Anthony Maras

Infobox actor
name = Anthony Maras


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Anthony Theo Maras
location = flagicon|Australia Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Anthony Theo Maras is an Australian film director, writer and producer born in Adelaide, South Australia. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2285536/ Internet Movie Database] ]

Biography

Maras graduated from Flinders University in South Australia with a degree in Law and Legal Practice (Honors), before going on to study both film production and "Law and Society" at the University of California. While at UC, he won two President’s Undergraduate Fellowship awards, was a Dean’s Honors recipient, and was elected President of the UCSB Filmmakers’ Cooperative. [http://www.tiburonfilmfestival.com/contactInfo.php?contact_id=2917 "Tiburon International Film Festival Bio Page"] ]

Upon his return to Australia, Maras secured funding from the Australian Film Commission, Adelaide Film Festival and South Australian Film Corporation to write and direct refugee short drama "Azadi".

"Azadi" earned numerous accolades on the international festival circuit and has screened on broadcast television, [http://www.abc.net.au/tv/shortandcurly/txt/s1852516.htm "ABC Short and Curly"] ] festivals and at human rights events [http://2006.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz/films.asp "Human Rights Film Festival"] ] [http://www.hamptonsfilmfest.org/2005/FConflict.asp "Films of Conflict and Resolution - Hamptons Film Festival"] ] the world over. [http://www.safilm.com.au/showcase_detail.aspx?p=23&id=188 "SAFC website - Azadi Showcase"] ] [http://www.shortfilmcentral.com/film/305/screenings/ "Short Film Central - Azadi Profile"] ]

In 2007, Maras was again backed by the Australian Film Commission to write and direct "Spike Up", a searing noir-drama that premiered to rave reviews in Australia [http://afca.org.au/spikeup.php "Australian Film Critics Association - SPIKE UP review"] ] and stars veteran Australian character actor Roy Billing ("Rabbit Proof Fence", "The Dish"), Marcus Graham ("Mulholland Drive", "Blue Murder") and Lisa Flanagan ("Look Both Ways", "Aussie Rules").

In December 2007, "Spike Up" won the “Best Short Fiction Film” category in the AFI Awards [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22021618-5006343,00.html "Adelaide Advertiser - 5 July 2007"] ] [http://www.if.com.au/press/2007/07/04.html "Inside Film - 4 July 2006"] ] – Australia’s most prestigious film awards ceremony and widely recognised as the Australian equivalent to the American Academy Awards. This marks Maras' second nomination and first win in the AFI Awards which are held annually in November/December.

Maras's original family surname was Mamatas. He is a cousin to American author Nick Mamatas and popular Greek folk singer Eleftheria Arvanitaki.

Awards and Nominations

Awards:
*2007 Australian Film Institute Awards: Best Short Fiction Film [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22883801-5006301,00.html AdelaideNow... SA's slice of film awards glory ] ]
*2008 South Australian Short Screen Awards: Best Direction
*2008 South Australian Short Screen Awards: Best Drama
*2008 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival: Jury Prize - Platinum Remi Award - Best Dramatic Adaptation
*2006 South Australian Short Screen Awards: Best Drama [http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/384/puffio.shtml "DB Magazine - 26 April 2006"] ]
*2006 South Australian Short Screen Awards: Best Direction [http://www.dbmagazine.com.au/384/puffio.shtml "DB Magazine - 26 April 2006"] ]
*2006 Flickerfest International Short Film Festival: SBS Television Award [http://www.flickerfest.com.au/2006/winners.asp "Flickerfest 2006 Winners"] ]
*2006 St Kilda Film Festival: Judges Special Commendation [http://2006.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/homepage "St Kilda 2006 Winners"] ]
*2006 39th Annual WorldFest-Houston: Jury Prize - Platinum Remi Award [http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:Z61-JlfDieQJ:www.worldfest.org/downloads/winnerslist2006.xls+39th+WorldFest+Houston+Azadi&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2 "39th Worldfest Houston - Winners List"] ]
* 2007 - SA Great - 2007 Rising Star [http://www.sagreat.com.au/programs/risingstars2007/risingstars2007_anthonymaras.html "SA Great - Rising Stars profile"] ]

