Sarah Ann Watt (30 August 1958 – 4 November 2011) was an Australian film director.Born in Sydney, Watt completed a Graduate Diploma of Film and Television (Animation) at the Swinburne Film and Television School (now VCA), Melbourne in 1990. Her student film "Catch of the Day" was to reflect the style of future work. In 1995, she directed a short film, Small Treasures, which won Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival. In 2000, she made a program for the SBS series Swim Between the Flags called "Local Dive". It was made concurrently with another project that she was directing called "The Way of the Birds" based on the 1996 book of the same name by author Meme McDonald. She received the Australian Film Institute's award for Best Director for her 2005 film Look Both Ways.Watt returned to the VCA School of Film and Television to teach animation and was to assist in the development of many animators including Academy Award winner Adam Eliot in 1996. Watt was instrumental in the development of scripts for all of her students, but left the School to further develop her own projects, returning on occasion as a script and final production assessor.During the post-production of Look Both Ways, Watt was diagnosed with cancer. Her second film My Year Without Sex was released in 2009.She died on 4 November 2011 after suffering for six years with breast and bone cancer, aged 53.Sarah Watt was married to actor William McInnes. They had two children, Clem (b. 1993) and Stella (b. 1998).
West Footscray, Victoria, Australia [January 2009]
2
Died after 6 years of battle with breast and bone cancer at age 53 [November 4, 2011].
3
Had two children with widowed husband William McInnes: Clem McInnes (b.1993) and Stella McInnes (b.1998).
4
She was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to Australian society and to Australian film production.
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Calypso
2009
Short collaborating director
My Year Without Sex
2009
Look Both Ways
2005
Living with Happiness
2002
Short
Local Dive
2001
Short
The Way of the Birds
2000
Short
Derwent Envy
1998
Short
Small Treasures
1995
Short
Dinosaur
1993
Short
The Web: Bandicoot
1993
Short
The Web: Frogs
1993
Short
The Web: Panda
1993
Short
The Web: Rattlesnake
1993
Short
The Web: Seal
1993
Short
Brain
1992
Illusion Is All
1992
Short
The Candle
1992
Short
Greenhouse
1991
Short
Catch of the Day
1990
Short
Deep Dive
1990
Short
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
My Year Without Sex
2009
written by
Look Both Ways
2005
written by
Living with Happiness
2002
Short written by
Local Dive
2001
Short written by
Derwent Envy
1998
Short written by
Small Treasures
1995
Short written by
Catch of the Day
1990
Short written by
Animation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Look Both Ways
2005
animation painter
Living with Happiness
2002
Short animator
Small Treasures
1995
Short animator
The Web: Falcon
1993
Short animator
The Web: Frogs
1993
Short animator
The Web: Rattlesnake
1993
Short animator
The Web: Shark
1993
Short animator
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Living with Happiness
2002
Short producer
Local Dive
2001
Short producer
Uncle
1996
Short supervising producer
Small Treasures
1995
Short producer
Camera Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Look Both Ways
2005
contributing photographer
Small Treasures
1995
Short camera operator
Art Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Look Both Ways
2005
artist: Meryl's paintings
Sound Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Stoked
2012
Short boom operator post-production
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Garbo
1992
title designer
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Australian Story
2005-2011
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Bazura Project
2007
TV Series
Herself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2013
Byron Kennedy Award
Australian Film Institute
"For her brave, innovative filmmaking. Painter, photographer, animator, she brought consummate ... More
2009
ADG Award
Australian Directors Guild
Grass Award
My Year Without Sex (2009)
2006
ASDA Award
Australian Screen Directors' Association
Best Direction of a First Feature Film
Look Both Ways (2005)
2006
Best Screenplay
Mar del Plata Film Festival
Look Both Ways (2005)
2006
Propeller of Motovun
Motovun Film Festival
Look Both Ways (2005)
2006
Critics Award
NatFilm Festival
Look Both Ways (2005)
2006
KNF Award
Rotterdam International Film Festival
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Direction
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Screenplay, Original
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
FIPRESCI Prize
Brisbane International Film Festival
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
FCCA Award
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
Best Director
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
FCCA Award
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
Best Screenplay - Original
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
IF Award
IF Awards
Best Direction
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
IF Award
IF Awards
Best Script
Look Both Ways (2005)
2005
Discovery Award
Toronto International Film Festival
Look Both Ways (2005)
2001
AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Short Animation
Living with Happiness (2002)
1996
Special Jury Prize
Hiroshima International Animation Festival
Small Treasures (1995)
1995
OCIC Award
Melbourne International Film Festival
Small Treasures (1995)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2009
AFI Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Screenplay - Original
My Year Without Sex (2009)
2006
Best Film
Mar del Plata Film Festival
International Competition
Look Both Ways (2005)
2006
New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Look Both Ways (2005)
2006
International New Talent Competition - Grand Prize