Peter Andrikidis

Peter Andrikidis graduated from AFTRS (Film Direction) in 1981 as one of the youngest students. He was immediately recruited to Crawford Productions where he went on to direct numerous dramas productions culminating in producing a series of Flying Doctors (RFDS).

Peter believes his real ‘coming of age’ was on the ABC drama G.P., in which he also became Producer. “I developed a deep understanding of story and script, shaping screenplays with the talented writers on G.P. Operating at the ABC was a wonderful creative process which was encouraged by Drama Heads Penny Chapman and Sue Masters.”

Wildside, the groundbreaking drama series is Peter’s greatest directing achievement, he thinks. Two episodes, which Peter directed, won a total of eight AFIs including Best Direction.

He then went on to direct the entire ABC series Grass Roots written by Geoffrey Atherden. This series went on to win seven AFI’s over two seasons including Best Direction. It also won a New York Festival Award.

In 2001 he directed the telemovie My Husband, My Killer with Colin Friels and David Field, which also won numerous awards and his third AFI for Best Direction.

In 2002 and 2003 Heroes’ Mountain (drama telemovie about the Thredbo Rescue) and Jessica (mini-series with Sam Neill) each won a Silver Hugo for Best Direction and a Gold/Silver Plaque for Best Drama at the Chicago International Television Awards. Sam Neill also won a Silver Logie along with the Jessica production for Best Mini-Series.

In 2004/5 Peter directed five telemovies of BlackJack for the Ten Network, which featured Colin Friels solving cold-crime cases, which again won numerous awards including direction.

2006 saw Peter direct the $15 million dollar co-production with the Granada – ITV The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant with Romola Garai, Jack Davenport and Sam Neill. This screened to eight million viewers in the UK. It won an AFI, a Logie, and a New York Festival Award for Best TV Mini-series and a Silver Plaque for Best Direction at the Chicago Awards.

In April 2006 he was voted one of the Top Ten Directors in Encore Magazine’s article ‘Celebration of the Industry’s Finest’. The list included Baz Luhrmann, Gillian Armstrong, Phillip Noyce and Rolf De Heer.

Peter was awarded with a Centenary Medal for ‘Outstanding services to Australian Society and Film Production’ in 2003. He has a reputation for getting excellent performances from actors (an actor’s director) and bringing exciting visual flair to each production he undertakes.