Bunya Productions
David Jowsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | Film producer, television producer |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Co-founder of Bunya Productions; producing Indigenous Australian films such as Mystery Road and Sweet Country |
David Jowsey is an Australian film producer and co-founder of Bunya Productions, a company distinguished for supporting films created by Indigenous Australian directors. The ownership of Bunya Productions is shared between Indigenous filmmaker Ivan Sen and Jowsey’s spouse, Greer Simpkin.
Early life and education
Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Jowsey nurtured an early enthusiasm for storytelling and cinema. During his time at Auckland University, he led a drama troupe, which paved the way for his initial position at TVNZ.
Career
While at TVNZ, Jowsey contributed to the Māori division and played a role in launching Waka Huia in 1987, a program dedicated to preserving Māori culture and language. After relocating to Australia, his marriage to an Aboriginal dancer enriched his insight into Aboriginal traditions and social issues.
In 1989, alongside Ron Roger at Platypus Films, Jowsey secured funding for the film Kilpara (also known as Bilyara), though production was discontinued following the passing of co-writer Vivian Walker. He later took on lecturing duties at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and held roles within the ABC.
By approximately 1997, Jowsey was managing the video division of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) based in Alice Springs, where he oversaw operations across music, film, radio, and television. This role allowed him to forge enduring professional relationships with filmmakers such as Erica Glynn, Steven McGregor, Danielle MacLean, Warwick Thornton, and Rachel Perkins.
During the 2000s, Jowsey spent twelve years as commissioning editor and executive producer at ABC Television. His responsibilities encompassed a wide array of programming including live broadcasts, drama productions, music programs, and more than 100 documentaries. Among his notable commissions was Indigenous writer-director Ivan Sen’s acclaimed film Beneath Clouds (2002), alongside collaborations on various television documentaries.
Bunya Productions
Following their collaboration at ABC, Sen and Jowsey departed to create Bunya Productions with a focus on producing feature-length fiction films. The company’s name honors their familial connections to Queensland Aboriginal communities associated with the Bunya Mountains in southeast Queensland—an area historically renowned for its triennial festival celebrating the Bunya pine harvest.
Initially concentrating on low-budget projects, they aimed to release one film per year. Their first production was Dreamland (2009), a black-and-white science fiction film shot independently in Arizona.
By 2011, Bunya had films showcased at prestigious festivals such as Sundance and Cannes. Among these was Mad Bastards, co-produced with Brendan Fletcher and featuring music by The Pigram Brothers. Sen’s documentary Toomelah, which explores an Aboriginal mission in northern New South Wales along with his own family heritage, was screened in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section and received the Cultural Diversity Award endorsed by UNESCO at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Jowsey produced Satellite Boy (2011), directed by Catriona McKenzie; this film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and earned a Special Mention within the Generation category at the 2013 Berlin Film Festival.
Their significant commercial breakthrough arrived with Mystery Road (2013), which subsequently inspired a television series beginning in 2018. In 2014, Jowsey described Sen as both the creative visionary and technical lead, while he himself concentrated on business management and financing; they operated from separate locations.
Greer Simpkin joined Bunya in 2015. A New Zealander holding a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Creative Industries) from AFTRS (2010), she brought extensive experience from ABC television productions such as The Slap (2011) and Jack Irish (2012–2021). Simpkin is also married to Jowsey.
In 2016, Jowsey took on production duties for Jasper Jones, directed by Rachel Perkins.
Bunya has facilitated development workshops targeting emerging filmmakers through partnerships with Netflix and Screen Australia while expanding its capabilities in sales, marketing, and distribution.
As of 2022, Jowsey co-directs Bunya alongside Sen and Simpkin—who leads television operations—with the company earning recognition for its genre-blending films that present Indigenous viewpoints.
Recognition and awards
Senior lecturer at Flinders University, Nicholas Godfrey, has recognized Jowsey as "a pivotal figure influencing Australia's screen industry over the past ten years," highlighting Bunya's ongoing role in enriching Australian screen narratives.
Bunya's projects have been honored with multiple distinguished awards, such as:
- Sweet Country (2017), which secured Best Film at the 8th AACTA Awards
- The Mystery Road television series, awarded the AACTA Award for Best Television Drama Series in 2018
In September 2022, Jowsey was bestowed with the esteemed Don Dunstan Award by the Adelaide Film Festival in recognition of his significant contributions to Australian screen culture.
Notable productions
- Mystery Road (original 2013 film and ongoing TV series since 2018)
- Goldstone (2016, directed by Sen)
- Sweet Country (2017), produced alongside long-term partners from CAAMA
- The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson (2021, directed by Leah Purcell)
- Loveland (2022, directed by Sen)
- Limbo (2023, directed by Ivan Sen)
External links
- Bunya Productions
- David Jowsey Films (archived site)
- David Jowsey on Australian Screen