Lucien Simon Bio
Lucien is an Award Winning Filmmaker and community artist with an impressive portfolio of projects. In 2024 he was Creative Director of Cairns Festival and Cairns Childrens Festival. The play ‘A mouthful of ‘C’ words’, which he was the commissioning producer for, was nominated for three Tasmanian Theatre Awards and won best Original Writing. The webseries THREAD (Director, Producer, Co-Writer, colorist) was a finalist at the Student World Impact Award and he produced the creative development of Nathan Maynard’s play ‘The Line’. He is currently producing Wakemab for Naygayiw Gigi dancers from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait.
In 2023 Lucien worked for Dark Mofo producing it’s Performing Arts program, including the Festival headliner ‘A Divine Comedy’. He was the Performing Arts Program Manager at Salamanca Arts Centre (2021-23), was an advocate with Speakout Advocacy for people with a disability during the height of COVID (2019-21) and in 2017-18 Lucien was the coordinator and presenter of ProjectABLE a disability advocacy and training program that toured into schools and TAFE’s and was managed by the National Disability Services.
During his time at Salamanca Arts Centre Lucien produced an Experimental and Emerging Performing Arts Program presenting three new works and the creative development of two new works, he produced the critically acclaimed ‘A Mouthful of ‘C’ Words’ for MONA FOMA, wrote the play SOUL CAGE and presented a reading as part of a creative development, facilitated an international digital residency in partnership with Checkpoint Theatre (Singapore) and the Australia Council, was Artistic Director of Winter Light Festival (2021, 2022).
Previous roles include: Founder and Artistic Director of Transistor Youth Arts (20152020), Artistic Director of Riverland Youth Theatre (2003-2005), co-Artistic Director1 of SCAPE (2000-2002), Artistic Director of TRANSISTER UTAS Student Art Festival (2001), Assistant Director of the Hobart Fringe Festival (2000) and co-director of ARKhive performance venue (1996-1997).
He has directed eight short films that have screened at International Film Festivals including and won the Open National award at the 2010 Canberra Short Film Festival with his short film STRIPPED BARE. As a screenwriter, Lucien currently has three writing feature films in development. Conversations in Kingborough, a documentary he Produced/Directed/Wrote and Presented won the National Local Government Award (2010) and ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ (Director) won the 2004 National Schooling Awards. In 2014 Lucien took up an Artist in Residency at New York’s Pratt Institute to work with Art Therapist on the therapeutic value of character development. Later in the year Lucien went to Amsterdam a creative development, funded by the Stimuleringsfond, for the Experience Theatre piece Hidden Cities. In 2016 Lucien directed the critically acclaimed world premier of Joe Bugden’s Opera ‘Death by Defenestration’ for the Festival of Voices. In 2022 Lucien Directed Joe Bugden’s opera ‘Call of Aurora’ for the Antarctic Festival. He also attended the Tarraleah Arts Residency.
HIGHLIGHTS
A Mouthful of 'C' Words
Role: Commissioning Producer
Presented by MONA FOMA and Salamanca Arts Centre
Venue: The Peacock Theatre, 2023
Written by:
Carrie McLean, Stephanie Jack, Hera Fox, Andy Vagg, Matthew Cooke
Chris Mead – Director and Dramaturg
Fumded by Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund – an Australian Government initiative.
THREAD: Web Series
Producer, Director, Writer, Colourist, Facilitator
2019-20
CODE BLUE
Producer, Facilitator
2018
Believing Baxter
Role: Director/ Producer
Short Film
Short Film, Australia, 2018, 8:16 minGenre: Comedy
KEY CREATIVES
KEY CAST
Stripped Bare
Role: Director/ Co-Writer
Short Film
Australia, 16 min, 2010
Directed by Lucien Simon
Written by Nathan Spencer
Co-Written by Lucien Simon
Produced by Catherine Pettman
Featuring: Grant Cartwright & Martin Blum
DOP: Jeremy Rouse
Editor: Bill Murphy
Winner of Open National Award at Canberra Short Film Festival (2010)
Accepted into the Cannes Short Film Market, , Flickerfest (2011), Saint Kilda Film Festival (2011), Melbourne Underground FF (2010), Tasmanian BOFA FF (2013), Global Beeston Film Festival (2015)
Muffled
Role: Director
Short Film, Australia, 7 minutes
Written and Produced by Yvette Blackwood
DOP: Heidi Douglas
Editor: Rose Schramm
Cast:
L Kerzlake
S Maja Jensen
Screening: Newfest Film Festival (New York, 2007), Reeling International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Chicago, 2007), Palm Springs International Film Festival (2007)
LUCIEN SIMON FILM, THEATRE, COMMUNITY, EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Lucien Simon
Director, Producer, Manager
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Economics Murdoch University, 1992
Graduate Certificate Screen Drama: Australian Film Television & Radio
Writing & DirectingSchool, 2008
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health University of New England, 2016
AWARDS
2004 National Schooling Award for Boys Will Be Boys (Director and Producer)
2006 Adelaide Fringe Festival Youth and Education Award for best theatre show. Riverland Youth Theatre’s LANDED. (Composer)
2010 Tasmanian Local Government Awards (Delivering Excellence for our Communities), and the, 2010 National Local Government Award (Youth Engagement); both for the 26 min Documentary Conversations in Kingborough (Producer, Writer, Presenter & Director)
2010 Best Film National Category at the Canberra Short Film Festival for Stripped Bare (Director & Co-Writer)
2018 Transistor Youth Arts received 14 Award nominations and won 6 Awards (including cast film) at the MyState Student Film Festival (role Producer and Artistic Director)
2024 A Mouthful of ‘C’ words was nominated for tjree Tasmanian Theatre Awards and won best Original Play. (Role: Commissioning Producer).
