Natalie Miller OAM AO

Natalie Miller is an icon of the Australian film industry and one of the screen community’s most admired and accomplished leaders.

Inducted:
2017
Category:
Change Agent

Natalie’s career in film, which spans more than 50 years, stemmed from a background in journalism and public relations, which led her to manage publicity for the Melbourne Film Festival (now the Melbourne International Film Festival) for 17 years.

Natalie played a key role in promoting and building the festival’s reputation in Australia, which today is a major event for local film buffs connecting them with the best of international cinema. In 1977, Natalie became the first woman board member of the Victorian Film Corporation (now Film Victoria).

She has played a critical role in raising awareness of the lack of female leadership in the Australian screen industry, which inspired the establishment of the Natalie Miller Fellowship in 2011.

Natalie’s passion for foreign films led her to establish Sharmill Films in 1967, a theatrical distribution house. Her advocacy for independent films and filmmakers resulted in her becoming Australia’s first independent female film distributor.

Natalie has since played a pivotal role in bringing an appreciation of foreign film culture to Australian audiences. In 1993, Natalie co-founded the Nova Cinema complex in Carlton, now one of the leading independent cinemas in Australia.

Prior to this, Natalie owned and managed the Longford Cinema in South Yarra for 17 years, which specialised in exhibiting independent foreign and Australian art house films.

Natalie was a founding member of the Australian Centre of the Moving Image (ACMI), where she served for eight years and also sat on the Course Advisory Committee of the Victorian College of the Arts.

Natalie’s immense contribution to the Australian and global screen industry has seen her recognised with a number of awards, including the Order of Australia (Officer and Medal).

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