Warwick Thornton
Directing
Warwick Thornton (born 23 July, 1970; Alice Springs) is an Australian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. His debut feature film Samson and Delilah won the Caméra d'Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and the award for Best Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. He also won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Film in 2017 for Sweet Country. Thornton is a Kaytetye man born and raised in Alice Springs. His mother Freda Glynn co-founded and was the first director of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) and was the director of Imparja Television for its first 10 years. At 13, Thornton was sent to school in Australia's only monastic town, New Norcia, Western Australia, although he later declared he became angry with Christianity and did not consider himself religious. He graduated in cinematography from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
Known for
Directing28
movieWolfram
2026
Director
movieKangaroo
2025
Second Unit Director
movieThe New Boy
2023
Director
tvFirebite
2021
Director
movieMeth Kelly
2020
Director
tvThe Beach
2020
Director
tvMystery Road
2018
Director
movieSweet Country
2018
Director
movieWe Don't Need a Map
2017
Director
Ancient Eye
2017
Director
movieWords with Gods
2014
Director
movieThe Darkside
2013
Director
movieThe Turning
2013
Director
Stranded
2011
Director
Art+Soul
2010
Director
movieSamson and Delilah
2009
Director
movieNana
2007
Director
movieGreen Bush
2005
Director
movieRosalie's Journey
2003
Director
movieMimi
2002
Director
movieFirst Warrior
Director
Camera57
movieWolfram
2026
Director of Photography
movieFast Charlie
2023
Director of Photography
movieThe New Boy
2023
Director of Photography
tvFirebite
2021
Director of Photography
tvBlue Water Empire
2019
Additional Camera
movieBetween Two Lines
2019
Director of Photography
tvMystery Road
2018
Director of Photography
movieSweet Country
2018
Director of Photography
Coat of Arms
2017
Director of Photography
movieWe Don't Need a Map
2017
Director of Photography
movieSeptembers of Shiraz
2015
Director of Photography
movieBlack Chook
2015
Director of Photography
The Way of the Ngangkari
2015
Director of Photography
movieWords with Gods
2014
Director of Photography
movieThe Darkside
2013
Director of Photography
movieThe Turning
2013
Director of Photography
movieThe Sapphires
2012
Director of Photography
The Oysterman
2012
Director of Photography
In the Air
2012
Director of Photography
movieHere I Am
2011
Director of Photography
Stranded
2011
Director of Photography
Art+Soul
2010
Director of Photography
Karlu Karlu: Devil's Marbles
2010
Director of Photography
movieIntervention 2 Years On
2010
Camera Operator
movieSamson and Delilah
2009
Director of Photography
tvFirst Australians
2008
Director of Photography
Keao
2008
Director of Photography
Bit of Black Business
2008
Director of Photography
Dark Science
2008
Director of Photography
Willaberta Jack
2007
Director of Photography
Knot at Home Project
2006
Director of Photography
My Brother Vinnie
2006
Director of Photography
movie5 Seasons
2005
Director of Photography
The Lore of Love
2005
Director of Photography
The Old Man and the Inland Sea
2005
Director of Photography
Plains Empty
2005
Director of Photography
movieBeyond Sorry
2005
Director of Photography
movieMparntwe Sacred Sites
2004
Director of Photography
movieWirriya: Small Boy
2004
Additional Camera
movieRosalie's Journey
2003
Director of Photography
movieMimi
2002
Director of Photography
My Mother India
2002
Director of Photography
Jabiru 0886: Trespass
2002
Director of Photography
Flat
2002
Director of Photography
Ngangkari
2001
Director of Photography
movieBuried Country
2000
Director of Photography
movieStone Forever
1999
Additional Camera
movieMy Bed Your Bed
1998
Director of Photography
movieRadiance
1998
Director of Photography
Alchemy
1998
Camera Operator
Marluku Wirlinyi: The Kangaroo Hunters
1998
Director of Photography
A Classroom in Theresienstadt
1998
Director of Photography
Promise
1998
Director of Photography
From Sand to Celluloid: Payback
1996
Director of Photography
movieAudacious
1995
Camera Operator
Satellite Dreaming
1991
Director of Photography
Nganampa Anwernekenhe
1987
Director of Photography
Writing13
movieThe New Boy
2023
Writer
tvFirebite
2021
Writer
movieWords with Gods
2014
Writer
movieThe Darkside
2013
Writer
movieThe Turning
2013
Writer
movieNana
2007
Writer
movieGreen Bush
2005
Writer
movieMimi
2002
Writer
Acting6
Creator2
tvFirebite
2021
Creator
tvThe Beach
2020
Creator
Crew2
tvFirebite
2021
Creator
movieNulla Nulla
2015
Thanks
Production2
tvFirebite
2021
Producer
tvThe Beach
2020
Producer
Art1
The Way of the Ngangkari
2015
Art Direction, Art Department Assistant
Lighting1
movieCold Turkey
2003
Additional Lighting Technician