Dr Brendon Briggs

Biography

Dr Brendon Briggs is a Lecturer in Film and Screen Production and National Co-Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Communications and Media at The University of Notre Dame Australia. He is a filmmaker, educator and researcher whose work focuses on screen production, documentary filmmaking, media ethics and international education.
With more than 25 years of experience working across Australia, East Africa and international contexts, Brendon has produced documentaries and drama projects that explore culture, community, identity and human relationships. His teaching centres on hands-on, student-led drama and documentary productions, helping students develop creative, technical and professional skills through real-world filmmaking projects.
Students he has taught and mentored have won multiple national awards – including significant industry awards from the Australian Screen Editors Guild, the Australian Cinematographers Society and a growing range of national and international film festivals.
His research combines documentary practice, storytelling, media ethics, intercultural learning and higher education. He is particularly interested in the ways film can foster understanding across cultures and communicate stories that matter to individuals and communities.
Above all, Brendon is passionate about supporting students to develop the skills, knowledge and character required for rewarding careers, empowering them to create work that has a positive impact on individuals, communities and the wider world.

Teaching areas

Film and Screen Production
Documentary Filmmaking
Drama Production
Directing for Screen
Drama development and Screenwriting
Documentary development
Cinematography
Editing and Post-Production
Media Ethics and Professional Practice
Intercultural Communication and Production
International Education
Creative Practice

Research Expertise and Supervision

Dr Briggs is interested in how film and storytelling can connect people, communicate complex ideas and contribute positively to communities. His work spans documentary filmmaking, media ethics, intercultural learning and international education, with projects undertaken in Australia and internationally. Through partnerships with industry, community organisations and educational institutions, he creates opportunities for students to participate in meaningful media projects that develop professional skills while addressing real-world issues and experiences.

Documentary Filmmaking and Creative Practice-led Research
Screen Production and Visual Storytelling
Media Ethics and Ethical Storytelling
Cross-Cultural Communication and Storytelling
International Education and Intercultural Learning
Community-Based Media Production
Professional Formation in Media Education
Storytelling, Identity and Human Relationships

Supervision:
He welcomes supervision enquiries in practice-led and traditional research for documentary and/or drama filmmaking, creative practice research, screen production, media ethics, storytelling, intercultural communication and international education.

Book Chapters

Briggs, B. (2019). East African stories of love: Challenging perspectives. In T. A. Hayes, T. Edlmann, & L. Brown (Eds.), Storytelling: Global reflections on narrative (pp. 175–184). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004396401_023

Lisciandro, J. G., Jones, A., Monteith, D., Geerlings, P., Briggs, B., & Bateman, B. (2023). It's the principle that counts: Designing curriculum for diverse enabling student cohorts. In F. F. Padró, N. Shah, M. K. K. S. C. Bagley, & X. Deane (Eds.), Widening participation in higher education (pp. 1–17). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9553-8_10-1

Conference Papers

Briggs, B. (2016). East African Stories of Love: Challenging Cultural Perspectives. Presented at the 9th Storytelling: Global Reflections on Narrative Conference, Mansfield College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Briggs, B. (2014). Romantic Authenticity in Practice: Rwanda Stories of Love. Presented at Creative Practice, Context and Commentary: A Dialogue on Inspirational Production, National Academy of Screen and Sound (NASS) and Zanzibar International Film Festival, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Dr Briggs also participated in the 10th Summer School in Cinema, Human Rights and Advocacy (2015), Huston School of Film & Digital Media, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland. International workshop examining the use of screen media and digital storytelling for human rights advocacy and social change.

Original Creative Works

Dr Briggs has written, directed, produced, filmed and edited documentaries, drama films and community media projects for more than 25 years, with productions filmed across Australia, East Africa and the United Kingdom.

Three productions not listed are currently in varying stages of pre-production, production and post-production with releases planned for 2027 & 2028.

A large number of client projects from his freelance career are not included here, but some principle productions include:

Walking (2026) Documentary, Executive Producer.
The Blue Room (2012) Artist profiling project with The Blue Room Theatre, Co-Writer, Cinematographer and Editor.
Eye of the Storm (2011) Music video for Simon Kelly, Writer, Director, Producer and Editor.
Big Stretch: Jigalong (2010) Documentary exploring a remote Indigenous dance group, Writer and Director.
Telling Indigenous Stories Project (2010) Yirra Yaakin Theatre initiative, Director of Photography, Editor and Media Consultant.
Uneven Ground (2009) 93-minute feature drama, Writer, Director and Producer; screened at multiple Australian and international film festivals.
The Magic Monkeyz (2009) 55-minute documentary following an Indigenous youth circus initiative, Writer, Director, Producer, Director of Photography and Editor.
Good Life (2008) Music video, Director, Producer, Director of Photography and Editor.
Fugue (2008) Drama production, Director of Photography and Co-Editor; screened at multiple Australian and international film festivals.
Oh (2007) Music video, Director, Producer and Director of Photography.
Artists in Arms (2006) Two-part documentary series, Cinematographer.
Lyarn Ngarn (2005) 80-minute documentary filmed across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the United Kingdom; Director of Photography; screened at multiple Australian and international film festivals.
Barazza TV (2004) Four-part television series produced in Zanzibar, Tanzania; Director of Photography.
WAYOut Back (2004) Documentary production, Co-Director, Co-Producer, Co-Cinematographer and Co-Editor.

Awards

Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship (2013-2017) in support of doctoral research at Murdoch University.
Murdoch University PhD Top-Up Award Scholarship (MUREX10) (2013-2017).
Louis St John Johnson Memorial Trust Fund Grant (2008), awarded to support production of the feature film Uneven Ground ($35,000).
WA Health Excellence Award (2015), Program Excellence Award for Promoting Healthy Habits and Preventing Illness and Injury, recognising the Smarter than Smoking Young Directors Festival, for which Brendon served as key coordinator, producer and filmmaking mentor.
Recipient of a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant ($69,000) supporting intercultural learning and international partnerships through the Cambodia Immersion Program.

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