The South Australian Film Corporation and The Mercury present:

Behind the Screens with Kerry Heysen AM

Hosted by SAFC CEO Kate Croser

Go behind the scenes of Hollywood’s screen industry and get an insider’s perspective on film production in this special in conversation event with acclaimed producer Kerry Heysen AM.

One of the most prolific and enduring shining lights of South Australia’s screen industry, Kerry’s 50-year career working together with husband and business partner, director Scott Hicks, spans some of Australia’s most celebrated and significant films including the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and AFI Award winning international smash Shine (1996), a landmark of Australian cinema.

Dive into the world of filmmaking as Kerry shares her career journey, insights and behind-the-scenes stories in this exclusive and intimate evening, the first of an exciting new series of events presented by the SAFC and The Mercury celebrating South Australian screen industry luminaries.

Hosted by SA Film Corporation CEO Kate Croser, Behind the Screens with Kerry Heysen AM will give you the chance to hear from one of the most influential figures in South Australian filmmaking, learn about the hurdles and triumphs in bringing a film from concept to screen, and gain unique perspectives on the state’s screen industry.

About Kerry Heysen AM

Internationally acclaimed producer Kerry Heysen AM is one of the most prolific and enduring shining lights of South Australia’s screen industry.

Working together with her husband and business partner, director Scott Hicks, Heysen’s 50-year career spans some of Australia’s most celebrated and significant films including the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and AFI Award winning international smash Shine (1996), a landmark of Australian cinema.

Heysen’s extensive body of work also includes the Academy Award nominated Snow Falling on Cedars, feature films Hearts in Atlantis starring Anthony Hopkins, No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jonesand The Lucky One starring Zac Efron, and musical documentaries Highly Strung, Glass, My Name’s Ben Folds: I Play Piano and 2025 AACTA Award winning documentary The Musical Mind: A Portrait in Process, which explores the musical genius and processes of superstar musicians Daniel Johns, Ben Folds, David Helfgott and Simon Tedeschi.

While the runaway success of Shine made it easy for Heysen and Hicks to move to Hollywood, they didn’t, preferring to stay in South Australia and bring work here, including millions of dollars worth of post-production on major films which Heysen insisted on when making overseas deals – something for which she was specifically recognised in her Order of Australia honours in 2019.

Heysen now leads May30 Entertainment, alongside Hicks, entrepreneur David Chiem and writer/producer Jett Heysen-Hicks, working in production and development across feature films, documentaries and theatrical entertainment.