GEOFF BURTON ACS

Geoff Burton began his career in cinematography at ABC-TV in Sydney in 1963 with a strong interest in documentary film production. By the early seventies, after a short period freelancing in Europe, he joined in the renaissance of the Australian feature film industry by photographing his first feature film, Sunday too Far Away, and has worked as cinematographer, director, writer or producer on around fifty feature films since then. Whilst remaining a strong advocate for the maintenance of a national Australian cinema, Burton has worked extensively overseas, particularly in South East Asia, his preferred part of the world. The production company that Burton set up with his partner Sharon Bell in 1975 continues to develop and produce documentary films in Asia and Australia. Film education and gender equality within the film and television industries have been strongly supported by Burton throughout his career including heading the Cinematography Department at AFTRS for several years. He delights in the successes currently being achieved by former students and crew members as the new creative cohort of Australian cinematographers make their mark. These days he is mostly found on the family vineyard near Canberra where he continues to pursue the perfect Shiraz for the Gundog Estate wine label.