Jan Sardi

Jan Sardi is an award-winning Australian screenwriter.

In 1997 he received an Academy Award Nomination for his screenplay for "Shine", an account of the life of pianist David Helfgott, as well as a BAFTA nomination, a Writers’ Guild of America nomination and a Golden Globe nomination. Jan has won numerous awards for his work in Australia, including Best Screenplay for "Shine" (Australian Film Institute Awards and Australian Writers Guild Awards). In 2003 he wrote and directed "Love's Brother", an Australian/UK co-production starring Giovanni Ribisi and Adam Garcia. "Love's Brother" won the Best Film Award at the 2004 Houston International Film Festival and the award for Best Director and Best Cinematography. It won the Grand Prize – Best Film - at the Heartland Film Festival Indianapolis, 2004. In addition, it was nominated for six Australian Film Institute Awards (2004) including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay. Jan Sardi also adapted "The Notebook" for New Line Cinema in the US. It stars Gena Rowlands, James Garner and Sam Shepard. His most recent project is MAO’S LAST DANCER, an adaptation of the best selling autobiography by Li Cunxin – which has been directed by Bruce Beresford, for release in 2009. He is currently adapting The Secret River, The Booker Prize finalist by Kate Grenville, to be directed by Fred Schepisi. Sardi lives and works in Australia.