| Anthony Maras | |
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| Born | Anthony Theo Maras Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
Anthony Theo Maras is an Australian film director, writer and producer born in Adelaide, South Australia.[1]
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Maras graduated from Flinders University in South Australia with a degree in Law and Legal Practice (Honors), before going on to study both film production and "Law and Society" at the University of California. While at UC, he won two President’s Undergraduate Fellowship awards, was a Dean’s Honors recipient, and was elected President of the UCSB Filmmakers’ Cooperative.[2]
Upon his return to Australia, Maras secured funding from the Australian Film Commission, Adelaide Film Festival and South Australian Film Corporation to write and direct refugee short drama Azadi.
Azadi earned numerous accolades on the international festival circuit and has screened on broadcast television,[3] festivals and at human rights events[4][5] the world over.[6][7]
In 2007, Maras was again backed by the Australian Film Commission to write and direct Spike Up, a searing noir-drama that premiered to rave reviews in Australia[8] and stars veteran Australian character actor Roy Billing (Rabbit-Proof Fence, The Dish), Marcus Graham (Mulholland Drive, Blue Murder) and Lisa Flanagan (Look Both Ways, Aussie Rules).
In December 2007, Spike Up won the “Best Short Fiction Film” category in the AFI Awards[9][10], which marks Maras' second nomination and first win in the AFI Awards which are held annually in November/December.
Anthony also worked as an associate producer on Last Ride (2009), the debut feature of Palm D’Or winning director Glendyn Ivin and starring Hugo Weaving.
Anthony Maras' most recent film The Palace, is a 2011 Cyprus-Australian short film co-production, shot along the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus. The Palace was inspired by true events that took place during the 1974 Turkish Invasion of Cyprus, and made with an Australian and International crew from Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Morocco, UK, Germany and Australia.
The Palace has received early critical and audience acclaim. The film won the Best Short Film - Audience Award at its first public screening at the 2011 Adelaide Film Festival, Best Australian Short Film at the 2011 Melbourne International Film Festival, and Best Short Film (Live Action) at the 2011 Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards. The Sydney Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying festival, meaning The Palace is now eligible for consideration in the short film category at the 2012 Academy Awards.
Maras's original family surname was Mamatas. He is a cousin to American author Nick Mamatas and popular Greek folk singer Eleftheria Arvanitaki.
Awards:
Nominations:
Official Selection - Film Festivals:
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