Paulus Henrique Benedictus "Paul" Cox (16 April 1940 – 18 June 2016) was a filmmaker born in the Netherlands who became a prominent figure in the Australian film community. Over a long career he made numerous feature films and documentaries and was frequently described as one of Australia’s most prolific auteur directors.
Biography
Cox was born in Venlo, in the province of Limburg, in the Netherlands, on 16 April 1940. He later emigrated to Australia and established his career there, dividing his time between narrative features and personal film essays. He died on 18 June 2016.
Major works
In 1998 Cox published his memoir, Reflections: An Autobiographical Journey, recounting his life and work. One of his later projects, the 2005 film essay The Remarkable Mr. Kaye, is a personal profile of his friend and frequent collaborator, actor Norman Kaye, who appears in earlier Cox films including Lonely Hearts and Man of Flowers.
Recognition and roles
- Cox received recognition within Australian film circles for his distinctive, auteur-driven approach to filmmaking.
- In 2006 he accepted the role of Patron of the Byron Bay Film Festival, supporting independent and art-house cinema.