STEPHEN HEAD – 2024 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR Stephen Head was born in Geraldton, moving to Perth at the age of 1980 to go to Curtin University (Then WAIT) studying diagnostic radiology. Whilst at WAIT, in his spare time Stephen would help the Curtin University film club, ushering and learning projection, led…
SASHA CLOSE – SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR Sasha Close is a highly regarded executive in the Australian cinema and screen industry, with over two decades of experience spanning distribution, exhibition, programming, and film festivals. She began her career at United International Pictures before moving into exhibition and programming at Village Cinemas, where…
RICHARD PARTON – 2025 QUEENSLAND CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR Richard Parton has been a stalwart of the industry – not just in Queensland, but nationally 3 for over 60 years. He started In the Industry in 1960 with Independent Film Distributors. In 1970 he joined Roadshow Film Distributors, operating out of Qld by Birch…
BETTY KELLY – 2025 VICTORIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR For decades, anyone involved in Melbourne’s weekly film and theatre supplies pick-up & delivery run would have known Betty Kelly. Likewise, customers of a variety of theatre supply companies. Betty began her cinematic career when Ron Lorimer hired her to work at Greater Union Theatre…
JANE CORDEN – 2025 NSW/ACT CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR For nearly four decades, Jane Corden has been a driving force behind the evolution of production accounting. From hands-on support to the development of industry-standard digital systems used around the world, her leadership, innovation, and mentorship have shaped how productions run and how production accountants…
SUE MILLIKEN – 2025 NATIONAL CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR With a formidable multi-decade career, she has produced some of Australia’s most iconic titles including The Odd Angry Shot, The Fringe Dwellers, Black Robe, Sirens, Dating the Enemy, Paradise Road, My Brother Jack and Ladies In Black. She co-wrote, with Bruce Beresford, the screenplay for…
DAVID STRATTON – 2024 NATIONAL CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR DAVID STRATTON AM was born in the U.K. in 1939 and came to Australia in 1963. He was Director of the Sydney Film Festival for 18 years (1966-1983), feature film programmer for SBS TV, host of Movie of the Week and Cinema Classics on SBS…
CAROL DIPROSE – 2024 TASMANIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR Carol began her involvement with the cinema industry in 1980 employed at the West End Twin Cinemas in Hobart. Initially her role was working 3 to 4 shifts per week doing 3 hour split shifts in the candy bar area, in the days when it…
FREYA & GRAHAM TIENAN – 2024 QUEENSLAND CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR Freya commenced as Secretary to the State Manager of Roadshow Film Distributors in January 1974, working originally with Tim Osborne, then Phil Stanley and lastly Tony Burke. Her role encompassed all secretarial and administrative procedures. In 1987 she transferred to the position of…
VINCENT PARISELLA – 2024 VICTORIAN CINEMA PIONEERS OF THE YEAR Vincent was born in Mondragone, Italy in 1953, which was also the year of his introduction to cinema by his father who was a projectionist and a jack of all trades, operating and maintaining two venues in their town – a hard top all year…