Biography
Fred Schepisi is an Australian film director, producer and screenwriter. Born Frederic Alan Schepisi in Melbourne on 26 December 1939, he began his career in advertising before founding The Film House, where he directed commercials and documentaries. His first feature was The Devil's Playground (1976).
Schepisi achieved international recognition with The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), which he directed, wrote and produced. He subsequently worked in the United States on films including Barbarosa (1982), Iceman (1984), Plenty (1985), Roxanne (1987), A Cry in the Dark (1988), The Russia House (1990) and Six Degrees of Separation (1993). He has also directed Last Orders (2001) and the miniseries Empire Falls (2005). Schepisi was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to the film industry.
