Shirley Barrett

Shirley Barrett (1961 – 3 August 2022) was an Australian film director, screenwriter, and novelist. From 1981 to 1983, Barrett was a singer in the band Fruit Pastilles. After ending her time in the band, she became a film maker. Her first feature, Love Serenade, won the Caméra d'Or at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. She wrote and directed two other feature films, Walk the Talk and South Solitary (2010).

Barrett's script for South Solitary was awarded multiple prizes, including the Queensland Premier's Prize and the West Australian Premier's Prize. Her first novel, Rush Oh! (2016), was shortlisted for the 2016 Indie Awards for Debut Fiction and the 2016 Nita May Dobbie Award, and long-listed for the 2016 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. Her second novel, The Bus on Thursday, was released in 2018.

Early life and education Barrett was born in Melbourne in 1961. In 1985, she moved to Sydney, where she studied screenwriting at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

Television Barrett began her career in television “with production work on the Logies.” The film was generally well-received, with Variety describing it as “one of the most striking, fully formed and assured debuts in years.” After winning a large settlement from an accident that leaves Bonita paraplegic, Joey starts a talent agency hoping to "make his mark on the world".

South Solitary Barrett's third feature South Solitary (2010) is "another tale of outcasts". They had two daughters. She lived in Sydney. She died in Sydney on 3 August 2022, aged 61.

Filmography

As writer 1988 — Cherith (short) 1996 — Love Serenade (screenplay) 2000 — Walk the Talk 2010 — South Solitary

As director 1988 — Cherith 1991 — Boys from the Bush (4 episodes) 1992–1993 — A Country Practice 1994 — Heartbreak High (7 episodes) 1995 — Police Rescue (1 episode) 1996 — Love Serenade 2000 — Walk the Talk 2006–2007 — Love My Way (5 episodes) 2010 — South Solitary 2011 — Packed to the Rafters (2 episodes) 2010–2013 — Offspring (6 episodes) 2011 — Wild Boys (2 episodes) 2012 — House Husbands (2 episodes) 2013 — Mr & Mrs Murder (2 episodes) 2014 — Love Child (2 episodes) 2015 — Winter (2 episodes) 2015 — A Place to Call Home (2 episodes) 2016 — A Place to Call Home (4 episodes) 2017 — Offspring (2 episodes) 2021 — Five Bedrooms (6 episodes)

Other writings 2015 — Rush Oh! (novel) 2018 — The Bus On Thursday (novel)

Awards

Won Australian Film Institute 1988: AFI Award for Best Short Fiction Film Cherith Cannes Film Festival 1996: Camera D'Or for Love Serenade Valladolid International Film Festival 1996: Best New Director for Love Serenade Queensland Premier Prize 2010: Script for South Solitary West Australian Premier's Literary Prize 2010: Script for South Solitary West Australian Premiers Prize 2010: Script for South Solitary

Nominated Australian Film Institute 2006: AFI Award for Best Direction in Television Love My Way

Shortlisted 2016 Indie Awards for Debut Fiction Rush Oh! 2016 Nita May Dobbie Literary Award Rush Oh!

Long-listed 2016 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction Rush Oh!