Nadia Tass

Nadia Tass is an Australian film director and producer, originally from Florina, Macedonia, northern Greece. The recipient of the 2014 Screen Leader Award for Outstanding Leadership, Achievement and Service to the Screen Industry, Nadia is one of Australia's most respected and unique filmmakers. Since 1986 she has directed 13 feature films, with her films being responsible for over 70 international awards and twenty-three Australian Film Institute (AFI) nominations, while garnering nine wins including Best Film and Best Director. Known for directing Australian classic films "Malcolm" and "The Big Steal", one of Tass's other feature works include "Rikky and Pete", "Mr Reliable", "Amy", "Matching Jack", "Fatal Honeymoon", and "Oleg". She also directs films and high-end television movies in America. Her first feature in the US was "Pure Luck" starring Danny Glover and Martin Short.

Nadia Tass
Born
Florina, Macedonia, Greece
OccupationDirector, producer
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)David Parker

Actors she has worked with include: Ben Mendelsohn, Shailene Woodley, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Storm Reid, Harvey Keitel, Brian Cox, David Strathairn, Marcia Gay Harden, Rachel Griffiths, Richard Roxburgh, Rob Morrow, Tyne Daly, Mia Farrow, Jami Gertz, Connie Britton, AnnaSophia Robb, Hinton Battle, Danny Glover, Martin Short, Colin Friels, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Michael Tucker, Jill Eikenberry, David Rasche, John Glover, Jodi Long, Tom McGowan, Mark Blum.

Tass also directs theatre for major theatre companies in Australia, London and various places in the US (including New York and Washington DC).

Nadia Tass is married to Australian writer, producer, cinematographer David Parker.

Feature films as director

Films for television as director

Television miniseries as director

Short film as director
  • Isolation Restaurant (2020)

Awards
  • Film Victoria Screen Leader Award for Outstanding Leadership, Achievement and Service to the Screen Industry (2014)
  • Nomination for Best Direction of a Musical, Sir Robert Helpmann Awards for "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" (2003)
  • Byron Kennedy Award for pursuit of excellence (1986)
  • Australian Hellenic Award for Excellence (1987)
  • Hellenic Award for the Arts (1999)

"Matching Jack"

  • Best Film, Milan International Film Festival (2011)
  • Best Director, Milan International Film Festival (2011)
  • Best Screenplay, Milan International Film Festival (2011)
  • Best Film, Cannes Cinephile Prix du Jury (2011)
  • Best Independent Feature, Edmonton International Film Festival (2011)
  • Best Actress (Jacinda Barrett), Cinema des Antipodes Saint-Tropez Film Festival (2011)

"Felicity: An American Girl Adventure"

  • The Humanities Certificate for humanising achievement in television and feature films, Human Family Educational and Cultural Institute (2006)

"The Miracle Worker"

  • Best Movie, Family Television Award (2001)

"Amy"

  • Best Film Le Prix du Public, Paris Film Festival Festival du Film de Paris (2000)
  • Le Grande Prix du Cinecole, Cannes Film Festival (1999)
  • Grand Prix Cannes Junior, Cannes Film Festival (1999)
  • Les Mureaux Grand Prix Cannes Junior, Cannes Film Festival (2002)
  • Prix du Jeunesse Jury Graine de Cinephage, Film de Femmes Festival Paris (1999)
  • Golden Gryphon Award for Best Film, Giffoni Film Festival Italy (1999)
  • Bronze Gryphon Award for Best Actress, Alana de Roma, Giffoni Film Festival Italy (1999)
  • The Crystal Heart Award, The Heartlands Film Festival, Indianapolis USA (1998)
  • Grand Jury Award for Best Film for outstanding contribution to humanity, Asia Pacific Film Festival, Hong Kong (1999)
  • Camerio Best Feature Film, Carrousel International du Film de Rimouski, Quebec Canada (2000)
  • Camerio Grand Public, Carrousel International du Film de Rimouski, Quebec Canada (2000)
  • Camerio Best Actress for Alana de Roma, Carrousel International du Film de Rimouski, Quebec Canada (2000)
  • Camerio Best Actor for Ben Mendelsohn, Carrousel International du Film de Rimouski, Quebec Canada (2000)
  • Golden Reel Award, The Tiburon International Film Festival, USA (2002)
  • Best Film Jeune Jury International, Charleroi Festival du Film, Belgium (2000)
  • Young People's Jury Award, Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival (2000)
  • Best Film, Buff International Film Festival, Norway (1999)
  • Best Film, Australian People's Choice Awards (1998)
  • Best Film, Brisbane International Film Festival (1997)
  • Award of Distinction for Cinematography, Australian Cinematographers Society (1999)

"Mr Reliable"

