Australian director Kate Woods recently wrapped work on The Good Lord Bird, directing Ethan Hawke, who created, wrote, and starred in the project. The series, which is based on James McBride’s National Book Award-winning novel of the same name, will premiere as a limited run series in Oct. 2020. Woods’ episode airs Nov. 8.

2020 has already seen the debuts of two other outings directed by Woods: the Netflix original series Messiah (Woods helmed four of the 10 episodes) and the ninth episode of Home Before Dark for Apple+.

Her previous television directing credits include: Four of six episodes of Fighting Season for Foxtel and SkyVision U.K. (now nominated for a 2019 AACTA Award for best miniseries); six episodes of the multi-award-winning Changi; three episodes of the Logie Award-nominated The Farm; and four episodes of Simone de Beauvoir’s Babies, which won Best Mini-Series at the ATOM Film and Television Awards.

Since 2005 Woods has primarily worked in the United States, contributing to established titles such as: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Law and Order; NCIS LA; House MD; Suits; Lie to Me; Nashville; Once Upon a Time; Revenge; Bones; Crossing Jordan; Shark; SVU; Private Practice; Past Life; Underground; Blindspot; Castle; The Magician; Hand of God; Unsolved; and Rizzoli and Isles.

In Australia, Woods enjoys a long association with ABC TV drama. Her episodes of GP, Phoenix, and Janus were nominated for numerous AFI Awards including Best Director. The NHK co-production Escape From Jupiter won the Children’s Audience Vote for Best Children’s Television Drama at the ATOM Film & Television Awards. Corelli received a BANFF International Award for Best Episode in a Television Series. Adding to the long list are Police Rescue, Heartland; Mercury; Raw FM; Wildside; Something in the Air; MDA; All Saints; City Homicide; the telemovie Blackjack and Jim Henson’s sci-fi series Farscape.

In 2008 Woods received the Australian Directors’ Guild Michael Carson Award for Excellence in Television Drama Direction.

Woods’ first feature film Looking for Alibrandi, which has been claimed as an Australian Classic film, celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, with widespread media coverage reconnecting cast with fans across the world via Zoom interviews and fan festivities during Covid-19. The widely-loved film had a successful festival run worldwide, winning Best Film, Best Actress, and Best Editing at the AFI Awards and Best Film at the IF Awards. It gathered multiple prestigious nominations including the Film Critics Circle of Australia awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Editing, plus the Best Director at the Variety Club of Australia Awards.

Woods is represented by CAA in the U.S. and HLA Management in Australia

Over the years, Woods has gathered numerous awards for directing across television and film. Additionally, her often work created the space for her collaborators to shine too, and gain equal recognition.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

2008: AUSTRALIA DIRECTORS GUILD AWARDS

Won:  Michael Carson Award for Excellence In Television Drama Direction

THE FARM (Three-part Miniseries)

2002: TV WEEK LOGIE AWARDS

Nominated: Most outstanding Miniseries / Telemovie

2001: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Nominated:  Best Actress in a telefeature/Mini-Series
CHANGI (Six-part Miniseries)

2001: US INTERNATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL

Won:  Gold Camera Award

2001: NEW YORK FESTIVALS

Won: World Silver for Best-Mini Series

2001: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Nominated:  Best Telefeature or Mini Series
Nominated:  Best Actor in Telefeature or Mini-Series
Nominated:  Best Screenplay in a TV Drama

2002: TV WEEK LOGIE AWARDS

Won:  Most Outstanding Mini-Series/ Telemovie
Nominated:  Most Outstanding Actor
Nominated:  Most Outstanding Actor (Second Nomination).
LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI (Feature Film)

2001: URBAN CINEFILE HOMORS LIST

Won:  Outstanding Achievement as Director

2000: AUSTRALIAN FILM AWARDS

Won: Best Film
Won: Best Adapted Screenplay
Won: Best Actress in a Lead Role
Won: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Won: Best Editing
Nominated: Best Achievement in Direction
Nominated: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (second nomination)
Nominated: Best Achievement in Cinematography
Nominated: Best Achievement in Production Design

2000: FILM CRITICS CIRCLE OF AUSTRALIA

Won: Best Supporting Actress
Won: Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominated: Best Film
Nominated: Best Director
Nominated: Best Actress
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor
Nominated: Best Supporting Actress (second nomination)
Nominated: Best Editing

2000: IF AWARDS 2000

Nominated:  Best Film
Nominated:  Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominated:  Best Actress
Nominated:  Best Cinematography
Nominated:  Best Music

2000: VARIETY CLUB OF AUSTRALIA AWARDS

Nominated:  Heart Award for Direction
SIMONE de BEAUVOIR’S BABIES (Four-part Miniseries)

1997: BANFF INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION FESTIVAL

Nominated:  Best Mini-Series

1997: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Won:  Most Outstanding Mini-Series
Won:  Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama
Won:  Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama
Nominated:  Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama (second nomination)
Nominated:  Best Screenplay in a Television Drama

1997: ATOM FILM AND TELEVISION

Won: Best Mini-Series
SPOONS (Corelli – Season 1 Episode 6)

1996: BANFF INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION FESTIVAL

Nominated:  Best Episode in a Continuing Series
FIT TO PLEAD (Janus – Season 2 Episode 9)

1995 HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS

Won: Human Rights Award
WITHOUT CONSENT (Janus – Season 1 Episode 6)

1995: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Nominated: Best Episode in a Television Drama
NOT ON THE MERITS (Janus – Season 1 Episode 2)

1995 AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Nominated:  Best Episode in a Television Drama Series
Nominated:  Best Actress in a Television Drama Series
Nominated:  Best Screenplay in a Television Drama Series
DECOY (Escape From Jupiter – Season 1 Episode 11)

1994: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Nominated:  Best Children’s Television Drama
FITNESS TEST (Escape From Jupiter – Season 1 Episode 8)

1994: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Nominated:  Best Children’s Television Drama
UNDER SIEGE (Phoenix – Season 2 Episode 11)

1993: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Won:  Best Episode in a Television Drama Series
Nominated:  Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama Series
FOND MEMORIES (Phoenix – Season 1 Episode 8)

1992: AUSTRALIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARDS

Nominated:  Best Episode in a Television Drama Series
Nominated:  Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama Series
Nominated:  Best Screenplay in a Television Drama Series
Nominated:  Best Actress in a Television Drama Series