2024 THREAD was a finalist, receiving an honourable mention, at the Student World Impact Film Festival (the world’s largest student film festival). (Role: Producer, Co-Director, Co-Writer, Colorist, Facilitator, Tutor)
CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS.
Australian Writers Guild, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, ArTELIER. Currently Tasmanian Chapter Head of the Australian Directors Guild
EMPLOYMENT
2024: CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL’S CREATIVE LIFE BRANCH
2023: PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCER, DARK MOFO
2021-23: PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM MANAGER, SALAMANCA ARTS CENTRE
2021-22: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, WINTER LIGHT FESTIVAL
2019-2021: ADVOCATE, SPEAK OUT ADVOCACY
2014 – 2019: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TRANSISTOR YOUTH ARTS
2011 – Present: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, MAST FILMS
2016-2017: COORDINATOR, PROJECTABLE
2008-2010: COMMUNITY ARTIST, KINGBOROUGH COUNCIL
2006: PROGRAM DIRECTOR, BIG hART
2005: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, KICKSTART ARTS
2003-2005: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, RIVERLAND YOUTH THEATRE
2000-2002: CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, SCAPETHEATRE
FILM PROJECTS
More than Carers (20min, 2020, documentary) – Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, composer. Official selection Lift-off Showcase (2022)
Thread: web series (5 episodes, 2020, drama) – Director, Producer, Co-Writer, Facilitator, Colourist. Official selection Sydney Lift-Off Film Festival (2020), 7 Colours Australian Film Festival (2022), Finalist and honourable mention Student World Impact Film Festival (2023)
Run Don’t Run (7 min – 2018, drama) – Director, Producer, Editor, Colourist. Official selection Toronto Lift-Off Festival (2019)
Believing Baxter (8:16 min, 2018, comedy) – Director, Producer, Editor. Official selection: Melbourne Lift Off Festival (2019), The Lift-Off Sessions (2019) and Tokyo Lift Off Film Festival (2020)
Sombra (8:06 minutes, 2018, fantasy drama) – Producer. Official selection Poppy Jasper International Film Festival (2018), MyState Student Film Festival (2018), Awards at the MyState Student Film Festival: Winner of Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Original Music Score & the Post Year 10/TAFE/UNI category! [MyState]. Victoria Bremnar and Sam Tooker also won Most Engaging Talent at MyState.
Quizzard (12:06 min, 2018, comedy) – Producer, Sound recordist. Official selection Tasmanian BOFA Film Festival (2018), Inshore Film Festival (2018)
Goddess (Feature, 2013, comedy) – Directors Attachment to Mark Lamprell
The Beast (7min, 2013, drama)- Director
Stripped Bare (16 min, 2010, psychological thriller) – Director/ Co-Writer. Funded by Screen Tasmania.
Accepted into the Cannes Short Film Market, Winner of Open National Award at Canberra Short Film Festival (2010), Flickerfest (2011), Saint Kilda Film Festival (2011), Melbourne Underground FF (2010)
Slashed (8min, 2010, horror comedy)- Art Director, . Raw Nerve Program funded by Screen Australia.
Best Australian Short at The 2011 Melbourne Queer Festival, Runner-up Best Emerging Filmmaker (Jury Award) Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2011, Frameline: San Francisco International GLBTI Film Festival (2011), Saint Kilda Film Festival (2011), My Queer Career (Sydney Mardi Gras) (2011), Dungog Film Festival (2011), Bendigo Queer Film Festival (2011)
Daughter of San Domenico (9 min, 2010, poetic) – Producer. Funded through the Raw Nerve (Screen Australia) program. Writer/Director Marisa Mastrocola.
