Kent Smith (producer)

Smith began his career as a cinematographer in Australian television with Seven Network Australia in 1972.^{[1][better source needed]}

After more than a decade working in network television in Victoria and South Australia, where he won many national and international awards, Smith established his own Adelaide-based production company, Kent Smith Productions, in 1984.^{[1][better source needed]}

He spent seven years working with some of Australia's largest corporate clients, then in 1991 he expanded the business to form the Kojo Group,^[2] which he co-founded with cinematographer, director, and writer John Chataway (who died in 2010).^[3]

In 2005, Smith took the Kojo Group into feature film production, starting with the film 2:37,^[4] which was an Official Selection at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Two Kojo-produced films were released in 2009: Closed for Winter and Beautiful, both premiering at the Adelaide Film Festival before their cinema releases.^[5] The 2010 film The Tree was also an Official Selection and the closing film at 2010 Cannes Film Festival.^[6]

As of March 2013, Smith was a member of the Kojo board.^[7] In June 2013, Kojo announced a multi-million dollar investment deal with American company Main Street Films, to collaborate on an upcoming feature film that would be a co-production between Kojo and South Australian writer/director Murali K. Thalluri from M2E, with South African company Enigma Pictures as the co-producer. The film, titled One, was described as "a racially fuelled post-apocalyptic adventure as seen through the eyes of a 26-year old girl", and was set to be filmed in South Africa and produced by Smith.^[8][9] Main Street announced cast members at Cannes Film Festival in 2014,^[10] but in 2019 it was reported as never being made.^[11] As of November 2025^[update], One is still listed on IMDb as "in development".^[12]

In February 2019 US company Wonderfilm announced a new film by Thalluri titled Run, to be produced by Wonderfilm along with Smith at Kojo and Thalluri.^[11]

Smith became an accredited member of the Australian Cinematographers Society on 14 September 2001.^[13]

KOJO established the Smithy Award in honour of Smith, to celebrated "the quiet achievers... The unsung hero who is creating magic on a daily basis without the public recognition they truly deserve". The award is presented to a staff member each year.^[14][15]

Smith's film producing credits include: