Samantha Lang

Some of the world's most original and interesting directors--male or female--seem to emanate from Down Under. Australia has produced such diverse talents as Peter Weir and Gillian Armstrong, Philip Noyce and Jocelyn Morehouse. Add to the list Samantha Lang. Although British-born and raised, Lang has made her adopted homeland her base. Settling with her family in Sydney, she had an eclectic education, spending time in France, Germany and Czechoslovakia before earning her degree in film at Sydney's prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Lang earned attention for her short films, including "God's Bones" (1993) and "Audacious" (1995). Shortly after graduation, she caught the attention of producer-actor Bryan Brown, who tapped her to helm an episode of the Australian TV series "Twisted Tales." Lang continued her ascent (although on the first day of shooting, many crew members mistook her for either a costume mistress or a runner) with her first feature, "The Well" (1997). Adapted by Laura Jones from an Elizabeth Jolley story, the film depicted the growing love relationship between two diverse woman, a city girl and older spinster, in a rural community. Lang's second feature was "The Monkey's Mask" (2000), about a lesbian private investigator hired to find a murderer terrorizing a college campus.