Robyn Kershaw

Robyn Kershaw is an Australian independent film and television producer, best known for her work on feature drama, Looking for Alibrandi, musical-comedy, Bran Nue Dae (2009), the hit TV series Kath & Kim (original run: 2002–2005) and working with the YouTube sensation Mychonny on Sucker (2015), Mychonny Moves In (2015) and The China Boy Show (2017).

Career Robyn Kershaw's career in the arts began in theatre production.

From 1989 to 1994, Kershaw was general manager of Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, where she produced the projects of some of Australia's most well-known film artists, including Geoffrey Rush and Toni Collette. Four years later, she started her own production companies, Robyn Kershaw Productions and RKPix.

In 2001, Kershaw became the Head of Drama and Narrative Comedy for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) during which time she executive produced over 140 hours of TV including the smash comedy hit, Kath & Kim (series 1, 2 and 3), created by and starring Jane Turner, Gina Riley and Magda Szubanski. Kath & Kim, became the highest rated TV comedy in Australia and the highest rated show on ABC from 2002 to 2004. Kershaw also executive produced the award-winning drama series, MDA, which received the first nomination for an ABC drama from the International Emmys.

In 2004, Kershaw returned to independent production to focus her efforts on RKP and RKPix.

Robyn Kershaw Productions and RKPix In 1998, Kershaw founded and continues to act as both company director and producer for both Robyn Kershaw Productions Pty Ltd (RKP) and RKPix Pty Ltd, based in Australia. Robyn Kershaw Productions is a film and television production company.

Kershaw's first feature film was the adaptation of the best selling novel Looking for Alibrandi (2000). Written by Melina Marchetta (adapted from her own novel), directed by Kate Woods and starring Anthony LaPaglia, Greta Scacchi and Pia Miranda, Looking for Alibrandi was a box office hit in Australia and won five Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Film and Best Actress.

Kershaw went on to produce box office hit, Bran Nue Dae (2009), directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Geoffrey Rush, Jessica Mauboy and Magda Szubanski. Bran Nue Dae was screened at over 20 film festivals and won the Audience Award at both the Melbourne International and the London Australian Film Festivals.

In February 2013, Kershaw released the Indian Australian cricket comedy, Save Your Legs! in Australia through Madman Entertainment. Save Your Legs! was directed by Boyd Hicklin and stars Stephen Curry, Brendan Cowell and Damon Gameau. The film was shown at the 2012 Melbourne International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Mumbai Film Festival.

Kershaw executive produced My Mistress, released through Transmission Films. My Mistress was directed by Stephen Lance and stars Emmanuelle Beart, Harrison Gilbertson, Rachael Blake, and Socratis Otto. The film was premiered at the 2014 Melbourne International Film Festival.

In 2015, Kershaw produced the feature comedy Sucker co-written by Ben Chessell and Lawrence Leung, starring Timothy Spall and the YouTube sensation John Luc. The film was premiered at the 2015 Melbourne International Film Festival.

In 2022 was a producer on the Dollhouse Pictures Produced feature comedy Seriously Red, written by and starring Krew Boylan and featuring Celeste Barber, Rose Byrne, Thomas Campbell, Bobby Cannavale, and Daniel Webber. The film premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival.

Organisations Kershaw has served on the boards of the Australian Film Finance Corporation (now known as Screen Australia) and ScreenWest Australian screen funding and development agencies.

Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes1996 Children of the Revolution(feature) Casting director Peter Duncan 2000 Looking for Alibrandi (feature) Producer Kate Woods Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards – 2000 – Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Editing 2000 Bondi Banquet(TV series) Producer Ray ArgallStuart McDonaldKay Pavlou AWGIE Award – 2000 – Best Original TV Script 2001 Effie: Just Quietly(TV series) Producer Shawn Seet 2001–2004 Grass Roots (TV series)Secret Bridesmaids' Business (telemovie)Loot (telemovie)The Shark Net (mini-series)The Forest (short feature)MDA (TV series 1 & 2)Marking Time (mini-series)Kath & Kim (TV series 1, 2 & 3) Executive producer All produced at ABC Marking Time – 2004 – Winner of 7 AFIsKath & Kim – 2002 – Winner of 3 AFIs – Best Drama Series, Best Screenplay in a Television Drama Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Television DramaMDA – 2002 – Nominated for International Emmy 2009 Bran Nue Dae(feature) Producer Rachel Perkins MIFF – 2010 – Audience AwardLondon Australian Film Festival – 2010 – Audience Award 2012 Save Your Legs(feature) Producer Boyd Hicklin 2014 My Mistress(feature) Executive producer Stephen Lance 2014 MyChonny Moves In(TV mini-series) Producer Kate Woods 2015 Sucker(feature) Producer Ben Chessell 2017 Lets See How Fast This Baby Will Go(short) Executive producer 2017 The Chinaboy Show(TV series) Producer Trilby Glover 2022 Seriously Red(feature) Producer Gracie Otto