Emma Freeman
Australian television director
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emma Freeman is an Australian director of television films and series. With her short film Lamb, in 2002 she was the first woman to win Tropfest. She has since directed many TV series, including Glitch, The Newsreader (2021–2025), and The Family Next Door (2025).
Emma Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Victorian College of the Arts |
| Occupations | Television and film director |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | The Newsreader |
| Awards | Tropfest, 2002 AACTA Award for Best Direction in Television, 2010 AACTA Award for Best Direction in a Drama or Comedy, 2021 |
Early life and education
Emma Freeman graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts.[1][2]
Career
Early in her career Freeman worked with producer John Edwards.[3] In 2002 she wrote, produced and directed a seven-minute film, Lamb, starring Robert Menzies and Orpheus Pledger. Lamb won Sydney's Tropfest that year, with Freeman being the first woman director to win.[4][5]
In 2003 she directed Mittens for Tinderbox Films. Starring Sigrid Thornton, the film was shown at the 2003 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films and the 2004 London Australian Film Festival.[6]
Awards
In 2002 Freeman was the first woman to win Tropfest, with her short film Lamb.[4]
In 2010 she won an AACTA Award for Best Direction in Television for Hawke.[7]
Freeman won the AACTA Award for Best Direction in a Drama or Comedy in 2021 for episode 1 of The Newsreader[8] and again in 2024 for episode 4 of The Newsreader.[9][10]
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Episodes | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Lamb | Short film | [5] | |
| 2003 | Mittens | Short film | [6] | |
| 2005 | Last Man Standing | 3 | Drama series (Seven Network) | [11] |
| 2007 | Love My Way | 3 | Drama series (Showtime) | [12] |
| 2010 | Hawke | Telemovie (Network Ten) | [13] | |
| 2011–2016 | Offspring | 18 | Comedy/drama series (Network Ten) | |
| 2012 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | 2 | Drama series (ABC) | |
| 2012–2014 | Puberty Blues | 6 | Comedy/drama series (Network Ten) | |
| 2014 | Party Tricks | 3 | Political drama/comedy series (Network 10) | |
| 2015–2019 | Glitch | 15 | Science fiction series (ABC) | [14][15][16] |
| 2016 | Secret City | 6 | Political thriller series (Fox Showcase) | |
| 2020 | Stateless | 3 | Drama series (ABC) | |
| 2021–2025 | The Newsreader | 18 | Drama series (ABC) | [17] |
| 2021 | Clickbait | 2 | Drama series (Netflix) | [18] |
| 2021 | Love Me | 6 | Drama series (Binge) | [19] |
| 2024 | Interview with the Vampire | 2 | Drama series (AMC+); S2, eps 6 & 7 | [20] |
| 2025 | The Family Next Door | 6 | Drama series (ABC) |
