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Australian film industry farewells Paul Cox



Paul Cox.

Australia’s film community has lost one of its most experienced filmmakers with the passing of Paul Cox on Saturday after a long battle with cancer.

Cox, who was 76, created over 49 projects, including features, shorts and documentaries, during his lifetime.

He was a standard bearer for the independent film scene in Melbourne, where he made his home after emigrating from The Netherlands in 1965.

“With a keen cinematic eye, Paul’s ability to paint a vivid portrait of life, relationships and the world we live in has given us a remarkable time capsule of film to be valued by generations to come,” Film Victoria CEO Jenni Tosi said.

“A determined and passionate individual, both personally and professionally, Paul saw the world through a unique lens which inspired his distinctive style of storytelling, whether narrative or factual. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and his many colleagues in the filmmaking community.”

Cox leaves an extensive body of work, with films such as Lonely Hearts, Man of Flowers, Innocence, My First Wife, Molokai, and Human Touch.

His most recent feature, Force of Destiny, opened the 2015 Melbourne International Film Festival, and Cox was working on a new feature, Inferno.

“We sadly acknowledge the passing of talented auteur and iconic Australian director Paul Cox,” said Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley.

“Paul’s contribution was immense – his legacy and influence on the Australian and international film sector will be felt throughout the industry for a long time to come.”
 
 

  1. I am very very sad. I have no words to express how I feel.
    Paul was my teacher, mentor, confidant, colleague and above all a true friend.
    He changed the course of my destiny when I first arrived in Australia in 1973.
    Paul shaped my career as a successful Award winning Cinematographer and we shared some unforgettable, indelible experiences together.
    Working with Paul was a life journey and he will stay in my heart forever.
    I am so grateful, privileged and honored I had the opportunity to share my work and my life with him.
    No many Directors in the world have the opportunity to be so prolific making personal film with total control of casting and the Final Cut,
    And he did it without wasting too much taxpayer’s money.

    Now he is dead.

    It really makes me vomit reading all the headlines and people’s statements about how great he was…a legend of the Australian film industry…a Pioneer…

    The same industry that when he was alive would not finance his films, would make fun of him, would criticizes him, crucify him. He was never mention in the top ten or twenty Australian Directors list.
    People used to say Paul Cox was exploiting people and that’s how he was able to make low budget films. He put his own money in.
    I now get offered fees lower then what Paul used to pay me twenty-five years ago.
    Look at the exploitation now when some people even pay to work on a Z grade movie.

    I get to the point: you are all a bunch of hypocritical wankers.

    Nino Martinetti ACS

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