Kriv Stenders is an Australian writer, film producer, and director, best known for his 2011 film Red Dog (2011) and the 2014 thriller film Kill Me Three Times. His new film The Correspondent, based on a memoir by Australian journalist Peter Greste, had its world premiere on the opening gala night of the Adelaide Film Festival on 23 October 2024.
In his early career, he made many music videos for well-known Australian rock musicians and bands, including The Go-Betweens, later the subject of a feature-length documentary.
Early life and education Kriv Stenders was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He is of Latvian heritage on one side of the family. He subsequently lived on the Gold Coast, then in the Brisbane suburbs of Kenmore, Toowong, and later Annerley.
He attended high school in Toowong. He met The Go-Betweens at a record store in Toowong, and became friends with them.
In 1989 he graduated from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
Career Between 1987 and 1994, Stenders began by directing music videos for many famous Australian bands and musicians, including Angry Anderson, Mental As Anything, Ian Moss, The Go-Betweens, Choirboys, Noiseworks. John Farnham, Single Gun Theory, Ratcat, and 1927.
During this time, he also made short-form films and TV commercials, via his company Prod Films. In 1994, he made the documentary short-feature Motherland, exploring the Latvian and Australian heritage of his two grandmothers.
In 2002, he shot his first feature film, the micro-budget, self-finance film Blacktown. The film stars Stenders friend Tony Ryan as an aboriginal bus driver who falls in love with a woman in a relationship with a married man. The film was screened at the Sydney Film Festival in 2005 and won the audience award in the sidebar section.
In February 2007, Boxing Day premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival.
His film Red Dog was released in 2011. As of 17 November 2011, it had made more than A$21 million at the Australian box office since opening in August 2011. Eleven days after opening, Red Dog became the highest-grossing Australian film of 2011. It has won numerous awards.
He wrote and directed a feature documentary film about The Go-Betweens, called The Go-Betweens: Right Here, the title based on their 1987 song "Right Here". The film had a cinema release in 2017, as well as being showcased at Splendour In The Grass.
His film The Correspondent, based on journalist Peter Greste's memoir The First Casualty and starring Richard Roxburgh, had its world premiere on the opening gala night of the 2024 Adelaide Film Festival.
Other activities Stenders is an ambassador for SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3), a film festival held annually in Sydney.
Filmography (selected) Music videos "Streets Of Your Town" - 1988, The Go-Betweens, music video
Films Motherland (1994) The Illustrated Family Doctor (2005) Blacktown (2005) Boxing Day (2007) Lucky Country (2009) Red Dog (2011) Kill Me Three Times (2014) Red Dog: True Blue (2016) Australia Day (2017) The Go-Betweens: Right Here (2017; documentary) Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2019) Slim and I (2020) The Correspondent (2024)
Television Wake in Fright (2017 miniseries) Mother and Son (2023)
Awards
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2012Red DogBest Direction2015The Principal, episode 1Best Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy2026The CorrespondentBest Direction
Australian Directors Guild Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2007Boxing DayADG Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film2012Red DogADG Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film
Australian Film Institute Awards Year Nominated work Category Result Ref1998Two/OutBest Short Fiction Film2005The Illustrated Family DoctorBest Screenplay, Adapted
Australian Screen Directors Association Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2005The Illustrated Family DoctorBest Direction of a First Feature Film
Berlin International Film Festival Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2017Red Dog: True BlueGeneration Kplus - Best Film
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2005The Illustrated Family DoctorBest Screenplay - Adapted2012Red DogBest Director
Heartland Film Festival Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2017Red Dog: True BlueNarrative Feature
IF Awards Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2007Boxing DayBest Director2011Red DogBest Direction2011Red DogBest Feature Film
Melbourne International Film Festival Year Nominated work Category Result Ref1998Two/OutBest Australian Short Film
Montréal Festival of New Cinema Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2007Boxing DaySpecial Mention
Rencontres Internationales du Cinéma des Antipodes Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2012Red DogAudience Award for Best Feature Film
TIFF Kids International Film Festival Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2017Red Dog: True BlueYoung People's Jury Award for Best Feature Film (Ages 8–10)
White Sands International Film Festival Year Nominated work Category Result Ref2012Red DogGrand Jury Award
References
External links
Kriv Stenders on The Screen Guide, Screen Australia (updated May 2024)