JOHN CURRAN | BIO
John's background in illustration and design is one of the keys to his success as a director of internationally award-winning television commercials and feature films.

A US native, John graduated in fine arts at Syracuse University, then worked in NYC as both a freelance illustrator and designer before relocating to Australia in 1986 where he worked at Ogilvy and Mather Sydney as Art Director.

John’s advertising background is impressive and his reel features some of Australia’s most recognisable television commercials. His work in the 1990’s raised the standard for television commercials and music videos of the period. These days his distinctive style regularly features moments of black humour mixed with a twist of everyman irony. His spot for Ikea Stand In Dad was listed in Campaign Brief’s Top 30 TVC’s of the decade.

John’s short film comedy Down Rusty Down (starring Noah Taylor), went on to win the Prix Crecherche at the Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival in 1997. His 1998 directorial feature film debut Praise (Starring Sacha Horler and Peter Fenton), a raw and honest character-driven drama, opened to acclaim in Australia and abroad, where it screened in competition at the prestigious Toronto, Sundance and Berlin International film festivals. His second feature, We Don’t Live Here Anymore (starring Naomi Watts, Laura Dern and Mark Ruffalo) premiered at Sundance.

In 2006 John directed the Golden Globe winning feature The Painted Veil (starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts). John’s next feature, Stone (starring Robert De Niro and Edward Norton) is due for release in late 2010.

John has recently been directing stand out TV campaigns in Australia for Telstra Next G (Emails, Where Is, Camping) and Telstra Bigpond (Australia Day).