Dylan River
{{short description|Australian film director, writer, and cinematographer}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{use Australian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dylan River
| image = File:Dylan River.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name =
| othername =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1992}}
| birth_place = Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
| occupation = {{csv|Director|writer|cinematographer}}
| notable_works = Robbie Hood (2019); The Beach (2020); Mystery Road: Origin (2022); Thou Shalt Not Steal (2024)
| years_active = 2013–present
| spouse =
}}
Dylan River (born {{birth based on age as of date|32|2024|September|23|noage=yes}}), also credited as Dylan River Glynn McDonald, is an Australian film director, writer, and cinematographer. He co-wrote and directed the series Robbie Hood in 2019, and is known for his as cinematographer on the 2020 series The Beach, documenting his father, Warwick Thornton. He also wrote and directed episodes of the prequel TV series Mystery Road: Origin (2022), and in 2024 is co-creator and director of Thou Shalt Not Steal.
Early life and family
Dylan River was born in 1992{{Cite web |title=Dylan River’s Toronto Series ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’ Explores Australia’s Dark History With Humor: ‘If You’re Preaching to the Converted, How Are You Educating?’ (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dylan-river-toronto-thou-shalt-not-steal-australia-dark-history-1236143083/ |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2024-09-13 |website=Variety}}{{Cite news |title=Dylan River, the auteur from Alice |last=Maher |first=Dani |date=2024-09-23 |url=https://www.esquire.com.au/culture/dylan-river-interview/ |work=Esquire}} in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. His father, Warwick Thornton, is a filmmaker and his mother, Penelope McDonald, is a producer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/filmmaking-royalty-dylan-river-s-robbie-hood-is-cheeky-joyous-and-full-of-mischief-20190621-p51zzx.html|title=Filmmaking royalty: Dylan River's Robbie Hood is cheeky, joyous and full of mischief|website= The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2022-05-10}} screenwriter, and director.{{cite web | title=About | website=Audrey Napanangka | url=https://www.audreynapanangka.film/about | access-date=1 June 2023}} He is the grandson of Freda Glynn, the co-founder of CAAMA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2019/06/18/freda-glynn-biography-wins-documentary-film-year-sff| title=Freda Glynn biography wins documentary film of the year at SFF|website=SBS |access-date=2022-05-10}}
Career
River's work includes writing, direction and cinematography.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2019/11/15/director-dylan-river-turns-desert-race-obsession-new-film|title=Director Dylan River turns Desert Race obsession into new film|website= SBS |access-date=2022-05-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.canon.com.au/get-inspired/preserving-aboriginal-culture-dylan-river|title=Preserving Aboriginal Culture: Dylan River|website= Canon |access-date=2022-05-10}}
In 2013, his debut feature documentary, Buckskin, about Kaurna educator Jack Buckskin, won the Foxtel Australian Documentary Prize.{{Cite web| url=https://screenanarchy.com/2013/06/buckskin-wins-sydney-documentary-prize-perception-wins-the-dendys.html|title=Buckskin Wins Sydney 2013 Documentary Prize, Perception Wins the Dendys| website=Screen Anarchy |access-date=2022-05-10}}{{cite web | title=Buckskin | website=National Film and Sound Archive of Australia | url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/asset/92705-buckskin | access-date=23 August 2024}}{{cite web | title=Buckskin | website=Screen Australia | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/buckskin-2013/31535/ | access-date=23 August 2024}} It is available on SBS on Demand.{{cite web | title=Buckskin | website=SBS On Demand | date=2 July 2021 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/buckskin/973060163934 | access-date=20 November 2023}}
In 2017, River (credited as Dylan River Glynn McDonald) directed a short documentary film about actor and musician Tom E. Lewis, called Finding Maawirrangga. The film was written by Lewis, produced by Julia Morris, and executive produced by Lewis' wife Fleur Parry. Itnd screened at the 2017 Sydney Film Festival{{cite web | title=Finding Maawirrangga (2017) | website=Screen Australia | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/finding-maawirrangga-2017/34963/ | access-date=12 March 2025}} and 2018 Flickerfest.{{cite web | title=Finding Maawirrangga | website=Flickerfest | date=12 March 2025 | url=https://flickerfest.com.au/film/finding-maawirrangga/ | access-date=12 March 2025}} Not long after Lewis' death in May 2018, the film screened at the inaugural Northern Territory Travelling Film festival in June of that year. The film tells of Lewis' return to his grandmother's country to learn his songlines, and in it he also relates how he contravened some cultural norms on stage.{{cite web | last=Sebag-Montefiore | first=Clarissa | title=The inflatable screen taking Indigenous film back to the Top End | website=The Guardian | date=9 June 2018 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/09/an-inflatable-screen-and-8000km-the-film-festival | access-date=12 March 2025}}
