Paul Cox Paul Cox i(A27428 works by) (birth name: Paulus Henricus Benedictus Cox)
Born: Established: 16 Apr 1940
c
Netherlands,
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Western Europe, Europe,
; Died: Ceased: 18 Jun 2016
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1965
Heritage: Dutch
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BiographyHistory

Screenwriter director, producer, cinematographer, editor, graphic artist.

Although regarded by his peers and most film Australian critics as one of the country's most significant filmmakers, Paul Cox's career has not followed a commercial path. Indeed, his films have largely been ignored by government funding agencies, the local industry and the public alike, despite his works having been highly praised and honoured overseas.

Born in Venlo in the Netherlands, Paul Cox's interest in film was stirred by his father, Wim, who was a documentary film producer. As a young man he studied photography at art school and in 1963 came to Australia on a 12 month exchange student program. After returning to Holland for a year he decided to immigrate to Australia, arriving in the country in 1965. That same year he made Matuta, the first of his eleven short films (the last being Ritual in 1978). Cox's first feature film as a director was The Journey, made in 1972. After directing his second film, Illuminations (1977) for the Melbourne Filmmakers Cooperative, he set up Illumination Films. The new company's first feature was Inside Looking Out (1979, also known as Two in the Family). During the 1970s he also taught at the Prahran College of Advanced Education, influencing a number of emerging cinematographers and film-makers.

From the early 1980s onwards Cox turned largely to feature filmmaking, producing 18 up until 2000. Among his most critically acclaimed works are: Kostas (1979), Man of Flowers (1981), My First Wife (1984), Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (1987), Golden Braid (1990), A Woman's Tale (1991), Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999), Innocence (2000) and Human Touch (2004). He has also directed and/or produced a number of documentaries, beginning with Calcutta (1980). Others include: For a Child called Michael (1979), Death and Destiny (1984) and Handle with Care (1985).

Among the awards presented to Cox during his career are: 1984 Golden Spike Award (Valldolid International Film Festival - for Man of Flowers), 1984 Best Director and Best Screenplay awards (Australian Film Institute - for My First Wife), 1986 Golden Spur Award (Flanders International Film Festival - for My First Wife), 1991 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Feature Film Award (for A Women's Tale); 1992 Golden Spur Award (Flanders International Film Festival - for A Woman's Tale), 1993 Chauvel Award (Brisbane International Film Festival - for dintiguished contribution to Australian Cinema), 2000 FIPRESCI Prize (Taormina International Film Festival - for Innocence), 2000 Grand Prix des Amériques (Montréal World Film Festival - for Innocence), 2000 Best Feature Film Award (Inside Film Awards - for Innocence), 2003 Jury Prize (Montréal International Festival of Films on Art - for The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky), 2004 Grand Prix des Amériques (Montréal World Film Festival - for Human Touch).

Cox has also collaborated with a number of screenwriters including John Clarke, Barry Dickens and Bob Ellis (qq.v).

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • Further Reference:

Personal Awards

2006 Ken G. Hall Preservation Award In acknowledgement of both his unique creative career and his long-term support of the NFSA.

Awards for Works

form y separately published work icon Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky Nijinsky : Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky; Nijinsky : The Diaries of Vaclav Nijisnky.; Nijinski. ( dir. Paul Cox ) Australia Sweden Germany Netherlands : Illumination Films MusicArtsDance Films , 2001 6824723 2001 single work film/TV

Dramatisation of the life of Ballets Russes star Vaslav Nijinsky (based in part on his diaries), detailing his madness, his relationship with Ballets Russes impresario Sergei Diaghilev, and his marriage to his Hungarian wife.

2002 nominated Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Screenplay - Adapted
2002 nominated Australian Film Institute Awards Best Documentary
form y separately published work icon Innocence ( dir. Paul Cox ) Australia : Showtime Strand / New Oz Productions , 2000 6825744 2000 single work film/TV

'Retired organist and music teacher Andreas Borg discovers that his first love Claire, a woman he hasn't seen for almost 50 years, lives nearby - that she exists! He writes her a letter. Through poignant erotic flashbacks we start to understand the haunting quality of their early relationship. After almost 50 years their innocence still burns. A comic-tragic tale of love and lust, of tenderness and hope. A passionate reminder to live life to the full. A poignant homage to the human spirit.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 18/12/2013)

2000 won Inside Film Awards Best Feature Film
2001 nominated Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Original Screenplay
2001 nominated Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Film
form y separately published work icon A Woman's Tale ( dir. Paul Cox ) Melbourne : Illumination Films , 1991 Z1360265 1991 single work film/TV
— Appears in: 3 Screenplays 1998; (p. 123-182)

'In the last days of her battle with cancer, Marta remains cheerful and determined to live life to the fullest. With the help of Anna, a visiting nurse who has become her closest friend, Marta resists pressure from her son Jonathon to move to a home. Despite her illness, Marta takes care of her infirm neighbour Billy, whose relatives never visit. She also provides a place where Anna can see her lover Peter in secret. When Marta is hospitalised after a serious fall, Anna and Jonathan join forces to get her home. This event also causes Anna to make a serious decision.'

Source: Australian Screen (Sighted: 5/10/2012)

1991 nomination Australian Film Institute Awards Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted

Known archival holdings

National Library of Australia (ACT)
Last amended 19 Jun 2016 20:06:00
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