Dr. Cathy Henkel Director, WA Screen Academy Edith Cowan University Founding Director, Virgo Productions
Dr Cathy Henkel is the Director of the WA Screen Academy at Edith Cowan University. The Screen Academy is West Australia’s leading training centre for screen industry practitioners and works in close collaboration with the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). The Academy also enjoys strong industry support, including partnerships with the Nine Network, Arri Australia and Panther. The Screen Academy offers both a Masters of Screen Studies and a Bachelor of Media and Communications: Screen Studies Major. Cathy has worked as a documentary producer/director and writer for the past 26 years, and is founding director of Virgo Productions, an award-winning, boutique screen industries company. Her work is focused on inspiring, positive, global stories with cross-platform delivery, engaging audiences world-wide through cinema, television, online, mobile and education platforms. Cathy’s previous credits include The Burning Season (ABC, BBC, CBC, PBS, National Geographic, IF Award for Best Documentary 2008, nominated for an Emmy), I told you I was ill: Spike Milligan (ABC, BBC1, RTE) and The Man who Stole my Mother’s Face (Broadcast in 26 countries, IF Award and Tribeca Film Festival Award for Best Feature Documentary 2004). Cathy has won numerous other awards including SPA Documentary Producer of the Year (2009), an ACS Award, numerous AFI and an Emmy nomination. She recently produced and directed Rise of the Eco-Warriors, an action adventure feature documentary set in Borneo and Show me the Magic, about acclaimed cinematographer Don McAlpine. Rise of the Eco-Warriors has been being re-versioned as a 13 part TV series in conjunction with Singapore-based Silver Media Group. Cathy has a PhD from Queensland University of Technology, (QUT) and is researching innovative finance and education markets for Australian screen content. She has recently been a speaker at the Screen Producers Association National Conference (2014), the Australian International Documentary Conference (2013, 2016), and ATF Asia TV Forum and Market in Singapore (2015). Cathy is the WA Chapter Head for the Australian Director’s Guild and is a board member for the Australian International Documentary Conference. Major Screen industry credits, professional activities and publications listed below.
MAJOR SCREEN CREDITS
RISE OF THE ECO-WARRIORS (2013/14): Co-producer/director/writer: feature documentary. Supported by Screen Queensland. Cinema release March 2014.
SELECTED: BYRON BAY INTERNATIONL FILM FESTIVAL, Closing Night Film; BALI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, BIG PICTURE FILM FESTIVAL
SHOW ME THE MAGIC (2012): The Adventures of Don McAlpine, Co-producer /director/writer in collaboration with Freshwater Pictures, Studio (Foxtel), Screen Queensland, Deluxe and Panavision. Sold to ABC TV.
WINNER: WOW Film Festival Best Female Cinematographer: Cathy Henkel: Best Composer: Nicolette Boaz: Australian Screen Editors Awards: Best Editor, Documentary Feature: Scott Walton: ASC Silver Award Best Cinematography in Documentary: Cathy Henkel. NOMINATED: Australian Directors Guild: Best Director Documentary: Cathy Henkel SELECTED: BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, BYRON BAY FILM FESTIVAL, WOW (World of Women) FILM FESTIVAL plus other Australian festivals
THE BURNING SEASON Cinema version (2009), Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland SELECTED: TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL, New York: SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL. Runner Up, Audience Choice Award NOMINATED: Gold Panda Award, Sichuan TV Festival, China.
THE BURNING SEASON Television and Festival version (2008), Screen Australia, FTO, ABC, BBC, CBC Distributed by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
WINNER: IF AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY; BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Audience Choice Award; NIMBIN FILM FESTIVAL Best Documentary, NOMINATED: Two ATOM Awards and Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary on a Business Topic. BROADCAST: BBC, CBC, PBS, ABC and many others.
I TOLD YOU I WAS ILL: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SPIKE MILLIGAN, (2005) ABC/FFC non- accord documentary in association with Adelaide Film Festival, The Documentary Channel and RTE.
SELECTED: ADELAIDE, MELBOURNE, BRISBANE INT FILM FESTIVALS: New Zealand’s DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival; NOMINATED: FILM CRITICS CIRCLE OF AUSTRALIA: Best Documentary DVDA BRILLIANCE AWARDS: Best Theatrical Film DVD
THE MAN WHO STOLE MY MOTHER’S FACE (2003/4), ABC/FFC non-accord documentary: a daughter’s search for justice for her mother following a sexual assault.
WINNER: BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL, New York; DISCOVERY CHANNEL IF AWARD for BEST DOCUMENTARY, Australia; AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD: LONDON AUSTRALIA FILM FESTIVAL, FINALIST: 2003 LEXUS IF AWARDS: Independent Spirit Award; CAPE TOWN WORLD CINEMA FESTIVAL SELECTED: MELBOURNE and BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS, HOT DOCS, CANADA, TRIBECA, New York plus twenty other international festivals NOMINATED: AFI AWARD for Best Achievement in Directing; FILM CRITICS CIRCLE OF AUSTRALIA award for Best Documentary.
