Ben Lawrence is a director, screenwriter and producer. He is an AACTA and Walkley nominee, and four-time Australian Writers Guild Award winner across feature film, documentary and podcast categories. His latest documentary, Ithaka, opened the Berlin Human Rights Film festival – where it won the Audience Award. Ithaka also screened in competition at the Sydney Film Festival, DocNYC, Sheffield and DocEdge Festival, where Ben was awarded Best International Director. His haunting 2018 documentary Ghosthunter is also available to stream on DocPlay.
Man on Wire
A modern classic. This would be one film I'd take to a desert island. I never get tired of watching this wonderful, mysterious character follow his dreams.
The Act of Killing
Documentary film was never the same after this film. It reinvented the form, highlighted a little known global atrocity and ushered in an era of brave filmmaking. Need I say more. Hats off and deep gratitude to Josh Oppenheimer and the rest of the team for this wonderful gift.
The Coming War on China
One of the more recent films of the 60 or so documentaries made by the late John Pilger. He was a giant in journalism and a truly independent voice amid a corporate landscape. From the Vietnam war, the bombing of Cambodia, Indigenous rights in Australia and right up to the present day endless wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, John Pilger challenged power and highlighted stories of the voiceless. A great doco to begin viewing the catalogue of this great storyteller.
The Cove
A hybrid documentary. Part heist film, part activist message and investigative journalism combine with the stakes of a Hollywood thriller at its best. This film has great villains and a crack team of filmmakers who exposed them.
