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 to Australian cinema and her enduring service to the industry, Sue was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2019 for distinguished service to the Australian film industry as a producer and through her leadership with professional organisations.
Her landmark production The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet and Judy Davis, became one of Australia’s highest-grossing films, earning more than $20 million at the box office and winning numerous awards. Other producing credits include Road to Nhill, Japanese Story, Celebrity: Dominick Dunne; and Hunt Angels.
In 2008, Sue and her business partner, Daryl Dellora, founded Film Art Media, an innovative production company dedicated to creating and distributing exceptional screen content across multiple platforms. Their acclaimed documentary slate includes Mr Harry Seidler: Modernist, The Edge of the Possible: Jørn Utzon and the Sydney Opera House and Brazen Hussies.
Sue has been a tireless advocate for Australia’s screen industry, championing storytelling, education, leadership, creative business sustainability and gender equity. Her commitment to nurturing future generations of filmmakers has earned widespread recognition, including her appointment as Adjunct Professor in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University, Adjunct Fellow, School of Film & Television at Swinburne University and the inaugural Jill Robb Award for Outstanding Leadership, Achievement and Service to the Victorian Screen Industry in 2012.
A passionate advocate for women in film, Sue is Patron of Women in Film and Television Victoria and served as President of the Natalie Miller Fellowship from 2011 to 2019, where she played a pivotal role in advancing leadership opportunities and increasing the participation of women across the Australian screen industry.
Sue recently established the Bicheno Film Festival on the Tasmanian coast, ensuring an audience underserved by cinemas has access to the best of Australian films.