Conversations in Kingborough (26min, 2009, Documentary) – Producer/Director/Writer. Funded by the Premier’s Department.
Winner of the 2010 Tasmanian Local Government Award, Winner of the 2010 National Local Government Award.
THEY HUNG FROM TREES (7min, 2009, comedy) – Writer/ Director Distributed by Zoot Films. Sold to TV in Europe, USA & Canada.
MUFFLED (7 min, 2007, black comedy)- Director. Screening: Newfest Film Festival (New York, 2007), Reeling International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Chicago, 2007), Palm Springs International Film Festival (2007)
(In Development)
Breeding in Captivity (Feature)- Writer/Director. Currently in Post-Production
The Bridge that Wasn’t There (2009/10, Feature) First Draft Completed – Writer. Investors: Screen Tasmania. Developed as part of Arista & the NFTO Ignite Program. Script Assessment Robert Connolly (funded by Screen Tasmania)
Solace: First Draft Completed (2005-2010, Feature) – Writer. Script editor Belinda Chayko. Producer Consultant Catherine Pettman. . Investors: Screen Tasmania. Developed as part of Arista’s Residential Program.
I Mind X Mind: 3rd Draft Completed (1999-2006, Feature) – Writer. Investors: Screen Tasmania for the second and third draft.
Performing Arts: Directing/ Writing/ Producing
Salamanca Arts Centre and Blackhole Theatre present The Line (2024, theatre) – Producer. Creative Development showing presented at the Founders Room. Funded by the Office of the Arts
MONA FOMA and Salamanca Arts Centre present A Mouthful of ‘C’ words (2023, Theatre) – Producer. Presented at the Peacock Theatre for the 2023 MONA FOMA Festival. Funded by the Office of the Arts
Salamanca Arts Centre and Blackhole Theatre present The Line (2023, Theatre) – Producer Creative development showing at The Founders Room, Salamanca Arts Centre. Funded by the Office of the Arts
Salamanca Arts Centre presents Soul Cage (2022, Theatre) – Writer, Producer, Director. Creative development showing in the Peacock Theatre. Funded by the Office of the Arts
Joe Bugden presents The Call of Aurora (2022, contemporary opera) – Director. Presented at Salamanca Arts Centre for the Antarctic Festival
Salamanca Arts Centre, Checkpoint Theatre and the Australia Council present The things we couldn’t say (2022, International Digital Residency) – Producer, Facilitator
Salamanca Arts Centre presents 5 Elements (2021, video and sound installation), Director, videographer, sound recordist. Presented at the Courtyard for Winter Light Festival
Salamanca Arts Centre presents Creative Development Lab (2020, Lab for CALD artists to develop new work), Facilitator and Producer
Presented as part of the Older than Language Major Exhibition
Joe Bugden presents Death by Defenestration (2016, contemporary opera) – Director. Presented at Salamanca Arts Centre for the Festival of Voices
Hidden Cities (2014) – Video Installation Artist and Filmmaker. Creative Development through the Kingborough Council Arts Residency Program. Developed for Ten Days on the Island 2015 Festival. Partners PIPS:lab
Barking Spider Visual Theatre presents Through Their Eyes (2013) – Video Installation Artist. Season: Opening of the Hawthorn Arts Centre
The Song Room and Maydena Primary School presents Maydena an Alternate History (2007) – Director/ Writer.
Riverland Youth Theatre (RYT) & Vitalstatistix National Women’s Theatre presents Random Girls Devised by the participants and Marisa Mastrocola (2005) – Co-director & Dramaturge
Seasons in the Riverland & Adelaide (Vitalstatistix, Waterside) at Come Out 2005
RYT presents PUPPYFAT by Lucien Simon & Marisa Mastrocola (2004) – Co-Director . Seasons: The Chaffey Theatre Studio, Riverland High Schools and Primary Schools.
RYT Presents SUCKERS by Fraser Caulfield (2004) – Director. Season: The Bonney Theatre, Riverland High Schools.
Mr. Magic & the Marketing Queen (2003) – Written with the Riverland Youth Theatre Junior Ensemble. Produced by Riverland Youth Theatre in 2004
RYT & Berri PS Presents BOYS WILL BE BOYS (2003) – Director. Season: Berri Town Hall & Berri PS
FEVER (2002) a play by Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Christos Tsiolkis & Melissa Reeves- Assistant Director to Julian Meyrick. Season: Trades Hall, Melbourne International Festival of the Arts.
