Press release from Limelight PR
The Australian Writers’ Foundation (AWF) is pleased to announce that the prestigious FOXTEL Screenwriters’ Address will this year be presented by award-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Atherden AM on October 19 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Atherden is best known for his now classic television series Mother and Son. He has won numerous awards for this exceptional series that continues to be shown around the world. His satire, BabaKiueria, was awarded a United Nations Media Peace award and his popular series Grass Roots won 7 AFI awards.
Atherden has also made a significant contribution to the rights and well being of his fellow performance writers through his work as President of the Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) from 1994 to 1998 and more recently as the President of the Australian Writers’ Foundation, the cultural and philanthropic arm of the AWG. In 2009 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the television industry as a scriptwriter, and to the advancement of writers for performance.
The FOXTEL Screenwriter’s Address is a breakthrough in recognising the role the writer plays in shaping our society and culture. Each year an esteemed Australian screenwriter is invited to speak on contemporary issues, their craft and its place in the world.
Previous addresses have been given by John Doyle (Club Buggery, Changi, Marking Time) and Katherine Thomson (Darwin’s Brave New World, Answered By Fire). The event is attended by a who’s who of the Australian film and television industry keen to discover the inner workings of its most influential members.
The address is presented by the Australian Writers’ Foundation and generously supported by FOXTEL.
FOXTEL CEO Kim Williams AM said: “Geoffrey is a wonderful and well deserved choice to present the AWF’s FOXTEL Screenwriters Address. He is responsible for such an extraordinary body of work from: writing for that wonderful Australian series The Aunty Jack Show, to the beautifully observed, poignant and above all side splittingly funny Mother and Sun, to the superbly evoked, insightful and, yes, funny look at Arcadia Waters Council in Grass Roots and much more besides he has helped entertain Australians for decades.
He has made us reflect – sometimes deeply, sometimes sweetly, sometimes with tears in our eyes, and sometimes troublingly – on what it means to be Australian and to be human. That he has been able to do this over so many decades is a truly remarkable testament to Geoffrey”.
The 2010 FOXTEL Screenwriter’s Address takes place at 7pm 19 October at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. For bookings contact the Australian Writers’ Guild on 02 9319 0339, the event is free.
The AWF is the charitable arm of the AWG and is committed to increasing opportunities for satisfying and rewarding work, and to encouraging and promoting the excellence of Australian performance writers.