Ray Lawrence moved to Australia as a child and for many years worked at Window productions making commercials. Bliss was Lawrence's first feature film and was nominated for Cannes' Golden Palm and scored thirteen Australian Film Institute (AFI) nominations, winning three, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director.
Since Bliss, Lawrence has continued to work in commercials and has written many screenplays including Tracks based on the novel by Robyn Davidson, and 'Sweetlip', based on Robert Drewe's short story of the same name. In 2001, Lawrence directed Lantana which also won thirteen AFI nominations, this time winning seven.