentaries. Working with acclaimed actors such as Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich, Meg Ryan, and Elisabeth Moss, just to name a few – Campion has enhanced screen culture across the world through her interpretations of slice of life dramas, biographical dramas, literary adaptations, and crime dramas. Few genres have remained untouched by Campion’s vision. People in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne will have the opportunity to see her wonderous work on the big screen.
Sydney Film Festival (SFF) in association with ACMI and the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) will present JANE CAMPION – HER WAY, a retrospective of films by the pioneering director. Campion herself will appear in conversation with David Stratton at SFF.
JANE CAMPION – HER WAY will encompass screenings of all nine of Campion’s feature films, as well as a selection of her short films, and the Australian premiere of a new documentary about her life and career; screening as part of the 70th Sydney Film Festival in Sydney (7-18 June), at ACMI in Melbourne (15 June-2 July) and at NFSA in Canberra (20-30 July).
Sydney Film Festival audiences can see the extraordinary Campion in person as she reflects on her remarkable films and career at a not-to-be-missed in conversation with David Stratton following the screening of Jane Campion, The Cinema Woman on 10 June.
Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley said, “For our 70th edition, we wanted to present a retrospective commensurate with the milestone, reflecting the audacious and boundary pushing filmmaking synonymous with our Festival and region – and there was no one more appropriate than Jane Campion. She is a groundbreaking filmmaker who has made a profound impact on cinema with her daring and unforgettable films.”
“Campion has broken barriers for women in the industry, winning two Academy Awards and becoming the first woman to receive the Palme d’Or at Cannes. She has changed the landscape of cinema around the world, crafting films now etched in film history. It will be remarkable to see the full suite of her talents in one program, which take us to unexpected and exciting places with every frame and film,” said Moodley.
ACMI Director and CEO Seb Chan said, “Together with the Sydney Film Festival and NFSA we are extremely proud to showcase the works of acclaimed director Jane Campion, in a retrospective season at our cinemas in Melbourne. At a time when ACMI is celebrating the groundbreaking achievements and impact of the screen’s revolutionary leading women in front of the camera in our blockbuster exhibition Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion, it is extra special and timely to be presenting this season dedicated to the works of trailblazer Jane Campion.”
NFSA Chief Curator, Gayle Lake said, “The opportunity to dive into the Campion universe on the big screen is just too delicious to miss. This is a must-see retrospective, and we are so delighted to be partnering with SFF and ACMI in presenting this most remarkable body of work from one the most accomplished, nuanced and unique storytellers of our time.”
The feature films in the program are:
- Two Friends (1986) – Sydney and Canberra only
- Sweetie (1989)
- An Angel at My Table (1990)
- The Piano (1993)
- The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
- Holy Smoke (1999)
- In the Cut (2003)
- Bright Star (2009)
- The Power of the Dog (2021) – Sydney and Melbourne only
Jane Campion, The Cinema Woman (2022), a documentary from French director Julie Bertuccelli, about the filmmaker and her life and work, will also be screened as part of the retrospective.
The five shorts in the program are:
- Peel (1982) – Sydney and Canberra only
- Passionless Moments (1983) – Sydney and Canberra only
- A Girl’s Own Story (1983) – Sydney and Canberra only
- After Hours (1984) – Sydney and Canberra only
- The Water Diary (2006) – Sydney and Canberra only
The full Sydney Film Festival program is announced on Wednesday 10 May 2023.
Sydney Film Festival Screenings
Tickets for the SFF season are now on sale
Venue: Art Gallery of NSW (7 – 18 June)
Single ticket $24 | $18.50, Ten Pack $150
Book at http://sff.org.au/her-way
In Conversation: Jane Campion with David Stratton
Tickets: $15 | $10 when purchased with a ticket to Jane Campion, The Cinema Woman
Location: The Hub, Lower Town Hall
ACMI Screenings
Tickets for the ACMI season will be released on Thursday 20 April.
Venue: ACMI (15 June – 2 July)
Single ticket – $18-12, 3-Session Pass $45-$33, 6-Session Pass $84-66
Book at link https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/jane-campion-her-way
NFSA Screenings
Thursday July 20-Sunday July 30
Tickets Now on Sale
Arc Cinema, National Film & Sound Archive
McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT
Tickets $12 / $10. 3 film pass $30 / $24
Book at: www.nfsa.gov.au/events/jane-campion-retrospective