LOSING LAYLA (2001) Co-Producer/ Cinematographer ABC/FFC, documentary about birth, death and grief
WINNER: 2001 ATOM AWARD. HIGHLY COMMENDED: DENDY AWARDS. NOMINATED: AFI AWARD Best Achievement in Directing
Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor/Co-Producer WALKING THROUGH A MINEFIELD (1999), SBS Documentary about protest over the Jabiluka uranium mine TAPA TRADITION (1996), Fiji TV, Traditional Fijian village life, TORIKA’S DAY (1995), Fiji TV, A Day in the Life of a Fijian Girl HEROES OF OUR TIME (1991), Co-writer/Co-Director, ABC/FILM AUSTRALIA, Documentary about Greenpeace SCREENED AT SYDNEY and MELBOURNE FILM FESTIVALS
WEBSITES AND DVDs www.virgoproductions.com.au www.ecowarriorsrise.com companion website to “Rise of the Eco-Warriors” www.showmethemagic.com.au companion website to “Show me the Magic” www.theburningseasonmovie.com companion website to “The Burning Season” www.tenthingsyoucando.com action website for “The Burning Season” www.spikemilliganlegacy.com companion website to “I told you I was ill” www.themanwhostolemymothersface.com companion website to the film DVD releases for “Losing Layla”, The Man who Stole my Mother’s Face”, “I told you I was ill: Spike Milligan”. and “The Burning Season”, “Show me the Magic” and “Rise of the Eco-Warriors”
Consultant Producer: DANCE FOR ME feature film in development with Freshwater Pictures, written by Roger Monk
EDUCATIONAL & TRAINING PROGRAMS: WRITER/PRODUCER, DIRECTOR and CINEMATOGRAPHER GET YOUTH TO IT (2003). Information video on youth rights and responsibilities in public spaces. Funded by the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW and auspiced by Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre.
GO GIRL (2002) Information video about Apprehended Violence orders (AVO). Funded by the NSW Department for Women and auspiced by Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre.
THE MESSAGE STICK (2001), Information video for Indigenous Job Seekers and MAKING THE DIFFERENCE, Information video for Employers. For the Northern Rivers Area Consultative Committee, funded by Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.
HANDS ON THE WHEEL (2000), Steering your way out of debt. Produced for Lismore & District Financial Counselling Services.
EDUCATIONAL & TRAINING PROGRAMS: Cont.
ONE IN A THOUSAND (2001) The Miraculous Life of the Sea Turtle. Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Distributed to every primary school in Australia.
NOT QUITE PARADISE (2001), North Coast Tenant's Advice and Advocacy Service
ITSA PROMOTIONAL VIDEO (2000), for Insolvency & Trustee Service, Australia.
Co-Producer/Director/Writer/Cinematographer/Editor
SHARON’S STORY (1999), Aboriginal Women’s Services, Northern Rivers
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD (1998), Insolvency & Trustee Service, Australia.
A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS (1998), Tenancy issues for Aboriginal people
SAFE CELEBRATIONS (1997), NSW Attorney General’s Department.
MOVIN’ IN, (1997) Northern Rivers Legal service
ANCIENT TRAVELLER (1996), The Extraordinary Life of the sea Turtle
A LASTING IMPRESSION (1994), Fiji Cross-Cultural Exchange
THE HOMAGE STORY (1993), A Community Theatre Celebration
NO TIME TO WASTE (1992), Gosford Recycling Scheme
PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE (1992), Services for people with disabilities
GAMBLING WITH THE FUTURE (1992), Dr. Jeremy Leggett on global warming
PACIFIC DREAMING (1991), A Community Arts Performance
EXTINCTION IS FOREVER (1991), Sea Turtle Conservation
HOMAGE TO THE ELEMENTS (1989), Documentary of a Community Arts Event
Short Films: Writer/Director/Editor/Executive Producer
MOUTH WIDE OPEN (1999), (Writer/Director/Editor) 7 minute drama; WINNER: BEST LOCAL FILM and PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD, BUZZ: Byron Bay Short Film Festival,
EVEN BREATHING (1997) (Writer/Director/Editor) 10 minute drama WINNER: BYRON BAY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Board member of Australian International Documentary Conference, (2016 - WA Chapter Head – Australian Directors Guild, (2016 – Senior Research Fellow in Creative Practice, QUT, (2012/13) Adjunct Professor, QUT (2012 – 2014) SPAA Documentary Producer of the Year (2009) Board member of SPAA Council and SADC Board (2007 – 2009) AIDC (Australian International Documentary Conference) Board Member and Chair of local organising committee for Byron Bay conference (2003) Founding member of North Coast CAMERA (1998 – 2000) Founding Board member of Northern Rivers SCREENWORKS (2000 – 2007) Board member of WIFT and Metro TV, Sydney (1992 – 1994) Artistic Director - Shopfront Theatre for Young People, 1984 - 1987 Theatre director and playbuilding facilitator, 1983 – 1987 Community video artist, 1988 - 1992
PUBLICATIONS
Henkel, C (2008) Creative Regions in the Digital Era in Making Meaning, Making Money: directions for the arts and cultural Industries in the Creative Age, Anderson, L and Oakley, K (Eds), Newcastle upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Henkel, C (2006) Imagining the Future 2, Screen and Creative industries in the Northern Rivers Region, Lismore, NRRDB and Brisbane, ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation.
Henkel, C (2003) Emerging Screen Industries in the Northern Rivers region: A Documentary Filmmakers Perspective, in Belongiong in the Rainbow Region, Wilson H (Ed)Lismore, Southern Cross University Press.
Henkel, C (2002) Imagining the Future, Development of Audiovisual Industries in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Queensland University of technology, CIRAC
Henkel, C (2000) Imagining the Future, Strategies for the development of Creative industries in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Lismore, NRRDB