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Academy Award® Winning Creators

of Auteur Based, Bittersweet, Animated Clayographies for the Cinema!

Adam Elliot Pictures is a critically acclaimed independent animation film studio based in Melbourne, Australia.
Viewed by millions, our five animated films have participated in over six-hundred film festivals and have received over one
hundred awards, including an Oscar ® in 2004 for “Harvie Krumpet”. Written and directed by Adam, his aim is to create
unique and bittersweet animations, or as he calls them, 'Clayographies' - clay animated biographies. Our highly skilled team
of animators and modelmakers spend thousands of painstaking hours bringing his comic and poignant cinematic stories to
life. Costing millions of dollars and taking years to complete, our team use traditional 'in-camera' techniques, which means
every prop set and character is a 'real' miniature handcrafted object. Based on the people around him, Adam’s universal
stories are personal and unique biographies that deal with themes from the achingly funny to the darkly melancholic and
have entertained and nourished people in nearly every country on earth. For people of all ages his scripts attract and are
voiced by some of the worlds finest actors including, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toni Collette, Geoffrey Rush,
Eric Bana and Barry Humphries.

Contact :
Adam Elliot, Company Owner, Writer and Director : info@adamelliot.com.au
Samantha Fitzgerald, Assistant to Mr. Elliot : sam@adamelliot.com.au
www.adamelliot.com.au

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please note that Adam Elliot Pictures does not accept


unsolicited scripts; Adam only writes and directs his own work.

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Adam’s Biography.
Born upside down and back to front in 1972, Adam was raised in the Australian Outback on a shrimp farm
with his father - a retired acrobatic clown, his mother - a hairdresser, three siblings and two parrots called Sunny and Cher.
After the farm went bankrupt, Adam's father moved the family back to the city of Melbourne, where he bought a hardware
shop and tried to blend in. Adam was a very shy child and loved to lock himself in his bedroom, spending hours drawing and
making things out of egg-cartons and toilet-roll tubes. Despite being sent to a private boy's school where he excelled at Art,
English-literature, Photography, Drawing and Sculpture, Adam failed dismally in all the ‘important’ subjects like Maths,
Science, Religious Studies and anything to do with throwing balls. Due to his poor grades, his lifelong ambition to become a
famous veterinarian has never been fulfilled.

In extra curriculum activities Adam flourished and was a keen member of the school’s Highland Pipe Band
where got over his shyness by playing the Bass-drum and wearing an antique taxidermic lion robe. He also enjoyed acting and
wearing skivvies. In his final year he was awarded the school’s highest honour, The A.G. Greenwood Trophy for an
outstanding dramatic performance as Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes play “The Incredible Murder of Cardinal Tosca”.
Despite the usual teenage ups and downs, Adam continued to draw and make things. Born with a physiological tremor, his
shakiness never got in the way and was incorporated into a unique and quirky aesthetic. Today this has become famously
known as the ‘chunky-wonky’ style. Upon leaving school, and to his parents dismay, Adam spent five years hand-painting
teeshirts at a local craft market. His most popular design was 'Murray the tap-dancing Dim-Sim’, which he put in pizza-boxes
and sold for an overinflated price. In 1996 he became bored and decided to study animation at The Victorian College of the
Arts. There he made his first stopmotion film, “Uncle”, which surprised everyone by becoming a worldwide hit. He suddenly
realised he liked filmmaking and has since dedicated himself to the artform, producing four more films, “Cousin”, “Brother”,
“Harvie Krumpet” and “Mary and Max”.

To everyones surprise Adam was recently announced as an Australia National Treasure! In 1999 he was made Young
Victorian of the Year and is the official patron of “The Other Film Festival”, new cinema by, with and about people with a
disability. He is a voting member for the Annual Academy Awards and in 2003 the Annecy International Animation Festival
included “Harvie Krumpet” as one of the top 100 animated films of all time. In demand as an international corporate speaker
Adam has told his inspiring and motivating life-story to hundreds of groups around the world; from huge multinationals to
his local library. He lives his life by the famous quote, “that life can only be understood backwards but we have to live it
forwards” and via his website thousands of copies of his dvds as well as his quirky and original artwork have been acquired by
fans around the globe.

He is currently writing his new feature animation, and in between cups of Earl-grey tea, goblets of pretentious
French merlot and bouts of Rachmaninov on his piano, he enjoys antique shopping, cooking Tessa Kiros feasts, reading the
classics and walking his two pugs, Barry and Kevin.

October 2009

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FILMOGRAPHY

UNCLE
The biography of a humble man, his lemon tree, chihuahua and crumpets.
Written, Directed and Animated by Adam Elliot. Produced by The Victorian College of the Arts, 1996, 6 minutes.
Narrated by William McInnes. Uncle voiced by John Flaus.

COUSIN
The biography of a cousin, his special arm, pet rocks and shopping trolley.
Written, Directed, Animated and Produced by Adam Elliot, 1998, 5 minutes. Narrated by William McInnes.

BROTHER
The biography of a brother, his cigarette butts, asthma and head lice.
Written, Directed, Animated and Produced by Adam Elliot, 1999, 8 minutes. Narrated by William McInnes.

