Garth Davis

Here’s a full-length, SEO-friendly article about Garth Davis — Australian director — covering his life, works, style, quotes, and influence.

Garth Davis – Life, Career & Creative Vision

Uncover the journey of Garth Davis, Australian film and television director behind Lion, Mary Magdalene, Foe, and Top of the Lake. Learn about his approach, achievements, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Garth Davis is an Australian director whose work spans commercials, television, and feature films. He rose to international acclaim with his feature film debut, Lion (2016), which earned critical praise and multiple Oscar nominations. Since then, he has continued to pursue human-centered stories with emotional depth. His path—from advertising and TV to cinema—and his philosophy on filmmaking make him a compelling figure in contemporary Australian and global cinema.

Early Life & Background

Garth Davis was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (circa 1974). Gold Coast and later relocated to Melbourne for university, and is based in Melbourne now.

He grew up in a creatively inclined household—his mother was a painter and his father worked in advertising.

Though he worked in many visual media forms early on—commercials, TV, short films—his long preparation and sensibility laid the foundation for his later success in features.

Career & Major Works

Commercials, Television & Short Film

Before directing full features, Davis built a reputation in advertising and television. Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and a D&AD Yellow Pencil for a Schweppes commercial titled “Burst.”

His TV credits include episodes of Love My Way (2006) and Top of the Lake (2013). Top of the Lake, he directed several episodes and earned Emmy / BAFTA recognition.

His early short film work includes P.I.N.S. (2000) and Alice (2003).

Feature Film Breakthrough: Lion

Davis’s feature film debut was Lion (2016), based on Saroo Brierley’s autobiographical story. Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In making Lion, Davis noted that he had worked behind cameras for more than two decades (in commercials/TV) before it felt right to attempt a feature. Greig Fraser, whom he had known for years, allowing a deeply intuitive visual partnership.

He embraced bold editing choices: the film’s second half shifts in texture and pace to reflect the internal nature of Saroo’s quest.

Later Features: Mary Magdalene & Foe

In 2018, Davis directed Mary Magdalene, a biblical drama written by Helen Edmundson.

More recently, Davis directed Foe (2023), a science-fiction / relational drama starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal. Foe, Davis took on additional roles: co-writer and producer, shaping the narrative as well as directing. Foe as a film about relationships, alienation, and environmental metaphor—“a relationship story set in the near future” with themes bubbling naturally.

Other Projects & Development

• In 2013, Warner Bros. tapped Davis to direct a film adaptation of Shantaram, but that version did not come to fruition; instead, Shantaram later became a TV adaptation.

• He and producer partners (Emile Sherman, Iain Canning) launched a production company called I AM THAT in 2019, with Samantha Lang leading development.

• In 2022, Screen Australia announced funding for a sci-fi TV series titled Immersion, written by Matt Vesely, to be directed by Davis.

Style, Themes & Directorial Approach

Visceral & Emotional Focus

Davis gravitates toward stories rooted in deep emotional resonance and the human condition. He says he’s drawn to what’s not on the page—subtext, internal lives, what remains unsaid.

Location & Visual World as Character

He often starts with location and “world” first—immersing himself in place to allow the story to emerge visually. Mary Magdalene, he used landscapes, lighting, and texture to shape mood and tone.

He has a long-standing collaboration with Greig Fraser, whose cinematography supports Davis’s visual sensitivity.

ing & Structural Boldness

Davis does not shy from structural gambits—sharp cuts, shifting textures, changes in pace—especially when they serve the emotional core. In Lion, for instance, the switch to a more interior second half was a deliberate visual and narrative choice.

Respect, Research & Heart

He describes his approach as respectful and researched. He tries to shape the story collaboratively with writers, to find the right way to tell it “directorially.” social responsibility.

Selected Quotes

Here are a few representative quotes from Garth Davis that reveal his mindset:

“I’ve always just focused on the work, and I’ve just tried to be honest with the work. If the work speaks to people, fantastic.” “I definitely storyboard, but I only start once I have cast and location. I like to find the world first.” “My whole approach is very much about using the locations as a world, trying to find the beauty in the time of day we shoot or the ugliness of it, in cases.” “I want to do stories that really move me, that have an audience … at the end of the day, I want people to feel something when they walk out of the cinema.” “Filmmaking is not a job but a social responsibility for me.”

These quotes reflect his commitment to authenticity, place, emotional truth, and responsibility in storytelling.

Legacy & Influence

• With Lion, Davis announced himself on the global stage. The film’s critical and awards success (six Oscar nominations) established him as a director capable of bringing local stories into universal resonance.

• His crossover from commercials and TV into acclaimed feature work is a model for directors balancing art and commerce.

• He demonstrates how visual sensitivity, deep research, and emotional ambition can elevate biographical or spiritual narratives.

• As he takes greater control (writing, producing) in films like Foe, he increasingly shapes not just direction but the storytelling itself, pointing toward a more auteur approach.

• His collaborations with cinematographers, writers, and producers show the power of creative teams in modern filmmaking.