Trailblazing Australian filmmaker dies at home in regional Victoria

Trailblazing Australian experimental filmmaker Corinne Cantrill died on Tuesday at her Castlemaine home in regional Victoria aged 96.

The industry veteran worked alongside her husband Arthur for over four decades.

The pair wrote, produced and directed a host of critically acclaimed documentaries and arthouse movies that were screened across the country.

Cantrill’s death was confirmed by former Melbourne Film Festival director Geoffrey Gardner in a heartbreaking statement.

‘Vale to the remarkable Australian filmmaker Corinne Cantrill. With husband Arthur, she blazed the trail for Aussie independent film making for decades,’ Gardner began.

‘She made an astonishing 150 films. Remembered by many around the world who saw their films and gained a unique and personal insight into Australian life.’ 

Cantrill was born in Sydney in 1928 and began her long career in filmmaking in 1964. 

Some of Cantrill’s most acclaimed works include the celebrated 1984 Northern Territory-filmed documentary called The Second Journey (to Uluru).

She also co-directed the renowned 1969 documentary Harry Hooton, which explored the life of the infamous Australian anarchist of the same name.

Cantrill’s 1984 autobiographical movie called In This Life’s Body was celebrated upon its release and continues to be discussed in film circles to this day.

Australian filmmaker Bill Mousoulis named it as one of the 50 greatest independent Aussie films ever made. 

The Cantrill’s unconventional movies were celebrated both within Australian and internationally.

Over the years, their works were screened at the National Gallery of Australia, the Melbourne Film Festival, New York’s Museum of Modern Art and on ABC TV.

In 2011, their work was showcased at Melbourne’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image in an exhibition called Light Years.

The industry veteran worked alongside her husband Arthur for over four decades. Both pictured

The pair wrote, produced and directed a host of critically acclaimed documentaries and arthouse movies that were screened across the country

Later that year, the pair were awarded a Membership of the Order of Australia for their ongoing ‘service to the visual arts as a documentary and experimental film maker.’

Devastated fans took to social media to express their sadness over her passing.

‘Sad news. She was such an independent spirit in her filmmaking,’ wrote Australian director Jeni Thornley.

‘One of Australia’s incredible filmmakers,’ a second person added.

Cantrill is survived by her husband Arthur and their sons Aaron and Ivor.