Jonathan Ogilvie

Writer | Director

Jonathan Ogilvie is an experienced feature writer and director, working closely with some of Australia’s biggest stars.

Most recently, Jonathan released his fourth film Head South (starring Ed Oxenbould, Roxie Mohebbi and Marton Csokas). It is a love letter to the underground New Zealand post-punk scene whilst exploring coming-of-age themes around identity, friends and family. The feature premiered at the 2024 Rotterdam International Film Festival, which was followed by a screening at the Sydney Film Festival, New Zealand International Film Festival and a theatrical release. Jonathan earned an AWGIE nomination for Best Original Feature Screenplay.

Originally from New Zealand, Jonathan graduated from AFTRS in 1990. He made numerous short films in the 90s which were screened at major film festivals. Despondent Divorcee and This Film is a Dog were both selected for Official Competition at Cannes in 1995 and 1996 respectively. This Film is a Dog also won at Tropfest in 1996.

Jonathan wrote and directed the Super 8 feature Emulsion (starring Matt Le Nevez and Toby Schmitz) in 2007 and The Tender Hook (starring Hugo Weaving, Rose Byrne and Matt Le Nevez), released by Icon Films in 2008. It was nominated for five AFI awards and an AWGIE Award for Best Feature Screenplay.

From 2009–2014 Jonathan was a Directing Lecturer at AFTRS and in 2018 he was Directing Lecturer at The Puttnam School of Film and Animation, Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore. In 2017 he was awarded a PhD from Macquarie University for his thesis The Cinematics of Surveillance and his screenplay Lone Wolf.

In 2019, Jonathan directed Lone Wolf, (starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Josh McConville, Marlon Williams and Hugo Weaving), an innovative contemporary adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Victorian novel, The Secret Agent’. The film had its World Premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2021, before going on to its International Premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, where it screened as part of the Official Selection. Lone Wolf was also nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Indie Feature Film.

For enquiries regarding Jonathan Ogilvie please contact us via email or on (02) 9319 7199.