In 2019, River co-created (with Tanith Glynn-Maloney), co-wrote (with Kodie Bedford), and directed Robbie Hood, a six-part series of 10-minute episodes, which was widely praised.{{cite web |title=TV Review – Robbie Hood: Season 1 |website=TL;DR Movie Reviews and Analysis| first=Brian |last= MacNamara |date=11 July 2019 |url=https://tldrmoviereviews.com/2019/07/11/tv-review-robbie-hood-season-1/ |access-date=10 October 2024}}{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |title=Robbie Hood |website=TV Tonight |date=7 July 2019 |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/07/robbie-hood.html |access-date=10 October 2024}} Pedrea Jackson stars as Robbie, a young teenager with a kind heart, who goes around Alice Springs with his two friends "borrowing heavily" from the rich to help his family and friends.{{cite web |last=Rugendyke |first=Louise |title=Robbie Hood is the most perfect piece of TV you'll see this year |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 July 2019 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/robbie-hood-is-the-most-perfect-piece-of-tv-you-ll-see-this-year-20190701-p52316.html |access-date=10 October 2024}} It had its world premiere at Canneseries{{cite web |title=Robbie Hood |website=CANNESERIES |url=https://canneseries.com/en/series/robbie-hood-1/ |language=fr |access-date=10 October 2024}} The series won an AACTA Award for Best Online Comedy or Drama{{cite web |title=Robbie Hood |website=Ludo |url=https://ludostudio.com.au/projects/robbie-hood |access-date=10 October 2024}} and a Screen Producers Australia Award for Online Series Production of the Year. The production company, Ludo Studio, producers of Bluey, also won another major SPA Award for their business.{{cite web |title=Screen Producers Awards |website=westendmagazine |date=20 November 2019 |url=https://westendmagazine.com/screen-producers-awards/ |access-date=10 October 2024}}{{cite web |last=Keast |first=Jackie |title=Ludo Studio tops the SPA Awards |website=IF Magazine |date=14 November 2019 |url=https://if.com.au/ludo-studio-tops-the-spa-awards/ |access-date=10 October 2024}} All episodes became available on SBS on Demand on 5 July, while the series first aired on SBS Viceland on 9 July, and aired on NITV on 11 November 2019.{{cite web|title=A 13-year-old misfit rights the wrongs in his home town |website= National Indigenous Times |date=2 April 2020 |url=https://nit.com.au/02-04-2020/551/a-13-year-old-misfit-rights-the-wrongs-in-his-home-town |access-date=10 October 2024}}{{cite web |title=Watch Robbie Hood |website=Stream free on SBS On Demand |date=11 September 2024 |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/robbie-hood |access-date=10 October 2024}}
He directed the 2022 six-part prequel series Mystery Road: Origin,{{Cite web| url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/08/mark-coles-smith-to-star-in-mystery-road-origin.html|title=Mark Coles Smith to star in Mystery Road: Origin|website= TV Tonight |access-date=2022-05-10}} and co-wrote several episodes.{{cite web | title=Mystery Road: Origin premieres in July. Every mystery starts somewhere | website=ABC |publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=3 June 2022 | url=https://about.abc.net.au/media-room/mystery-road-origin-premieres-in-july-every-mystery-starts-somewhere/ | access-date=3 July 2022}}{{cite web | last=Buckmaster | first=Luke | title=Mystery Road: Origin review – Jay Swan is back and as great as ever | website=The Guardian | date=3 July 2022 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jul/03/mystery-road-origin-review-jay-swan-is-back-and-as-great-as-ever | access-date=24 October 2022}}
Over some of the 10 years leading up to its release in June 2023, River worked with his mother, Penelope McDonald, as co-writer and cinematographer on the feature-length documentary film Audrey Napanangka, about a Warlpiri woman and her partner, Santos, who have raised many children in the Central Desert. The film's locations included Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Yuendumu, and Mount Theo (Purturlu), Audrey's country, and it was co-produced by Trisha Morton-Thomas and Rachel Clements.{{cite web | title=Audrey Napanangka (2023) - The Screen Guide | website=Screen Australia | date=16 March 2018 | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/audrey-napanangka-2023/38485/ | access-date=1 June 2023}} Rona Glynn-McDonald (founder of not-for-profit Common Ground{{cite web | title=Rona Glynn-McDonald named as finalist in Women's Weekly's “Women of the Future”. | website=Yalari | date=1 April 2020 | url=https://www.yalari.org/news/rona-glynn-mcdonald-named-as-finalist-in-womens-weeklys-women-of-the-future/ | access-date=1 June 2023}}{{cite web | title=Rona Glynn-McDonald | website=Common Ground | date=31 May 2023 | url=https://www.commonground.org.au/contributors/rona-glynn-mcdonald | access-date=1 June 2023}}) was executive producer of the film.
