Australian New Wave

The Australian film industry declined after World War II, coming to a virtual stop by the early 1960s. The Gorton (1968–71) and Whitlam governments (1972–75) intervened and rescued the industry from its expected oblivion. The federal and several state governments established bodies to assist with the funding of film production and the training of film makers through the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, which fostered a new generation of Australian filmmakers who were able to bring their visions to the screen. The 1970s saw a huge renaissance of the Australian film industry. Australia produced nearly 400 films between 1970 and 1985, more than had been made in the history of the Australian film industry. In contrast to pre-New Wave films, New Wave films are often viewed as fresh and creative, possessing "a vitality, a love of open spaces and a propensity for sudden violence and languorous sexuality". The "straight-ahead narrative style" of many Australian New Wave films reminded American audiences of "the Hollywood-maverick period of the late 1960s and early '70s that had just about run its course". Film critic Stephen Farber said of the appeal of the New Wave of Australian films to American audiences in 1980: Unlike many of the acclaimed German films of recent years, these Australian movies are accessible and entertaining, as well as searching and innovative. Audiences who are tired of the formula fare from the Hollywood studios and the more impenetrable art films from Europe will find a breath of new life in these films from down under.

Many filmmakers and actors launched international careers through their work in the Australian New Wave. • Illustration — Mel Gibson • Illustration — Nicole Kidman • Illustration — Sam Neill • Illustration — George Miller • Illustration — Peter Weir

• Gillian Armstrong • Henri Safran • Bruce Beresford • Tim Burstall • John Duigan • Richard Franklin • Ken Hannam • George Miller • Russell Mulcahy • Phillip Noyce • Fred Schepisi • Brian Trenchard-Smith • Peter Weir • Simon Wincer

• Elizabeth Alexander • David Argue • Ray Barrett • Pat Bishop • Steve Bisley • Jon Blake • Graeme Blundell • Bryan Brown • Tom Burlinson • Terry Camilleri • Chantal Contouri • Barry Crocker • Max Cullen • Judy Davis • Mercia Deane-Johns • Jeanie Drynan • Carmen Duncan • Nicholas Eadie • Colin Friels • Mel Gibson • Rebecca Gilling • David Gulpilil • Penne Hackforth-Jones • John Hargreaves • Mark Hembrow • Paul Hogan • Harold Hopkins • Wendy Hughes • Barry Humphries • Bill Hunter • John Jarratt • Hugh Keays-Byrne • Bill Kerr • Nicole Kidman • Anne-Louise Lambert • Mark Lee • John Meillon • Ben Mendelsohn • Judy Morris • Helen Morse • Sam Neill • Angela Punch McGregor • Bruce Spence • Nick Tate • Noah Taylor • Jack Thompson • Sigrid Thornton • Roger Ward • John Waters • Jacki Weaver • Vernon Wells

• Russell Boyd (cinematographer) • John Seale (cinematographer) • Dean Semler (cinematographer) • Donald McAlpine (cinematographer) • Brian May (composer) • Bruce Smeaton (composer)