JOHN COLEMAN – 2026 QUEENSLAND CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR Queensland Cinema Pioneer for this year, John Coleman, has always had a love for electronics and machinery. He started his apprenticeship in 1976 as a Radio & TV mechanic and then moved on to Entertainment Services as a Cinema technician in 1982. In 1984 John…
SHERRY HOPKINS – 2025 WEST AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR Few individuals have done more to shape film culture in Western Australia than Sherry Hopkins. Over more than four decades, she transformed the Perth Festival’s film program into one of Australia’s most respected showcases of international cinema, inspiring generations of audiences and championing independent…
SCOTT SEDDON – 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR Inspired to some extent by his late brother, Scott joined and became president of his high school film club. At the age of 15 he was selecting movie titles from the 16mm Australia catalogue, he was putting up posters around the school, setting…
ROSS KING – 2026 VICTORIAN CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR Ross King writes… At the age of seven or so, and a regular attendee of the Saturday Matinee at the local Hoyts Suburban – The Circle Theatre, North Essendon – I became entranced with going to the pictures. It wasn’t so much about the film…
BEN ANDERSON – 2026 TASMANIAN CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR Ben writes about his Cinema career… My first memories of the cinema industry are of a young boy around the age of eight, riding my BMX bike over the ramps at the East Devonport Starlite Drive-in. Parked beside the projection room in the front seat…
LEE GREGORY – 2026 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR 92 year-old Lee reminisces… Aged 13, at school, I came to know a near neighbour (Noel Gregory) who was assistant projectionist at the Hindmarsh Town Hall. I helped out on weekends and holidays for free as ‘3rd Boy’ in the projection room, and my…
SUE MASLIN – 2026 NATIONAL CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR Sue Maslin AO is one of Australia’s most applauded and influential screen producers, renowned for a career spanning more than 35 years and a remarkable body of award-winning feature films and documentaries that have shaped the Australian screen landscape. In recognition of her exceptional contribution…