Peter Weir, the retired film-maker behind classics such as Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Gallipoli, received the first-ever lifetime achievement award from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) on Wednesday night. The ceremony took place during the Sydney film festival.
Praise from AFTRS Council Chair
Rachel Perkins, chair of the AFTRS council, hailed Weir as “the greatest film-maker this country has produced.” Perkins, who founded and co-directed Blackfella Films from 1992 to 2022, noted, “As Aboriginal people, we felt seen in your films.” She emphasized that Weir helped “define what we call Australian culture,” particularly through themes of mateship and anti-authoritarianism in his 1981 film Gallipoli.
A Unanimous Decision
The decision to bestow AFTRS’ inaugural lifetime achievement award on Weir was unanimous, recognizing his “global influence on craft, form and storytelling.” Over a 43-year career, Weir directed 13 films, including seminal works of Australian new wave cinema like the 1977 thriller The Last Wave starring David Gulpilil, before achieving success in Hollywood with Dead Poets Society and The Truman Show.
Weir’s Acceptance Speech
In his acceptance speech, Weir reflected on his career: “As film-makers, you move from picture to picture and you don’t look back much. Now is the time of my life where I do look back, so something like this is a very lovely thank you of a kind. I appreciate it very much.” The 81-year-old retired in 2024 and was previously honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Venice Film Festival that same year, as well as an honorary Oscar in 2022. He described the recognition in his home city as “quite overwhelming.”
Insights from the Ian McPherson Lecture
After the award presentation, Weir joined actor Rob Carlton for the annual Ian McPherson lecture. He revealed that he initially turned down the opportunity to direct The Truman Show, but couldn’t stop thinking about the script by New Zealand-born Andrew Niccol. He called his agent to rescind his refusal, and his agent, expecting the change of heart, said, “I know how you work.”
Weir also shared a story about meeting Robin Williams on a beach in Sydney’s northern beaches a year before making Dead Poets Society. He invited Williams back to his lawn for coffee in their swimwear and told the actor, “Wouldn’t it be great to do something together?”
Other Career Highlights
Weir discussed taking a risk by casting Linda Hunt as a man in The Year of Living Dangerously, his passion for music, being moved by Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and the “mercurial, uncontrollable, unknowable” process of film-making.
Future of the Award
The AFTRS lifetime achievement award will be presented annually to individuals whose career-long achievements have made a lasting contribution to the screen or audio industries. The Sydney film festival runs until 14 June.