  • Best Film nomination, Australian Film Institute (1996)

"The Big Steal"

  • Best Film nomination, Australian Film Institute (1990)
  • Best Sound win, Australian Film Institute (1990)

"Malcolm"

  • Best Director, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Film, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Actor, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Actress, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Supporting Actor, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Supporting Actress, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Sound, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Editing, Australian Film Institute (1986)
  • Best Director, Sydney Critics Award (1987)

Retrospectives
  • American Cinematheque, Los Angeles USA (2012)
  • New Delhi, India (1997)
  • Cape Town & Johannesburg, South Africa (1994)
  • Moscow Film Festival, Russia (1990)

Masterclasses

A consummate professional, Tass has given back to the industry by presenting masterclasses around the world. She regularly lectures at the Victorian College of the Arts (Melbourne) and Deakin University (where she is an Adjunct Professor).

  • New York University (Film directing, specifically directing of "Malcolm") 1987
  • Melbourne University, Australia
  • Victorian College of the Arts 2015-2021
  • Filmmaking Summer School 2002-2020
  • 16th Street Actors Studio 2014, 2020, 2021
  • Wuhan University 2017
  • Yunnan University 2017
  • Beijing Normal University 2016
  • Beijing Film Academy 2016, 2017
  • Chongqing University 2014
  • Advanced Performers Studio, London 2009
  • Deakin University, Australia 2006 – 2021 (where she is Adjunct Professor)
  • Monash University, Australia 2013
  • Australian Film, Television & Radio School 1995
  • National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia 2006
  • Singapore Film Festival 1999
  • Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand 2010

Tass continues to mentor young directors and actors from various educational institutions.

Film festival juries
  • Hawaii Film Festival – for judging of main awards 1988
  • St Tropez – Head of Jury 2008
  • Asian Festival of First Films 2008
  • Pune International Film Festival – Head of Hury 2012
  • Directors' Guild of American (DGA) – Documentary jury 2021
  • Cinefest Oz - Head of Jury 2021
  • Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) – International Chapter juror annually

Professional associations

Theatre director

Tass's experience as a director of theatre is extensive and diverse, ranging from improvised theatre, classic plays, contemporary pieces and musical theatre. Early works include productions of "The Merchant of Venice", "Macbeth", numerous plays by Euripides including "Medea", plays by Aristophanes including "Lysistrata" and "The Birds", "Three Sisters" by Chekhov, and "Blood Wedding" by Federico Garcia Lorca.

More recently Tass directed "This Effing Lady" by Maureen Sherlock at the Brunswick Ballroom (2021) and "Wicked Sisters" by Alma De Groen for Griffin Theatre in Sydney (2020). In 2019 she directed "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by Heather McDonald (a Pulitzer Prize finalist) for Signature Theatre in Washington DC, and "Fern Hill" by Michael Tucker at 59E59 Theaters in New York City. Both productions were well received and their seasons booked out and extended.

In 2018 Tass directed David Williamson's "Sorting Out Rachel" for Sydney's Ensemble Theatre, followed by Marisa Smith's "Sex and Other Disturbances" for Portland Stage in Maine, USA; "Fern Hill" by Michael Tucker for New Jersey Rep; "Ear to the Edge of Time" by Alana Valentine for Sport for Jove at The Seymour Centre in Sydney.

In 2016, Tass directed the Ensemble Theatre production of Jane Cafarella's e-baby.[1] It was the Sydney premiere of the play. [2] Tass described the work as "a play for today – the advances in medicine create a new world that allows new possibilities – in e-baby we enter that world and explore the raw truth, the unbridled joy and the paradox of surrogacy through a carefully woven story of love, generosity and a newborn child."[3]

In 2016 Tass directed "Disgraced" by Ayad Akhtar for Melbourne Theatre Company MTC, "Extinction" by Hannie Rayson for Red Stitch/GPAC, "The Book Club" for AKA in London and Melbourne, and "Uncle Vanya" by Chekhov (adapted by Annie Baker) for Red Stitch.

Tass' 2002 production of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" toured Australia and garnered her a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Director of a Musical.

Theatre reviews

"Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" DC Metro review Broadwayworld.com review MD Theatre Guide review Talkin' Broadway review

"Ear to the Edge of Time" Arts Hub review

References
  1. Blake, Jason (20 October 2016). "E-Baby review: Gestational clock ticks on tale of ethical complexity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  2. Sebag-Montefiore, Clarissa (27 October 2016). "E-baby review – an endearing but haphazard romp into the complex world of surrogacy". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  3. Tass, Nadia (2016). "Director's Note". In Ensemble Theatre (ed.). Ensemble Theatre Program (13 October 2016 – 13 November 2016): e-baby by Jane Cafarella (PDF). Ensemble Theatre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
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