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Dia Taylor is an independent filmmaker based in Melbourne, Australia, who specialises in Directing, Writing, and Producing. Although, she has stepped behind the camera as cinematographer on many productions including director Nathan Hill’s two features ‘I, Portrait’, and ‘Lady Terror’.
Taylor’s passion for film first began at age twelve when she would help her aunt Silvana McCausland on her films; ‘Rules Is Rules’, ‘Chocolate Fetish’, and ‘Shed Dwellers’ where Taylor worked as an actor and a production assistant.
This passion, as well as her aunt, and grandfather Ian McCausland (a well-known rock and roll graphic artist), pushed Taylor to attend a short filmmaking course at NIDA, Sydney (The National Institute of Dramatic Arts) in 2009.
Taylor continued making short films throughout High school, completing a certificate III in digital media at The Gordon Institute of TAFE and going on to get her bachelor’s degree of Film Production at SAE Institute, Melbourne.
During her time in film school, Taylor met fellow filmmaker Kestra Nebula who hired her as assistant director and later producer on the first feature film Taylor would work on, titled ‘The Green Woman’.
Nebula (then ‘Samuel McDermott’) the following year, returned the favour by helping to produce Taylor’s directorial feature film debut ‘Marital Problems’ which would win Best Comedy and Best Original Screenplay at the 2018 Melbourne Underground Film Festival.
After ‘Marital Problems’, Taylor focused on directing and creating short films in order to hone her craft, many of which winning awards nationally and internationally. Some awards of which included.
- Best Female director in August 2019 awarded by Direct Monthly Online Film Festival for her short film ‘Blue.’ Which also won Best Original Score at the 2019 Prodigy Film Festival.
- A Special Mention for her short film ‘Grayscale’ in October 2019 awarded by Global Shorts and One Reeler Film Festival. The same film was also the most voted Australian film in the world for the My Rode Reel competition for that year.
- Best Use of Prop in the 2019 Melbourne 48-hour film festival for ‘What I Was Missing’
- Top 5 finalist for the wild card group in the 2021 48 Hour Global Film Challenge for ‘Blood and Glory’
- Honourable mention at Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival 2021, Best Australian Short Film at Sydney Indie Short Festival 2021, and best Zombie film at New York International Women Festival – all for her short film ‘Little Miseries’
Taylor was also nominated for best cinematography for her work on Nathan Hill’s short ‘Vampire Hooker Hotel’ by Stuff MX: Festival de cine bizarro en Ciudad de Mexico.
Taylor is also known for producing the feature films; ‘Wanda and Sully’ and ‘How Deep is the Ocean.’
'Dynamic Dia! - Interview with David Black for Medium.com
Jett star! Dia Taylor discusses her new rock drama - Interview with Cinema Australia
Trailer of the Day: Marital Problems - Cinema Australia
Indy Film Library Reviews by Jack Brindelli
- Blue.
‘Sempre Piu’ Director Dia Taylor on the power of collaboration in independent filmmaking - Interview with Indy Film Library
Diving into How Deep is the Ocean - Interview with Don Groves for IF
- Interview with Sean Slatter for IF
Spotlight on Film Maker Dia Taylor - Australian Short Film Network Journal
Se7en Questions with Dia Taylor - MyIndie Productions
Dia Taylor; Filmmaker and Actress - MyIndie Productions Filmmaker Profile
Monash Spoken Word Presents: Dia Taylor - Presented by James W.F. Roberts
Oz Femme Fatales of Horror Month - Aus Short Film Network
CATHOLIC GUILT Debut New Single and Music Video “Talking Fake” - THE WHOLE KAMEESE
Melbourne Indie How Deep is the Ocean Launches Trailer Ahead of Release - FilmInkby Dov Kornits
