Rowan Woods elected as president of Australian Director’s Guild
Rowan Woods has been elected as the president of the Australian Director’s Guild, replacing outgoing Samantha Lang who spent six years in the role.
The announcement:
One of Australia’s most admired directors Rowan Woods has today been elected as President of the Australian Director’s Guild.
On his election, Rowan Woods said: “The screen director’s job is to enthral audiences: to make them think, emotionally, intellectually, politically. The ADG is our director’s union and our cultural hub. Through 2020 and 2021 we grew like never before with membership increases and a structural make-over under Sam Lang’s formidable Presidency and Executive Alaric McAusland arrival. We are now more resilient, inclusive and more formidable than ever. As a TV and feature director and Head of Directing at AFTRS, I am excited to continue on the ADG board as President. Our work continues.”
Nadia Tass has been re-elected for a further term to the ADG Board as Vice President – Feature Films and Jonathan Brough has been re-elected for a further term as Vice President – Television.
New to the ADG Board is longstanding ADG member Partho Sen Gupta. Partho is a Sydney based film writer and director. They started working as Art Director and Production Designer on feature films, TV series and commercials in India and are a graduate in Film Direction of the FEMIS film school in Paris. Partho’s ‘Let the Wind Blow’ (2004), their first feature film, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. ‘Sunrise’ (2014) their second feature film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival and screened at Tribeca, Munich, BFI London, Sitges and other international film festivals. ‘Slam’ (2019) their third feature film, an Australian-French co-production premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and has since screened at the Sydney and Melbourne FF amongst. others. Partho also works at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) as Senior Lecturer in the Master of Arts Screen in Directing.
Out-going ADG President Samantha Lang, steps down today after serving twelve years on the ADG board and six years in the role of president where she oversaw an exponential growth in the number and diversity of ADG members, championed the Gender Matters program, expanded the range of professional development opportunities for ADG members and raised the Guild’s industrial influence and standing. “It’s been a great honour to advocate for Australian screen directors across all platforms during my tenure. I’m leaving at a moment where the composition and structure of the Australian Directors Guild is incredibly robust, and I am so excited that Rowan Woods has agreed to take on the mantle of ADG President.”
Source: TM Publicity media release
