Samantha Rebillet was an Australian film director, actress, screenwriter, producer, singer and songwriter. She has had guest roles in various Australian television series and roles in several films. Rebillet has written, directed and produced several films and documentaries including the 2004 documentary Butterfly Man which won a Silver Cub Award at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam.
Early life and education
Rebillet was born in Paris, France, but moved to Australia with her family at an early age. She was fluent in French, Spanish and English. Rebillet attended SCEGGS Darlinghurst, an independent high school in Sydney. She grew up in the movie making world, accompanying her father, Chris Maudson and adopted father Richard Brennan around film sets. She completed a Bachelor of Drama at the University of New South Wales in 1998 and did further studies, obtaining two master's degrees - a masters in Media Arts and Production at the University of Technology, Sydney in 2002, and a masters in Directing Drama at the Australian Film Television and Radio School in 2006. She is currently on her way to obtaining a Doctorate of Creative Arts at the UTS
Career
Rebillet first appeared on screen in the seminal Australian film Newsfront, and in Going Down in 1983. Rebillet went on to gain credits in several other features including Heatwave, Così and I Can't Get Started, and was cast in international commercials with Sega, AT&T and Kraft. Other early guest roles included appearances in several Australian television series Water Rats, Murder Call and All Saints. Despite years as an actor, Rebillet always wanted to be a director and eventually, in her twenties, got behind the camera by working as a director's assistant to Mark Joffe and Alex Proyas. Since graduating from the Australian Film Television and Radio School in 2006, Rebillet has written and directed prize winning short films and documentaries, alongside TV commercials, corporate videos and music clips. Her documentary 'Butterfly Man' has picked up major awards both in Australia and abroad, including the Silver Cub Award at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam, while her short 'All Shook Up' was a finalist in the 2003 TropfestShort Film Festival. Her drama films have featured some Australian actors such as Mia Wasikowska and Maeve Dermody. Rebillet was chosen as the Australian representative at the Artist Residency 5Sur5 in Belgium, and her work has screened regularly on television in Australia, International Broadcast and Qantas Inflight. Rebillet has taught film studies at Macquarie University, COFA/UNSW, Metro Screen and NIDA and is currently a part-time lecturer and Doctorate candidate at the University of Technology, Sydney. Rebillet is currently developing the Kickstarter-funded feature-length film, The Last Goodbye as a part of her study. She also formed part of the electronic jazz pop outfit The Freaks in Love with her husband Ilan Kidron of the Potbelleez.
Style and process
Rebillets's approach to filmmaking is influenced by the handheld and improvisational approach preferred by filmmakers such as Darren Aronofsky, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Gus Van Sant. According to an interview with Filmink in February 2014, this is still a 'developing style'. Using this improvisational approach for her filmThe Last Goodbye, Rebillet wrote the script in 'broad brushstrokes', allowing for the finer details to be further developed during filming itself.
Personal life
Rebillet was married to Ilan Kidron from the Australian electro-house and dance music group, Potbelleez. She has two children, Remi and Gabe. In 2010 she suffered from a life-threatening brain tumor, but recovered. Rebillet was an active supporter for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation in Australia and helped to organize the Wayside Chapel's Art To Heart charity fundraiser.