In 2024 River co-created (with Tanith Glynn-Maloney) and directed a Stan Original series, Thou Shalt Not Steal. Shot in South Australia and the Northern Territory, the road trip comedy drama series stars Noah Taylor, Miranda Otto, Will McDonald, and Sherry-Lee Watson. It premiered on 17 October 2024 on Stan in Australia.{{cite web |last=Dare |first=Laura |title=SA's screen scene is popping! Here’s what to watch where. |website=The Post |date=8 October 2024 |url=https://thepostsa.au/in-the-media/2024/10/08/sas-screen-scene-is-popping-heres-what-to-watch-where/ |access-date=10 October 2024}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title ! Contribution ! Note |
|---|
| | 2022
| Director and writer | TV series |
| | 2020
| A Sunburnt Christmas | Cinematographer | Feature film |
| | 2020
| Cinematographer | 6 episodes |
| | 2019
| Director and writer | 6 episodes |
| | 2019
| Cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2018
| Finke: There and Back | | Director, writer and cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2018
| Ward One | Director and writer | Short film |
| | 2017
| Second unit director | Feature film |
| | 2017
| Coat of Arms | Director and writer | Short film |
| | 2017
| Finding Mawiranga | Director and cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2017
| Blasko | Cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2017
| We Don't Need a Map | Cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2016
| Writer | 1 episode |
| | 2015
| Black Chook | Director | Short film |
| | 2015
| Nulla Nulla | Director, writer and composer | Short film |
| | 2014
| Who We Are: Brave New Clan | Cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2014
| Talking Language with Ernie Dingo | Cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2013
| Buckskin | Director and composer | Documentary |
| | 2023
| Audrey Napanangka | Co-writer, cinematographer | Documentary |
| | 2024
| Director | Comedy series |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Result !Award !Category !Work !Ref. |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2021
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won |rowspan="4"|AACTA Awards |Best Cinematography in a Documentary |The Beach: Too Mad Too Shy |
| style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|Best Cinematography in Television |A Sunburnt Christmas |
| rowspan="2"|2019
|style="background: #ddffdd"| Won |Best Online Drama or Comedy |
| style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|Special Commendation |Finke: There and Back |{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/the-nightingale-lambs-of-god-2019-australian-academy-awards-1202766813/|title=‘The Nightingale’, ‘Lambs Of God’ Lead 2019 Australian Academy Awards Nominations|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=2022-05-10}} |
| 2018
|style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated |Film Critics Circle of Australia |Best Cinematography |rowspan="3"|Sweet Country |
| rowspan="2"|2017
|style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated |Main Competition |
| style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|Achievement in Cinematography |
| rowspan="2"|2015
|style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated |Berlin International Film Festival |Best Short Film |rowspan="2"|Nulla Nulla | |
| style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
|AACTA Awards |Best Short Film |
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2019
| Dylan River for Briggs (featuring Greg Holden) - "Life Is Incredible"
| {{nom}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Citation | editor=Duthie, Amanda| editor-link=Amanda Duthie| author=Mailman, Deborah (introduction)| author-link=Deborah Mailman | title=Kin : an extraordinary Australian filmmaking family: Including Freda Glynn, Warwick Thornton, Erica Glynn, Dylan River, Tanith Glynn-Maloney| format= catalogue entry|via= Trove| url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/233730842| publication-date=2018 | publisher=Wakefield Press | isbn=978-1-74305-635-6}}
- {{cite web | last=Siemienowicz | first=Rochelle | title=Freda Glynn - from little things, big things grow | website=ScreenHub Australia | date=1 November 2018 | url=https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/news/freda-glynn-from-little-things-big-things-grow-256753-1425770/}} Book review and [https://web.archive.org/web/20181101085502/https://www.artshub.com.au/news-article/features/film/liam-egan/35000-feet-away-the-sound-of-planes-over-alice-springs-256736 extract].
External links
- {{IMDb name|6670299|Dylan River}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:River, Dylan}}
Category:Australian film directors
Category:Australian cinematographers
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)