The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) has honoured legendary filmmaker Peter Weir as the inaugural recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by AFTRS Council Chair Rachel Perkins at the Sydney Film Festival on Wednesday 10 June.
The award – presented among Peter’s family and friends, industry guests and film lovers ahead of the festival’s MacPherson Lecture in conversation with Rob Carlton – recognises Peter’s extraordinary contribution to Australian and international cinema, including modern classics such as Gallipoli, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Dead Poets Society, Witness and The Truman Show.
A short reel of classic highlights from his impressive portfolio was shown to the audience, which included actors Bryan Brown, Miranda Otto and Mark Lee; cinematographer John Seale; writers John Collee and Tony McNamara; and director/producer Pauline Clague.
Rachel set the scene for the audience at The Hub, Sydney Town Hall, saying, “A master is in our presence, truly”.
“The incredibly mercurial world of filmmaking [means] there’s no guarantees, the risks are extremely high, and yet we do it. We try for it. We aspire to that. And that’s what we try to equip our students at AFTRS with,” Rachel said.
“But ultimately, it really depends on the individual and what they bring to the work. I’ve made few films in my life, and I think sometimes … it’s almost a spiritual thing that makes it come together, that mercurial element that you cannot put your finger on and you can’t necessarily teach.
“Peter Weir has managed to do that. To achieve greatness again and again and again and again…
“It has made him, I think, the greatest filmmaker this country has produced. But it’s also, not just on the Australian scale, it’s actually globally. And we are so proud to call you one of our own.”
Accepting the award to resounding applause, Peter said he was “overwhelmed” by the recognition.
“As filmmakers know … you move from picture to picture, and you don’t look back much. Now is the time of my life where I do look back; so something like this is a very lovely thank you … I appreciate it very much,” he said.
Peter reflected on a lifetime in filmmaking, including his first encounter with AFTRS, in its inaugural year.
“As far as the School goes, I actually was there in the first year – 1973. I was working on what was to be my first film. It was early in the year; I shot the picture later in the year,” he said.
“Storry Walton who was running the school … called me up and said, ‘Would you come for a couple of weeks? We got a new first intake of students and, you know, maybe you can help out?’ So I turned up … and I really felt a bit in the way. These were very highly motivated young people. They were full of fire. They had one year – the whistle had blown – it was like a film marathon. They had to do something; make a mark in that 12 months.
“What a wonderful two weeks it was!”
Peter said the atmosphere and energy “in that anonymous building in Chatswood in 1973” was part of a much wider context, representing the rebirth of an industry, both in Australia and worldwide: “The film industry was stirring. What had been neglected or had fallen into disuse was coming alive again, being rebuilt, fresh shoots.”
“That group of students that I spent that two weeks with in 1973 went on to spectacular results and some wonderful films. It was a really talented group of people,” he recalled.
Ever the storyteller, Peter drew in his audience, explaining how his AFTRS connection had now come full circle.
“It’s a funny thought but if, in some lunch hour in Chatswood, a fortune teller had said, ‘Let me read your fortune’, well OK, this line here (pointing to his palm), ‘In 53 years you will be back for a big prize’ … I would have said, ‘I don’t believe in palm reading!’
“Anyway, turns out she was right. So here I am. Once again. Thank you all for this welcome and this lovely award.”
The award was handed on stage to Peter by AFTRS final year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production student and Student Member of AFTRS Council Zali Hamilton. It was a unique piece of art hand carved by First Nations artist Andy Snelgar, designed to reflect tradition, continuity and storytelling.
The AFTRS Lifetime Achievement Award, decided by AFTRS Council, will be presented annually to recognise individuals whose work has made a lasting contribution to the screen and audio industries and inspired future generations of storytellers.
