Mark Joffe

Born: 1956
Where: Polotsk, Russia

Joffe's breakthrough in his adopted Australia was the comedy Spotswood, starring Anthony Hopkins.

The movie, about the human cost of big business, garnered eleven Australian Film Institute award nominatons.

After arriving in Australia from Russia, he was educated in Melbourne, graduating in Sociology from LaTrobe University.

His directing career began at Crawford Productions, a major Australian Television production house when he was 23.

After four years at the helm of a variety of successful TV series he directed the award-winning The Great Bookie Robbery.

His first feature film Grievous Bodily Harm was followed by documentaries, short films and mini-series including The Life in a day of Barry Humphries.

After Spotswood, he directed Cosi, starring Rachel Griffiths, and the lacklustre romantic comedy The Matchmaker.

Recent work includes the Australian box office hit The Man Who Sued God, starring Billy Connolly and Judy Davis.