Ivan Sen
Encyclopedia
Ivan Sen is an Australia
n filmmaker. Throughout the late 1990s Sen worked on numerous short films, before making his feature film debut with Beneath Clouds
in 2002. He studied filmmaking at the Australian Film Television and Radio School
, where he produced his first short films, working with the crew he continues to work with today. Sen was raised in Inverell, New South Wales
, Australia.
Sen drew on his own background as the child of an Aboriginal mother and an absent white father for the screenplay of his first feature-length work, Beneath Clouds, filmed on a $2.5 million dollar budget. The film follows two teenagers, Lena (Dannielle Hall) and Vaughn (Damian Pitt) who are hitchhiking their way from a rural New South Wales town to Sydney, each for different reasons. The film explores many of the racial difficulties in their society as well as the way the choices each makes can effect how they turn out. The film was based on Ivan Sen's own experiences of growing up in Alice Springs with an Aboriginal mother and absent European father. It won Sen global acclaim, screening at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival
and winning the Premiere First Movie Award at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival and the 2002 Best Director Award at the Australian Film Institute Awards
.
In 2009, the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival held at the Sydney Opera House
saw the world premiere of Sen's Fire Talker
, a documentary biopic about political activist, Aboriginal footballer, Charlie Perkins
.
It premiered at the 10th Anniversary of the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival held at the Sydney Opera House
in May 2009.
Sen's second feature-length film, Dreamland, screened at the 2010 Melbourne International Film Festival
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n filmmaker. Throughout the late 1990s Sen worked on numerous short films, before making his feature film debut with Beneath Clouds
Beneath Clouds
Beneath Clouds is a 2002 film by Australian director Ivan Sen.Lena has an absent Irish father she longs to see and an Aboriginal mother she finds disgusting...
in 2002. He studied filmmaking at the Australian Film Television and Radio School
Australian Film Television and Radio School
The Australian Film, Television and Radio School is the Australian national centre for professional education and advanced training in film, television, radio and digital media. The School is an Australian Commonwealth government statutory authority...
, where he produced his first short films, working with the crew he continues to work with today. Sen was raised in Inverell, New South Wales
Inverell, New South Wales
Inverell is a town in northern New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Macintyre River. It is also the centre of Inverell Shire. Inverell is located on the Gwydir Highway on the western slopes of the Northern Tablelands. It has a temperate climate...
, Australia.
Sen drew on his own background as the child of an Aboriginal mother and an absent white father for the screenplay of his first feature-length work, Beneath Clouds, filmed on a $2.5 million dollar budget. The film follows two teenagers, Lena (Dannielle Hall) and Vaughn (Damian Pitt) who are hitchhiking their way from a rural New South Wales town to Sydney, each for different reasons. The film explores many of the racial difficulties in their society as well as the way the choices each makes can effect how they turn out. The film was based on Ivan Sen's own experiences of growing up in Alice Springs with an Aboriginal mother and absent European father. It won Sen global acclaim, screening at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and winning the Premiere First Movie Award at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival and the 2002 Best Director Award at the Australian Film Institute Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
.
In 2009, the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival held at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
saw the world premiere of Sen's Fire Talker
Fire Talker
Fire Talker is a 2009 documentary film by Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen. It is a documentary biopic about Australian Aboriginal political activist, footballer and administrator, Charlie Perkins. It premiered at the 10th Anniversary of the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival held at the Sydney...
, a documentary biopic about political activist, Aboriginal footballer, Charlie Perkins
Charlie Perkins
Charles Sullivan Perkins was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched for the 1930 Philadelphia Athletics and the 1934 Brooklyn Dodgers. He attended Williams College. His remains were cremated.-External links:...
.
It premiered at the 10th Anniversary of the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival held at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
in May 2009.
Sen's second feature-length film, Dreamland, screened at the 2010 Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne International Film Festival
The Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
.
Filmography
- Tears (1998) : Two teenagers walk from the certainty of life on the 'mish' to a bus stop and enter uncertain dreams of a life somewhere else. At the bus stop both of them have to make a decision.
- Who Was Evleyn Orcher (documentary)
- The Dreamers (documentary)
- Beneath CloudsBeneath CloudsBeneath Clouds is a 2002 film by Australian director Ivan Sen.Lena has an absent Irish father she longs to see and an Aboriginal mother she finds disgusting...
(feature-length drama) - Dust (short drama)
- Wind (short drama)
- Vanish (documentary)
- Journey (short drama)
- Warm Strangers (short drama)
- Shifting Shelter (documentary)
- A Sister's Love (documentary, 2006)
- Fire TalkerFire TalkerFire Talker is a 2009 documentary film by Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen. It is a documentary biopic about Australian Aboriginal political activist, footballer and administrator, Charlie Perkins. It premiered at the 10th Anniversary of the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival held at the Sydney...
(documentary, 2006): A film about Aboriginal activist Charlie PerkinsCharlie PerkinsCharles Sullivan Perkins was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched for the 1930 Philadelphia Athletics and the 1934 Brooklyn Dodgers. He attended Williams College. His remains were cremated.-External links:...
. - Dreamland (2010 feature film)
- Toomelah (2011 feature film)