Ian Darling is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, boasting an impressive portfolio of Director and Producer credits, including The Pool (2024),The Final Quarter (2019),The Oasis: Ten Years Later (2019),Paul Kelly - Stories of Me (2012),The Oasis (2008),Suzy & the Simple Man (2016),In the Company of Actors (2007),Alone Across Australia (2004),Woodstock for Capitalists (2001),Polly and Me (2009),and The Soldier (2011).
As an Executive Producer, Darling has contributed to notable projects such as On the Record (2020),The Fourth Estate (2018),2040 (2019),The Bleeding Edge (2018),Unrest (2017),Inventing Tomorrow (2018),and How to Change the World (2015).
Darling is also the Founder of Good Pitch Australia, which has helped create 19 social impact documentaries and outreach campaigns, including The Hunting Ground (2015),That Sugar Film (2014),Gayby Baby (2015),Prison Songs (2015),Frackman (2015),Zach's Ceremony (2016),The Opposition (2016),Whiteley (2017),Ghosthunter (2018),and Blue (2017).
In addition to his filmmaking endeavors, Darling has held various leadership positions, including Chair of The Caledonia Foundation since 2001, Founder (and former Chair) of Documentary Australia Foundation, and Member of the Impact Partners Advisory Board in New York. He has also served as Chair of the Sydney Theatre Company and the STC Foundation from 2006-2010, and as a Director of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
Darling's numerous accolades include the Byron Kennedy Award for innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence at the 2018 AACTA Awards, the AFI Award for Best Direction in a Documentary for The Oasis (2008),and nominations for Australian Directors Guild, AFI/AACTA, and IF awards.
In addition to his filmmaking and leadership achievements, Darling is also a talented photographer, with his photographs being finalists in the National Photographic Portrait Prize, the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, the Sydney Life Photography Prize, and the Head On Portrait Prize.
In 2017, Darling was named Australia's Leading Philanthropist by Philanthropy Australia, and he has received the Creative Partnerships Australia Business Leadership Award. His homeless film project The Oasis (2008) was named one of 'Australia's Top 50 Philanthropic Gifts of All Time.'
In 2018, Darling was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to documentary film production, to the performing arts, education and community engagement, and to social welfare organisations through philanthropic endeavours.
Darling holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from IMD Switzerland and a Bachelor of Applied Arts (BA Acc.) from the Australian National University.