HARVIE KRUMPET
The biography of an ordinary man seemingly cursed with perpetual bad luck.
Written, Directed and Animated by Adam Elliot. Produced by Melanie Coombs. 2003, 22 minutes.
Narrated by Geoffrey Rush. Cameos from Kamahl, John Flaus and Julie Forsythe.

MARY AND MAX


The biographies of two lonely pen-friends that spans two continents and twenty years.
Written, Directed and Designed by Adam Elliot. Produced by Melanie Coombs. 2009, 93 minutes.
Narrated by Barry Humphries. Max voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Mary voiced by Toni Collette.
Damian voiced by Eric Bana. Cameos from Molly Meldrum and Renee Geyer.

3
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
MARY AND MAX
Official Selection and Opening Night Film Sundance Film Festival USA 2009, Grand Crystal Best Feature Animation Annecy
Animation Festival France 2009, Best Feature Animation Ottawa Animation Festival Canada 2009, Best Feature Animation
Stuttgart Animation Festival Germany 2009, Best Foreign Fiction Film Mike Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival Michigan
USA 2009, Crystal Bear Special Mention Berlin Film Festival Germany 2009, Audience Award and Special mention Zagreb
Animation Festival Croatia 2009, Best Direction in a Feature Film Australian Directors Guild 2009 Awards, Best Screenplay
Queensland Premiere’s Literary Awards Australia 2009, IF Award for Best Production Design 2009, IF Nomination for Best
Director 2009, IF Nomination for Best Screenplay, IF Nomination for Best Musical Score, AFI Nomination for Best Film, AFI
Nomination for Best Screenplay, AFI Nomination for Best production Design, AFI Nomination for Best Peer Voted Film,

HARVIE KRUMPET
2003 Academy Award ® Best Short Animated Film, Annecy International Animation Festival 2003 Prix FIPRESCI, Annecy
International Animation Festival, 2003 Prix du public (Audience award), Annecy International Animation Festival 2003 Prix
special du jury (Special jury award), Melbourne Int Film Festival's Film Victoria Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short,
Leeds International Film Festival short animation Louis Le Prince Prize 2003, Valladolid International Film Festival Spain
Special Jury Prize 2003, Leipzig Documentary and Animation Festival Germany Honorary Mention 2003, 2003 Australian
Film Institute Award for Best Animated Short Film, Cinamina 2003 Portugal grand prix and audience award and award for
Best film between 21 and 52 minutes, The Australian Comedy Awards -Best Comic Animation 2003, I castelli animati Italy
Grand Prize, Best film in competition at 2003 Foyle Film Fest Ireland, Best Animated Short 2003 and Best Screenplay
Rencontres Internationales du Cinema d’Animation (RICA) Wissembourg France, 2004 Animadrid Spain-First prize 2003
Animadrid Spain-Public Award 2003 Audience Award, Premi del públic al millor curt d’animació: Sitges Anima’t, Spain 2003
Audience Award, Prémio do Publico, FIKE 2003, Portugal 2003 Flickerfest, Internation Film Festival, Bondi Australia 2004
Best Animation, Honourable Mention Sundance Film Festival 2004, Short Film Competition, Best Animation World of
Comedy International Film Festival Canada 2004, Kurz Short Film Festival Hamburg Audience Award for International
Competition, Minimalen 2004, Norway – Audience Award, Worldwide Short Film Festival Canada, Best Animated Short St
Kilda Film Festival Australia, Best Animation in kind SFX 2004 Tabor Film Festival Croatia, Audience Award Anima Mundi
Rio de Janeiro Best Short Animation, Anima Mundi, Rio de Janeiro third prize for Best Screenplay Award by the Jury Anima
Mundi, Sao Paulo third prize for Best Short Animation Audience Award, Chiavari Festival Italy the Special Jury Award, 2004
Chiavari Festival Italy, the Audience Award 2004 Chiavari Festival Italy, Monica Cavalieri award for Best Plasticine Film,
Audience Award at the 23rd Uppsala International Short Film Festival,2004 Reel Affirmations Washington DC International
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival : Audience Awardfor Best Men's Short, Best Experimental film, Second Moscow Int Film
Festival"Breaking Down Barriers" Canada international disability film festival – honourable mention

