Tom Jeffrey AM

Tom M. Jeffrey - Film Producer, Writer and Director - has been Chairman of investigation & Relief of the Motion Picture Industry Benevolent Society (MPIBS) in NSW since 2010.

Tom started his career as a studio hand in the early days of ABC Television at the Gore Hill studios in Sydney, quickly becoming floor manager then TV director.  His TV directing credits include “Crackerjack”, “This Day Tonight” and dramas “Pasture of the Blue Crane”, “Delta”, “Dynasty” and “Devlin”.

In 1972 he became an independent movie producer/director and is probably best remembered for the highly successful movie THE ODD ANGRY SHOT, which he wrote, directed and co-produced.  He also directed David Williamson’s THE REMOVALISTS, produced and directed WEEKEND OF SHADOWS, co-wrote and co-produced FIGHTING BACK and produced THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

In the 1960s and 70s Tom was involved with a wide range of industry organisations and government bodies as an advocate for the re-establishment of the Australian film production industry.  Tom was Secretary, later President, of the Producers and Directors Guild of Australia, Chairman of the Film, Radio and Television Board of the Australia Council (1975-76); Chairman of the Australian Film and Television School (1976-81); and President of the Screen Producers Association of Australia (1997-2000).

More recently, from 2006 to 2010 Tom was Chairman of the Board of Studies at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and from 2006 to 2012 was a member of NIDA’s Board of Directors.

Tom received the 2006 ASDA Accreditation Award in recognition of Excellence in Direction. 

He was appointed President of the Australian Cinema Pioneers for 2007 and in November 2010 was made a Life Member of the Screen Production Association of Australia in recognition of his contribution to SPAA and to the industry.  In May 2018, he was made NSW Cinema Pioneer of the Year – and in 2020 the Australian Cinema Pioneers awarded Tom with its prestigious Humanitarian Award.  Also in 2020, together with Murray Forrest, Tom was made a Life Member of the MPIBS.

In 1981, Tom was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to the Australian film and television production industries.