Who is Barefoot?

Brendan’s first ventures began with photography and music videos, but he's now recognised as one of Australia's most versatile, critically-acclaimed and prolific young directors. After working his way up through the factual, documentary and TV commercial mediums over the last fifteen years, he's since directed Live International Festival Shows and in 2011, Brendan's debut feature drama “Mad Bastards” was released nationally and internationally.

Brendan's strength is creative collaboration and his regular collaborations with A-LIST Australian artists include Russell Crowe, Kev Carmody, Kasey Chambers, Alex Lloyd, Sarah Blasko, Andrew Denton and Judith Lucy.

Brendan’s most notable and long-term creative relationship is with The Pigram Brothers from Broome, WA - a world-class Indigenous roots-music act known for their distinctly Kimberley sound. The Pigram Brothers have collaborated with Brendan for over a decade on Award-Winning short films, docos, live shows and most recently the feature "Mad Bastards".

“Mad Bastards” was released in Australia by Transmission/Paramount and  Internationally by EOne Films (Toronto). The film is a raw look at the pathway to becoming a man, set amongst the vast and wild lands of remote North Western Australia.

"Mad Bastards" was selected for the 2011 World Cinema Competition at Sundance Film Festival, where it was snapped up for North American distribution by Indie giant IFC Films. "Mad Bastards" has since screened at many international festivals including Karlovy Vary, Shanghai, Hawaii, Galway, Haifa, Milan and Minneapolis.

Since release, "Mad Bastards" has gone on to win the Deadly Award for “Film Of The Year”, the Independent Spirit Award at the IF Awards and received 5 Australian Academy Award nominations (The AACTAs) including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay; as well as a Best Director nomination at the Australian Film Critics Circle Awards.

You can pick up a DVD of the film at your local JB HI FI.  The soundtrack and film are also available on iTunes.