Liz Watts

Liz Watts is an Australian film producer. She is best known for the 2010 drama film Animal Kingdom, and was a founding partner of Porchlight Films (1997–2020). After developing some projects through her own company, Spirit Pictures, she was appointed head of film and television (Australia) at See Saw Films in December 2021.

Career

Films

Liz Watts began her career working in the camera department, before branching into developing films. She was appointed to various roles at Film Australia, Beyond, and Southern Star, first working on managing the production of short films.[1]

In 2010, she produced David Michôd's directorial feature debut, Animal Kingdom,[2] which won widespread critical acclaim.[3][4] It was nominated in 18 categories in the 2010 Australian Film Institute Awards, winning 10 of them.[5]

Watts collaborated with See-Saw Films on the 2018 film Mary Magdalene starring Rooney Mara, among other projects.[2] She co-produced the 2019 film directed by David Michôd for Netflix, The King.[6] She also co-produced Justin Kurzel's True History of the Kelly Gang,[2] also released in 2019, with Kurzel and others.[7]

In 2021 Watts struck an overall first-look deal with Matchbox Pictures,[8] which is part of Universal International Studios.[9]

Production companies

In 1997, with producer Vincent Sheehan and Anita Sheehan, and she formed Porchlight Films.[1][10] The company ceased operations on 20 June 2020,[11][12][13] and Watts subsequently formed her own company, Spirit Pictures.[9]

In December 2021, Watts was appointed head of film and television, Australia, at See Saw Films, effective 14 December. In this role, she oversees the development and production of all film and television projects out of the company's Australian office in Sydney. She also brought selected projects from her previous company, Spirit Pictures, and continued to executive produce various projects developed under the deal with Matchbox Pictures.[9][2] As of January 2026, Watts still holds this position.[14]

Other activities

Watts has served on the boards of the Sydney Film Festival (five years); for 5 years Metro Screen (six years, as vice-president), and the South Australian Film Corporation.[15]

She gave a masterclass in film production at the 2015 Big Screen Symposium.[15][16]

In October 2025, Watts was a panel member of a discussion titled "What Is An Australian Story?" at SXSW Sydney.[17][18]

Recognition

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mcleod, Kathryn (25 September 2013). "Watts, Liz". The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia. Australian Women's Archives Project. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Kay, Jeremy (8 December 2021). "See-Saw Films names Liz Watts head of film and television, Australia". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Animal Kingdom (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  4. ^ "Animal Kingdom Reviews". Metacritic.
  5. ^ Dennehy, Luke (12 December 2010). "Melbourne crime thriller Animal Kingdom earns ten AFI gongs". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  6. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (9 February 2018). "Timothee Chalamet To Play King Henry V In David Michôd Netflix Film 'The King'". Deadline. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  7. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (6 November 2017). "Russell Crowe, George MacKay To Star In 'True History Of The Kelly Gang' From Director Justin Kurzel". Deadline. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  8. ^ White, Peter (31 March 2021). "'Stateless' EP Liz Watts Strikes Overall Deal With NBCU's Matchbox Pictures". Deadline. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "See-Saw Films appoints Liz Watts as head of film and television, Australia". Mediaweek. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  10. ^ Siemienowicz, Rochelle (May 2010). "Liz Watts, Producing Animal Kingdom". The Australian Film Institute. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Home". Porchlight Films. 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  12. ^ Keast, Jackie (17 June 2020). "Porchlight Films to end operations". IF Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Porchlight Films to cease operations as partners pursue new opportunities". Mediaweek. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Liz Watts". See Saw Films. 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Liz Watts". Big Screen Symposium. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  16. ^ Big Screen Symposium 2015 - Producing Masterclass: Sustaining key relationships with Liz Watts on YouTube
  17. ^ "SXSW Sydney". SXSW Sydney. 14 January 2026. Archived from the original on 15 November 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  18. ^ Slatter, Sean (27 August 2025). "Michael Shanks, Liz Watts, Tony Ayres confirmed for SXSW Sydney industry program". IF Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Distribution practices in the US and UK – Churchill Fellowship report". Metro Screen. 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
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