Robyn Kershaw

Career

Though Kershaw is now known as one of Australia's most well respected film and television producers, her 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. The relationships she made during this time were invaluable to her future in the film and television industries. It was just four years later that she would start her own production company (see below: Robyn Kershaw Productions & RKPix for more information)

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 smash comedy hit, Kath & Kim (series I, II & III), created by and starring Jane Turner, Gina Riley and Magda Szubanski, Kath & Kim, became the highest rated TV comedy in Australian history and the highest rated show on ABCTV from 2002–2004. Kershaw also Executive Produced 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 & 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 out of Australia.

Robyn Kershaw Productions Pty Ltd (website) is a film and television production company created to produce a slate of projects that promise to "enable people to laugh, think and celebrate life" (as the company slogan states). It focuses on the development of a film, seeing it through each stage of production, from conception all the way to production and distribution.

Robyn’s first feature was the adaptation of 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 then 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 screened at over 20 film festivals worldwide including; Toronto International Film Festival (2009), Dubai International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival (2010), the 60th Berlin International Film Festival (2010), the Cannes Cinephiles at the Festival de Cannes and Goa's International Film Festival of India and won the Audience Award at both the Melbourne International and the London Australian Film Festivals.

In February 2013, Kershaw released 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 premiered at the 2012 Melbourne International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Mumbai Film Festival.

Robyn 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 premiered at the 2014 Melbourne International Film Festival.

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

Organizations

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