Anthony Theo Maras is an Australian film director, writer and producer born in Adelaide, South Australia.

Biographie

Anthony Maras' most recent film The Palace had its international premiere at the 2011 Telluride Film Festival and won 'Best Short Fiction Film' and 'Best Screenplay in a Short Film' at the 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA Awards).

This marks Maras' third AACTA Award, having won Best Short Fiction Film for his previous film Spike Up (formerly the AFI Awards). Maras was also nominated for the same award for his first film Azadi.

The Palace also won Best Short Film at a number of other film festivals and awards ceremonies including the 2012 Beverly Hills Film Festival (Best Short Film, Best Director), 2011 Sydney Film Festival (Best Short Fiction Film), 2011 Melbourne International Film Festival (Best Australian Short Film), 2012 Flickerfest International Festival of Short Films (Best Australian Short Film), 2011 IF Awards (Rising Talent), 2012 Shorts Film Festival (Best Short Film), 2012 Australian Film Festival (Best Short Film) and the 2011 Adelaide Film Festival (Best Short Film – Audience Award).

Maras graduated from Flinders University in South Australia with a degree in Law and Legal Practice (Honors), before going on to study film production at the University of California.

In 2005, Maras wrote and directed refugee short drama Azadi, which earned numerous accolades on the international festival circuit and has screened on broadcast television, festivals and at human rights events internationally.

In 2007, Maras wrote and direct Spike Up, a crime-drama that premiered to strong reviews in Australia and stars veteran Australian character actor Roy Billing (Rabbit-Proof Fence, The Dish), Marcus Graham (Mulholland Drive, Blue Murder) and Lisa Flanagan (Look Both Ways, Aussie Rules).

Anthony also worked as an associate producer on Last Ride (2009), the debut feature of Palme d'Or winning director Glendyn Ivin and starring Hugo Weaving.

Maras's original family surname was Mamatas. He is a cousin to American author Nick Mamatas and popular Greek folk singer Eleftheria Arvanitaki.