Garth Davis

{{Infobox person

| name = Garth Davis

| image = Garth Davis (29563736736).jpg

| caption = Davis at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1974}}

| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

| occupation = Film director

| years_active = 2000–present

| partner = Nicola Lester

| children = 3

}}

Garth Davis (born 1974) is an Australian television, advertising, and film director, best known for directing the films Lion (2016), and biblical drama Mary Magdalene (2018). He earlier directed episodes of the series Top of the Lake (2013).

Biography

Garth Davis was born in 1974.{{Cite web|last=Salvans|first=Por Roger|date=2018-02-20|title=I greet you, Mary Magdalene|url=http://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a19459182/maria-magdalena-estreno/|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Fotogramas|language=es-ES}}

Davis directed several episodes of the series Top of the Lake (2013).{{cite web | title=Garth Davis | website=Academy Films | url=https://www.academyfilms.com/garth-davis | access-date=13 April 2022}}

In October 2013, Warner Bros. Pictures hired Davis to direct a film adaptation of Shantaram, but that did not come to fruition;{{cite news|last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr.|title=Warner Bros Taps Aussie Garth Davis To Helm Joel Edgerton In 'Shantaram'|url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/warner-bros-taps-aussie-garth-davis-to-helm-joel-edgerton-in-shantaram-607711/|access-date=22 March 2016|work=Deadline|date=9 October 2013}} instead, it was later made into a television adaptation for Apple TV+.{{Cite web|date=7 June 2018|title='Shantaram' Lands at Apple as First International Production|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/shantaram-lands-at-apple-as-first-international-production-1118066|access-date=29 March 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}}

He directed The Weinstein Company film Lion, in his feature film directorial debut, which premiered to rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016.{{cite news| last1=Wiseman| first1=Andreas| title=Garth Davis to direct See-Saw's Saroo Brierley biopic|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/garth-davis-joins-saroo-brierley-biopic/5054198.article| access-date=22 March 2016|work=Screen Daily|date=24 April 2013}}{{cite web|title=Garth Davis - Director|url=http://exitfilms.com/directors/garth-davis/|publisher=exitfilms.com|access-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330055914/http://exitfilms.com/directors/garth-davis/|archive-date=30 March 2016}}

In January 2016, Davis was hired to direct a biopic about Mary Magdalene, titled Mary Magdalene, written by Helen Edmundson.{{cite news|last1=Jaafar|first1=Ali|title=Universal Boards Mary Magdalene Movie From 'The King's Speech' Producers See-Saw Films; Garth Davis Directing|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/universal-boards-mary-magdalene-project-from-the-kings-speech-producers-see-saw-films-jesus-christ-bible-1201686765/|access-date=22 March 2016|work=Deadline|date=20 January 2016}}{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/tahar-rahim-judas-mary-magdalene-1201820527/ | title=Tahar Rahim in Talks to Play Judas Iscariot in 'Mary Magdalene' | date=22 July 2016 }} The film had its world premiere at the National Portrait Gallery in London in February 2018.{{cite web|url=http://whatsontheredcarpet.com/mary-magdalene-special-screening/|title=Mary Magdalene (Special Screening)| website=What's on the Red Carpet| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226222007/http://whatsontheredcarpet.com/mary-magdalene-special-screening/| archive-date=26 February 2018}}

In 2019, Davis teamed up with See-Saw Films joint directors Emile Sherman and Iain Canning in a new production company called I AM THAT, with Samantha Lang as head of development.{{cite web | title=Garth Davis Joins Forces with See-Saw Films to Launch Production Company 'I AM THAT' | website=FilmInk | date=4 November 2019 | url=https://www.filmink.com.au/public-notice/garth-davis-joins-forces-see-saw-films-launch-production-company/ | access-date=13 April 2022}}

In August 2020, it was announced that Davis would direct a sequel to Tron: Legacy, titled Tron: Ares for Walt Disney Pictures.{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=2020-08-10|title='Lion' Director Garth Davis To Direct Disney's New 'Tron' Movie With Jared Leto| url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/garth-davis-tron-sequel-director-jared-leto-movie-1202992103/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Deadline|language=en}} In January 2023, it was announced that Joachim Rønning would instead direct the film.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title='Tron' Sequel Taps Jared Leto to Star, Joachim Rønning to Direct |url=https://collider.com/tron-sequel-ares-joachim-ronning-directing/ |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Collider |language=en}}

In April 2022, Screen Australia announced funding for Immersion, a science fiction drama TV series to be directed by Davis, written by Matt Vesely (Aftertaste) and executive produced by Emile Sherman (The King's Speech) and director/producer Samantha Lang.{{cite web | title=Screen Australia announces over $1 million to develop 31 projects | website=Screen Australia | date=13 April 2022 | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2022/04-13-screen-australia-announces-over-1-million | access-date=13 April 2022}}

Awards

2008: Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and a D&AD Yellow Pencil, for the Schweppes commercial "Burst"
2010: Finalist in the Directors Guild of America Award for Best Commercials Director
2013: Emmy Award for Direction for Top of the Lake (which also won three other Emmys)
2016: Lion was nominated for six Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards in 2016, including Best Picture{{cn|date=April 2022}}
2016: Directors Guild of America Award for best direction, Lion

Personal life

Davis lives in Australia with his three children and partner Nicola Lester.{{Cite news| last=Dow| first=Steve| date=2018-04-07| title=Director Garth Davis finds religion|work=The Saturday Paper |issue=199| url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/film/2018/04/07/director-garth-davis-finds-religion/15230232006055|access-date=2021-08-27| url-access=subscription}}