Certificate Screenwriting, 1989
Writer, director and producer Tony Ayres made his feature directing debut with Walking on Water, written by Roger Monk, which won five AFI awards and the Berlinale’s Teddy Award in 2002. Tony’s second feature, The Home Song Stories, also premiered at Berlin and won eight AFI Awards. His third feature, Cut Snake, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014.
One of the founding members of Matchbox Pictures, Tony’s credits as an executive producer include Wanted, Glitch, The Family Law, Old School and the TV reimagining of The Devil’s Playground. He has produced miniseries such as Barracuda and Seven Types of Ambiguity and created and executive produced Nowhere Boys, which won the AACTA for Best Children’s Television Series. He also directed the telemovie spinoff Nowhere Boys: The Book of Shadows, released in cinemas in 2016.
Tony’s other television credits include The Slap and its US remake, Underground: The Julian Assange Story, The Straits, and Saved. His latest projects as showrunner include Clickbait for Netflix and Fires, co-created with fellow graduate Belinda Chayko. He recently started his own company, Tony Ayres Productions (TAP).
AFTRS HIGHLIGHT
Working with Barbara Masel, who taught screenwriting under Paul Thompson. She was the first person who convinced me that I could actually write, and that I had talent. Till then, the jury was out.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT
I’ve been lucky enough to have many high points (and quite a few low points)—but the fact that I’m still working and believe that my best work is ahead of me is something that I feel grateful for.