Scape & La Mama presents Who the F**K is ERICA PRICE (2002) a play by Sarah Brill- Producer/Production Manager/Actor. Seasons: La Mama@ Carlton Courthouse (Melbourne, August) & The Peacock Theatre (Hobart, June):
Scape Master Class Series (2001) in Mask/Mime/Movement & Bouffon. Trainers Marie Dumont & Jason Lehane – Producer/Production Manager. The workshop attracted 20 participants (selling out) from all around Australia and was held in Hobart at the IS Theatre Rehearsal space.
Scape presents Wax Cabaret (2000) – Producer/deviser/Production Manager
Scape & CIA present Damnable Stories of Dostoyevsky a creative development showing of Camus adaptation of the Possessed (2000)– Co-Producer/Actor. Season: The Storeroom (Melbourne, August)
CIA presents SHORT STABS (2000) – Director. Season: The Storeroom (Melbourne, December
Scape presents Grace (2000), Monologues by Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius & Graham Henderson. Director/Producer/Production Manager. Season: Peacock Theatre (Hobart, November
Scape presents Goat by Alison Mann, Robert Scotney & Asariah Tellegen (2000) – Co-Producer/ Production Manager/ Director. Season: The Peacock Theatre (Hobart, Easter)
Australian Script Centre & the Hobart Fringe Festival present a dramatised reading of Who the Fuck is Erica Price by Sarah Brill (2000) – Director. Season: The Peacock Theatre (Hobart, March). Hobart Fringe Festival
Community Arts, Youth Arts, Theatre: Producing/Facilitating
Utopia Now! (2022) – Producer. By-Youth Theatre Project and Art Installation. Presented at Long Gallery and Peacock Theatre as part of Winter Light. Funded by Festivals Australia
New Myth (2019) – Facilitator. Presented by Artelier at Artplay
Transistor Youth Arts (2014-2019) – Artistic Director, Producer, Facilitator, Director, Writer. I created Transistor Youth Arts to fill a major gap in opportunities afforded to young people in Tasmania. That is, to provide a performance and film-based platform for young people to create original work, express their issues and have their voices heard.
In the four years that the program operated Transistor Youth Arts worked with over 600 young people, created 65 short films, 3 web-series and commissioned and produced 5 short plays. It is a highly successful program loved by many and recognized by Industry, Local, State and Federal Funding agencies as having a best practice approach as well as making a valuable contribution to our community.
Barking Spider Visual Theatre – Jellyfish (2013): Camera & Editing
Wild@heART (2013) – Community Artist
Wide Angle Tasmania & Clarence City Council present Hothouse (2012)- Facilitator
Wide Angle Tasmania & Hobart City Council present FilmLab (2011)- Facilitator
More than Memory (45min, 2009): Project Manager & Community Artist
Funded by the Department of Health & Aging. Distributor Video Education Australia.
Kingboorugh Council presents Blackmans Bay Urban Art Mural Program (2008): Project Coordinator. Workshops that led to a large mural on the Blackman Bay Community Hall.
Kingborough Council presents Event Management Workshops (2008): Project Coordinator
Kingborough Council Holiday Program (2008): Coordinator. Kingborough Council presents The Balcony (2007-2008): Producer/ Agent
Weekly all ages gigs at the Youth Centre (YSPACE).
Big hART presents Lucky Starts (2006): Producer/Curator. A exhibition of photography by young parents from the North West Coast of Tasmania.
RYT Presents Riveisteddfod (2003 & 2004) – Co-Producer/ Tutor. Eleven schools rehearsed and presented at least one five-ten minute performance piece.
RYT Presents NUNGA RISING (2004) – Project Producer.
Workshops took place in six Riverland Schools and Two Community Centres and attracted over 160 participants. The program also involved a NAIDOC Week Celebration that attracted 150 Indigenous people. Culminated with performances at the Come Out Festival (Adel).
Riverland Youth Theatre Workshop Program (2003/2004/2005) – Producer. Ages 5 to 26. 700 participants annually.
RYT Presents Berri Primary School Drama-Dance Initiative- Producer/Coordinator. RYT produced two terms worth of workshops for Berri Primary Schools two year 6-7 classes
RYT Presents Visual rites troupe (2003/2004) – Producer
RYT Presents Mr. Magic & the Marketing Queen by Lucien Simon. Director Marisa Mastrocola (2004)- Producer. The play had its world premier at the Chaffey Theatre Studio Space – before touring Adelaide Fringe Festival as part of the Youth and Education Program.
RYT Presents Rage Around the Riverland 2003 – Event Manager, Youth Outdoor event.. Season: Field Days Site (Barmera)
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