Jane Campion

Jane Campion was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 30, 1954. She initially pursued studies in anthropology, earning a BA from Victoria University of Wellington in 1975, followed by a BA with a painting major from Sydney College of the Arts in 1979. Her film career began in the early 1980s after attending the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Her debut short film, “Peel” (1982), earned the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1986, signaling her emergence as a significant directorial talent. She continued to create acclaimed short films, including “A Girl’s Own Story” (1984), “Passionless Moments” (1983), and “After Hours” (1985), all receiving Australian and international awards. Her television film “2 Friends” (1986) also garnered accolades.

Campion co-wrote and directed her first feature film, “Sweetie” (1989), which received the Georges Sadoul prize for Best Foreign Film in 1989 and the LA Film Critics’ New Generation Award in 1990. This was followed by “An Angel at My Table” (1990), a dramatization of Janet Frame’s autobiographies, which won multiple awards including the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Her film “The Piano” (1993) marked a turning point, earning her the Palme D’Or at Cannes, making her the first woman to achieve this honor. She also won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Director for “The Piano.” Her subsequent works include “The Portrait of a Lady” (1996), “Holy Smoke!” (1999), and “In the Cut” (2003).

In recent years, Campion has continued to direct and produce notable projects such as “Bright Star” (2009), a biographical drama that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. She also co-created, wrote, and directed the critically acclaimed TV mini-series “Top of the Lake” (2013-2017), which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Directing. Her 2021 film, “The Power of the Dog,” based on Thomas Savage’s novel, received widespread critical acclaim and earned her the Silver Lion for Best Direction at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. She made history by becoming the first woman to be nominated for Best Director twice at the Academy Awards and subsequently won Best Director for “The Power of the Dog.”