Jane Oehr

Jane Oehr hails from Melbourne, Australia, where she began her journey as an actress before venturing abroad to enhance her craft. She joined BBC TV in London as a Trainee Director, where she produced insightful documentaries on cinema, including a noteworthy film on the influential French director Agnès Varda. After returning to Australia, Jane established herself as an independent director with her film *Tamu – The Guest*, which delves into the life of Australian artist Donald Friend during his time in Bali.

Her next significant project, *Niugini Culture Shock*, took her through Papua New Guinea and the Trobriand Islands, earning the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival in 1975. Jane’s film *Stirring*, a provocative documentary on corporal punishment in a Sydney boys' school, faced censorship for years yet ultimately secured an AFI Award. She continued to challenge societal norms with *Seeing Red and Feeling Blue*, a film that explores women's bodies and menstruation, dispelling long-held myths.

In addition to documentaries, Jane has crafted drama, including low-budget features *On the Loose* and *Heads 'n Tails*, and directed *The Journey*, a telemovie for the Children’s Television Foundation and ABCTV. In 2002, she created the poignant *MUM AT 88*, an intimate exploration of her mother’s life. As a Project Manager with the Australian Film Commission, she has played a crucial role in nurturing emerging filmmakers. Throughout her career, Jane has remained dedicated to exploring human behavior and emotion, producing deeply personal films that resonate with audiences.