Ben Phelps – Writer & Director

Ben is an award-winning Writer and Director based in Sydney, Australia. NICE SHOOTIN’ COWBOY is Ben’s first collaboration with Producer, John Maynard.

Ben’s short films, CHECKPOINT (Screen NSW Emerging Filmmakers Fund) and NICE SHOOTIN’ COWBOY (Screen Australia) have garnered 15 awards and been selected for Official Competition in over 100 international festivals, including 20 Academy Awards accredited festivals. From Melbourne to Montreal, Berlin to the Bahamas, Sydney to Seattle.

Awards include the following:

* Jury Prize – Montreal World Film Festival (Canada)
* Dendy CRC Prize – Sydney Film Festival (Australia)
* Best International Short Film – Cleveland International Film Festival (USA)
* Gold Award – WorldFest Houston International Film Festival (USA)
* Festival Prize – Strasbourg International Film Festival (France)
* Best Fiction Short Film – Australian Teachers of Media Awards (Australia)
* Best short film screenplay – Australian Writers’ Guild nomination (Australia)
* Narrative Short Jury Award – Austin Film Festival (USA)

Nice Shootin’ Cowboy is now amongst 80 films eligible for a 2011 Oscar nomination after winning the major prize at Austin Film Festival.

Ben also has a feature screenplay in development, The Hitman’s Cookbook. He’s represented by RGM Artist Group.




John Maynard – Producer

John is well known as a producer with an eye for talent, producing the debut feature films from directors Jane Campion (SWEETIE), Vincent Ward (VIGIL, THE NAVIGATOR), Rowan Woods (THE BOYS), Robert Connolly (THE BANK, THREE DOLLARS, BALIBO) and Richard Roxburgh (ROMULUS, MY FATHER).

In 2007, John received the AFI Award for Best Film for ROMULUS, MY FATHER which he co-produced with Robert Connolly. John has had three films In Competition in Cannes (an unrivalled Australian record) and with partner Bridget Ikin, he co-produced Jane Campion’s AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE, the 1990 winner of the Silver Lion in Venice. THE BOYS, John’s first collaboration with business partner Robert Connolly, debuted In Competition at Berlin in 1998. In 2005 the Australian Directors Guild awarded their highest honour to John, The Cecil Holmes Memorial Award for his support of directors and the ADG.