Areas of interest:

DIRECTING
WRITING
EDITING

CREDITS

Tess McArthur-Dowty is a Naarm (Melbourne) based director, writer, and editor. She loves playing with film form and has a passion for making films that deal with social issues, especially relating to women’s experiences. This is reflected in her previous short films which have screened at film festivals globally.

Stitched Together was nominated for Best Film at VCA Film and Television, and was selected for a member's only screening at the Australian Institute of Film. Just that time of the month screened at St Kilda Film Festival, while Vigilance which was nominated for Best Australian Short Director at Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.

A graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2021, Tess brings her storytelling skillset to her commercial work, creating videos for promotion and education. She has also had the opportunity to work across various roles on fiction and non-fiction projects.

Director, Producer, Writer, Editor

Stitched Together - dir. Tess McArthur-Dowty, 2021, short documentary
Nominated Best Film VCA Film and Television, Australians in Film - VCA Showcase Selects, Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, Montreal Independent Film Festival, Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival, Setting Sun Film Festival, Toronto International Women Film Festival, Bass Coast Shorts Official

Just that time of the month - dir. Tess McArthur-Dowty, 2019, short experimental documentary
St Kilda Film Festival, Melbourne Women in Film Festival, Sydney Underground Film Festival, Deep Focus Film Festival

Vigilance - dir. Tess McArthur-Dowty, 2019, short documentary
Nominated Best Australian Director (Short) Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, Little Wing Film Festival

Editor

I Am Daniel - dir. Simon Rose Birriah & Katrina Channells, 2022, short fiction
St Kilda Film Festival, Orion International Film Festival

Bryan Nason: In The Company of Actors - dir. Katrina Channells, 2022, short documentary
Screened at Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Director of Photography

Bound – dir. Emmy Clifton, 2019, short documentary
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival

Second Assistant Director

Snapshot – dir. Becki Bouchier, 2021, short fiction
Austin Film Festival Best Student Short Nominee, Australian Director’s Guild Award Nominee, Australian Writer’s Guild Nominee

Additional Editor

Not To Be - dir. Katrina Channells, 2022, short fiction
Byron Bay International Film Festival, Orion International Film Festival, New York Indie Shorts Awards, Cannes Indie Shorts Awards, Venezia Shorts Italy, Setting Sun Film Festival

Sound Recordist

Cattle Duff - dir. Katrina Channells, 2022, short documentary
Brisbane International Film Festival, Orion International Film Fesival

Hunt – dir. Rachel Tierney, 2019, short documentary
St Kilda Film Festival

Keeper – dir. Emmy Clifton, 2019, short documentary
Setting Sun Film Festival, Melbourne Women in Film Festival

I Love You Too – dir. Chouwa Liang, 2019, short documentary
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival


Post-Production & Marketing Assistant

Speak of Country - dir. Katrina Channells, 2021, VR documentary
Melbourne International Film Festival

Leaving Allen Street – dir. Katrina Channells, 2020, feature documentary
Screened on ABC TV Plus, Melbourne Documentary Film Festival Audience Choice Award Winner

Milly – dir. Katrina Channells, 2021, short fiction
Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival, Melbourne Women in Film Festival