Nominations:
*2007 Australian Film Institute Awards: Best Short Fiction Film [http://www.if.com.au/press/2007/07/04.html "Inside Film - 4 July 2006"] ]
*2007 Australian Directors Guild Awards: Best Short Film [http://www.asdafilm.org.au/ "Australian Screen Directors Association Homepage"] ]
*2007 ATOM Awards: Best Short Fiction Film [http://www.if.com.au/press/2007/07/04.html "Inside Film - 4 July 2006"] ]
*2007 Austin Film Festival: Best Short Film
*2005 Australian Film Institute Awards: Best Short Fiction Film [http://www.if.com.au/press/2005/08/26.html "Inside Film - 26 August 2006"] ]
*2005 Austin Film Festival: Best Short Film [http://www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/aboutus/affifhistory.html "Adelaide Film Festival - Investment Fund History"] ]
*2005 Sydney Film Festival - Dendy Awards: Best Short Fiction over 15 minutes - Dendy Awards [http://www.shortfilmcentral.com/film/305/screenings/ "Short Film Central - Azadi Profile"] ]
*2005 ATOM Awards: Best Short Fiction Film [http://www.shortfilmcentral.com/film/305/screenings/ "Short Film Central - Azadi Profile"] ]
*2005 Hamptons International Film Festival - Films of Conflict and Resolution Award Nomination [http://www.hamptonsfilmfest.org/2005/FConflict.asp "14th Hamptons International Film Festival - Films of Conflict and Resolution"] ]

Official Selection - Film Festivals:
* International Film Festival Rotterdam 2008
* Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2008
* Cesar Academie Des Arts Et Techniques Du Cinema - Golden Nights of Short Film 2008
* Los Angeles International Short Film Festival 2008
* The London Australian Film Festival 2008
* St Kilda International Festival of Short Films 2008
* Flickerfest International Festival of Short Films 2008
* Bilbao International Short Film Festival 2007
* Austin Film Festival 2007
* Adelaide Film Festival 2007
* AFI Awards 2005
* Hamptons International Film Festival 2005
* Valladolid International Film Festival 2005
* Sydney Film Festival 2005
* São Paulo International Film Festival 2005
* Los Angeles International Short Film Festival 2005
* Interfilm Berlin – Int Short Film Festival 2005
* Flickerfest International Short Film Festival 2006
* St Kilda Film Festival 2006
* WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival 2006
* Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films 2005
* Austin Film Festival 2005
* Florida Film Festival 2006
* Sydney Film Festival 2005
* Rome Independent Film Festival 2006
* Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival 2005
* Foyle Film Festival 2005
* Athens International Film Festival (Greece) 2005
* Athens Int Film and Video Fest (USA) 2005
* Vermont International Film Festival 2005
* Bermuda International Film Festival 2005
* Drama International Film Festival (Greece) 2005
* Adelaide Film Festival 2005
* Tiburon International Film Festival 2005
* Human Rights Film Festival – New Zealand 2006
* Berkshire International Film Festival 2005
* Fitzroy Shorts Film Festival 2006
* Roma Cinemafest 2006
* Shorts Film Festival (Australia) 2006
* South Australian Short Screen Awards 2006
* ATOM Awards 2005
* ACS Awards 2005
* Darwin Film Festival 2006

References

External links

*imdb name|id=2285536|name=Anthony Maras
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ftdRQPEoqc&feature=related&locale=en_US&persist_locale=1 2007 AFI Awards Acceptance Speech - YOUTUBE]
* [http://www.anthousefilms.com Anthony Maras at AntHouse Films]
* [http://www.safilm.com.au/showcase_detail.aspx?p=23&id=188 South Australian Film Corporation - Azadi Showcase]
* [http://www.shortfilmcentral.com/filmmaker/667/ Short Film Central - Profile]