Sydney Film School | Staff | SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL

Sydney Film School is fortunate to be infused with passionate, committed and experienced filmmakers. We believe the best way to learn is to learn from mentors who have been successful in their chosen disciplines.

Our mentors are selected for their practical experience in the film industry, as well as their ability to teach and communicate the concepts that offer our students professional perspectives on how to reach their goals. They are devoted to assisting our students through their assignments and production processes, and to ensuring that each one feels part of the community that is Sydney Film School.

SIMON HUNTER

EXECUTIVE CHAIR

Simon Hunter began his career as a screenwriter and producer. He wrote Twisted Tales: Bonus Mileage, produced by Australian icon Bryan Brown for the Nine Network Australia. Simon's screenplay secured Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush to star in the episode.

more...

ASHLEY CURRY

DIRECTOR OF WATERLOO STUDIOS

Ashley Curry came to Sydney Film School with over 5 years of marketing experience and another 5 years of design experience. He started his journey with SAS as Marketing Manager, moving into Recruitment and Admissions and now oversees the daily running of the school as Director of Waterloo Studios.

more...

LES PARROTT

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Starting his career in the UK as a clapper loader, Les progressed through focus pulling to camera operation, working on films including Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Beatles’ Let It Be.

more...

ANTONIA GAUCI

SOUND

Antonia Gauci is a recording engineer, mixer, sound designer, songwriter and musician who works across both the film and music industries. Her work can be heard on the ABC comedy series Sarah’s Channel, spots for VicRoads, Spotify and FBi Radio, as well as records by Kesha, Troye Sivan, Cold Chisel and some of Australia’s most promising acts.

more...

GEORGIA COLLINS

SOUND

Georgia Collins is one of a scarce few female engineers in the industry. Before 2016, Georgia cut her teeth working as a recording and mixing engineer in the music industry. Now working predominantly in post production sound design, Georgia has worked on spots for Nike, The Sydney Theatre Company and the Australia Ballet.

more...

SASHA ZASTAVNIKOVIĆ

SOUND

Sasha Zastavniković is an award-winning freelance Sound Designer with over twenty years of experience in film, television, media and entertainment industry.

more...

BETTY FOTOFILI

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Betty is a highly experienced 1st Assistant Director, 2nd Assistant Director and 3rd Assistant Director, whose extensive credits include Crazy Rich Asians, A Wrinkle In Time, The Wolverine, The Great Gatsby, Pacific Rim, Tomorrow When The War Began, Animal Kingdom, Australia, The Chronicles Of Narnia and Superman Returns.

more...

MARK BARNARD

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Mark Barnard is a television professional with over 35 years experience in just about every genre and style. He has worked internationally for many high profile employers, most recently for ABC Kids, CBeebies (UK) and Beach House (Singapore/Aust).

more...

LEAH PELLINKHOF

DIRECTING FOR SCREEN

Leah Pellinkhof is a trained and experienced director, film and theatre maker, writer, cinematographer, editor, intimacy coordinator and arts educator. Her extensive resume covers over 20 years as an arts educator and award winning film & theatre maker.

more...

SHANE ANTHONY

DIRECTING FOR SCREEN

Shane Anthony works as a theatre director and producer in Australia and overseas. He is a graduate of the Directing Program at National Institute of Dramatic Art, Screenwriting at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and has also completed a BA in Theatre Studies at QUT.

more...

JASON PERINI

DIRECTING FOR SCREEN

Jason Perini is a director, writer and actor. In 2016, Jason wrote and directed his short film ‘The New Empress’. The short stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and was produced by Dana Brunetti as part of the Jameson First Shot project. The film premiered at Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles.

more...

CJ JOHNSON

SCREEN STORYTELLING

CJ Johnson is President of the Film Critics Circle of Australia. He lectures on cinema regularly at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and other prestigious institutions.

more...

CHARLOTTE MUNGOMERY

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Known for her unique visual style director-designer Charlotte Mungomery crafts stories for the screen that are simultaneously tender and tectonic. Her work is a series of poetic compositions sometimes maddening, often cathartic and always spellbinding.

more...

TIM FERRIER

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Tim, APDG, has been a designer for stage and screen for 33 years. He designed Blood Relations for the Sydney Theatre Company and State Theatre Company of South Australia and The Rake’s Progress and Curlew River for The Australian Opera, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, amongst others.

more...

FIONA STRAIN

EDITING

Fiona is an Editor whose work spans short film and television. Fiona’s work has been recognised with Accreditation and four Editing nominations by the Australian Screen Editors Guild, for 'Barrenjoey Road', and winning for her work on ‘Whatever! The Science of Teens’.

more...