BROTHER
Eligible for Oscar ® Consideration by The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences, Nov 2001 Best Australian Short
Film Film Critics Circle of Australia $500 and inkind prize, Best International short film Cork Film festival Ireland Oct 2000
$20,000 and $20,000 in kind, Best Short-Short Film Aspen International Short Film Festival April 2000 $2000, US Best
Online Film Aspen International Short Film Festival April 2000 $1000, US Chicago International Film Festival Silver Plaque
for Exellence in Animation, Annecy International Animation Festival International Short Films Competition : ‘Special
distinction awarded for its humour and sensitivity’ June 2000, Hamburg International Short Film Festival Jury Special
Mention June 2000, AFI Award Best Australian Animated Short Australian Film Institute Awards November 2000, AFI
Award Best Australian Short Screenplay, Australian Independent Filmakers Awards Nomination for Best Australian
Animation, Stephen Cummins Award for Best Film 2000 Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival Feb 2000 $2000, Best Film 2000
Comedy Channel Film Festival Melbourne March 2000 $4000, Best Australian Animated Film Atom Awards May 2000, The
Yoram Gross Best Australian Animated Film Dendy Awards Sydney Film Festival,June 2000 $3000, Highly Commended I
Castelli Animati International Animation Festival Rome Oct 2000, San Sebastion Horror and Fantasy Film Festival : ‘Special
mention of the Jury, for its human and realistic undertone inside a fantastic short film’, Best Original Screenplay Flickerfest
International Film Festival Sydney 2001 $250 and in kind prizes, Sao Paulo International Short Film Festival Audience vote
as one of the ten best short films, Golden Quakie Award for best animated short (Trilogy) Durango Int Film Festival Colorado
USA Mar 2001, Best short films 'Cousin' /'Brother' 'Way We Live' Int Short Film Festival Munich Nov 2001, $10,000 Best
Film and 2nd audience favourite choice; at the 'Over the Fence' Australian Comedy Film Festival Nov 2001, $1500 Best
Animation at the 'Foyle Film Festival' in Northern Ireland Nov 2001, Third prize Animadrid International Animation festival,
Madrid Spain Dec 2001 3000 Euro’s,

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COUSIN
Eligible for Oscar ® Consideration by The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences, Nov 2000 AFI Award Best
Australian Animated Short Australian Film Institute Awards November, 1999, Best 'Short Short' Aspen International Short
Film Festival April 1999,US$1000, Jury Award Best Short, Mill Valley International Film Festival Oct 1999, Stephen
Cummins Award For Best Film, Sydney Mardi Gras Feb 1999 $2000, Best Animated Film Award Provincial Comedy Film
Festival 1999 $1000, Best Screenplay Award St.Kilda Film Festival June 1999 $250, Highly Commended Dendy Awards
Sydney Film Festival 1999, Best Australian Animation Side On Film Festival Jan 2000, $500, Golden Quakie Award for best
Animation (Trilogy) Durango Int Film Festival Colorado, Mar 2001, Best short films 'Cousin'/'Brother' 'Way We Live'
International disabilitie Short Film Festival Munich Nov 2001 $10,000.

UNCLE

Eligible for Oscar ® Consideration By The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences, Aug 97, AFI Award For Best
Australian Animated Film Australian Film Institute Awards Nov 97, Aspen International Shortfest Prize For Best
International Animated Film May 98 $3000, Mexico Film Schools International Film Festival For Best Student Animation
Sep 1997 $1000, Sydney International Film Festival Dendy Award For Best Australian Animated Film Jun 97 $2500,
Tasmanian Edge Of The World Short Film Festival Award For Best Short Film In Australia Feb 98 $3500, The Provincial
Cafe Comedy Film Festival Best Animated Film Mar 97 $3000, St.Kilda Film Festival Award For Best New Australian
Director May 97 $500, Best Film And Best Screenplay At The 1997 Watch My Shorts Film Festival Aug 97 $300, Post
Production Award $1000 Aus Film Commission Dec 96, Vic College Of The Arts and The Aus Film Commission Award For
Best Animated Film $1000 Dec 96, VCA And The Aus Children's Television Foundation Kodak Award For Best Comedy Film
$1000 Dec 96, Best Animated Film $500, Sydney University Film Festival, Aug 97 Awarded An Honorable Mention Palm
Springs International Film Festival Aug 97, Golden Quakie Award for best Animated short (Trilogy) Durango Int Film
Festival Colorado Mar 2001.

MISCELLANEOUS
1999 Young Victorian of The Year $4000 and Holiday Prize 1999, Medibank Private Arts Award Young Achiever of The Year
Awards $4000, 2004 Victoria Day Awards for the Arts 2004, Melbourne Committee Special Achievement Award 1999,
American Libraries Association Award for best young adult film in America, (Trilogy) 1999, Film Victoria’s Greg Tepper
Award for outstanding achievement by an emerging film maker 1999, AFI Award Nomination Best Australian Short
Screenplay Australian Film Institute Awards (Cousin) 1999, Nominated For Young Australian Of The Year Nominated for the
Vca Southern Star Award For Best Vca Film $5000 Melbourne Dec 96, (Uncle) Nominated for Dendy Award For Best
Australian Short Film Sydney Jun 97, (Uncle) Nominated for the Best Aust Short Film Sydney Mardi Gras Feb 98, (Uncle)
Nominated for the Best International Student Film Stuttgart Animation Festival Germany Apr 98, (Uncle) Nomintaed for
best short film Cinema Jove Film Festival Spain 98, (Uncle) Nominated For Best Australian Animation If Awards Nov 1999,
(Cousin) 2004 Dendy Awards nomination for the 13th CRC Award 2004, Dendy Awards nomination for the best Australian
Animation 2004, Dendy Awards nomination For Best Australian Fiction Film Over 15 mins.

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