Filmmaker and actress Mia Wasikowska is the Australian Film Television and Radio School’s (AFTRS) 2025 artist-in-residence.
Wasikowska is known for having worked with some of the most celebrated filmmakers in the world, including Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland), Jim Jarmush (Only Lovers Left Alive), Guillermo Del Toro (Crimson Peak), Gus Van Sant (Restless), Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right), David Cronenberg (Maps to the Stars) and AFTRS alum Robert Connolly (Blueback).
She made her writing and directing debut with Long, Clear View, a segment of the AACTA-nominated The Turning anthology film, and followed with Afterbirth, a segment of Madly, an international anthology of short films featuring innovative love stories, which premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.
Wasikowska planned to collaborate with the AFTRS community on a feature film and documentary.
“I am thrilled to be the recipient of the AFTRS Artist-in-Residence 2025,” she said.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to have the support of such a wonderful school, as I look to develop two creative projects over the coming year.
“As social beings, we thrive in connection. I’m therefore excited to engage with students and staff, as I firmly believe creativity flourishes when shared. I look forward to contributing to the vibrant creative community at AFTRS.“
AFTRS head of research and artist-in-residence program manager, Alejandra Canales, who manages the program, said she looking forward to providing space for Wasikowska to reflect on her creative practice and to continue to give students and the AFTRS community exposure to a wide range of artists and their processes.
“This program is an essential part of what AFTRS does, fostering experimentation, creative enquiry, reflection and innovation within our screen and audio industries, enabling AFTRS to work with high-calibre industry professionals and draw on their expertise and knowledge to create and share meaningful stories that are so important for us,” she said.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank [outgoing artist-in-residence] Tracey Rigney for her generous contribution in 2024, which not only provided positive learning opportunities for AFTRS’ students but which also had a profound impact on Tracey’s work and life.”
Rigney was AFTRS’ second artist-in-residence following internationally-renowned VR pioneer and filmmaker Lynette Wallworth (2023), who developed a proof-of-concept animation with AFTRS Masters students for her forthcoming feature documentary Edge of Life.
She handed over the artist-in-residency at the annual research lecture, Reflecting on Dreams of Possible Futures at AFTRS on Thursday, noting she was grateful for the “rewarding” experience of connecting with the AFTRS community through the program.
“As part of the residency with AFTRS, I have been fortunate enough to play with my mother’s language ‘Wergaia’ and experiment with sound design,” she said.
“It’s been a blessing to go out bush and record the natural sounds of nature and incorporate this with sound effects and language. I have had an epiphany where I now know, for my debut drama feature, that I will voice my mother’s language.
“It has been an empowering and deeply spiritual experience for me personally as well as professionally.”