{{short description|Australian film director (born 1964)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2019}} '''Michael James Rowland''' (born 1964) is an Australian [[graphic design]]er, writer and [[film director]]. As a designer, he was art director with the [[Adelaide Festival of Arts]] from 1987 to 1994. He wrote a series of [[graphic novel]]las in the 1990s while studying filmmaking and making [[short film]]s. He became known for his debut feature film, ''[[Lucky Miles]]'' (2007), which he directed and co-wrote.
== Early years == Michael James Rowland was born in 1964.<ref name=kviff>{{cite web | title=Lucky Miles | website=[[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]] | url=https://www.kviff.com/en/programme/film/11/3580-lucky-miles | language=cs | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> He studied graphic design at the [[North Adelaide School of Arts]] in [[Adelaide]], South Australia.<ref name=apsa>{{cite web | title=Michael James Rowland | website=Asia Pacific Screen Awards | date=25 August 2017 | url=https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/apsa-academy-members/michael-james-rowland | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref>
==Career== ===Graphic design=== Rowland started his early working life as a designer and illustrator specialising in the arts. He was art director with the [[Adelaide Festival of Arts]]<ref name=apsa/> from 1987 until 1994.<ref name=kviff/>
=== Publishing === Rowland established the [[graphic novel]]la imprint Cowboy Books, publishing titles such as ''Ten Drawings of the Jungle'', ''The Existentialist Cowboys Last Stand'' and ''Life Advice for High-Plains Drifters'' in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web | title=inauthor:"Michael James Rowland" | website=Google Search | url=https://www.google.com.au/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Michael+James+Rowland%22 | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Rowland | first=Michael James | title=The Existential Cowboy's Last Stand | publisher=Cowboy Books | date=2002 | url=https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Existential_Cowboy_s_Last_Stand.html?id=BG5wzwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y | access-date=2 March 2026 | page=}}</ref>
=== Filmmaking=== In 1994, Rowland relocated to [[Sydney]] to study at the [[Australian Film, Television and Radio School]] (AFTRS), graduating in 1997.<ref name=kviff/> While a student there, he wrote the short films ''The Existentialist Cowboy's Last Stand'' (1995) and ''Flying Over Mother'' (1996).<ref name=apsa/> ''Flying Over Mother'' was screened at international film festivals and met with acclaim.<ref name=kviff/>
Rowland has written and directed short films, documentaries and commercials.<ref name=kviff/> He made a short film adaptation of one of his graphic novellas, ''The Existentialist Cowboys Last Stand'', in 1995.<ref name=kviff/>
Rowland's first feature film as director, ''[[Lucky Miles]]'' (2007),<ref name=kviff/> was co-written with Helen Barnes.<ref name=apsa/> The film was chosen to be the opening night film of the [[2007 Adelaide Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web | title=More Please: Report on the 3rd Biennial Adelaide Film Festival – Senses of Cinema | website=Senses of Cinema – Established in Melbourne (Australia) in 1999 | date=27 August 2007 | url=https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2007/festival-reports/adelaide-ff-2007/ | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> and had its international premiere at the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]],<ref name=kviff/> where it won the special jury prize.<ref name=rigg2007>{{cite web | last=Rigg | first=Julie | title=Interview with Michael James Rowland, writer-director: Lucky Miles | website=ABC Radio National | date=12 July 2007 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radionational/archived/movietime/interview-with-michael-james-rowland-writer/3235830 | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> In 2008 it was programmed by ABC1 at 8:30 pm on a Sunday during the [[Australia Day]] long-weekend holiday.
In 2008, Rowland co-wrote and directed the one-hour [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC]], [[RTÉ]] and [[BBC]] drama ''[[The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce]]''. Set in 1824 [[Van Diemen's Land]], ''The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce'' tells the true story of an escape from the notorious British prison [[Sarah Island (Tasmania)|Sarah Island]] by eight convicts. It was co-written and produced by [[Nial Fulton]].<ref>{{cite web | title=NEWS FEATURE: Writing the Last Confession | website=IF Magazine | date=20 January 2009 | url=https://if.com.au/news-feature-writing-the-last-confession/ | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> For his work, Rowland was nominated in the Best Telemovie Director category at the 2009 [[Australian Directors Guild Awards]].<ref name=adg/>
During 2010 and 2011, Rowland directed eight episodes of the series ''[[My Place (TV series)|My Place]]'', produced by [[Penny Chapman]].<ref>{{cite web | title=My Place series 2 (2011) | website=Screen Australia | url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/my-place-series-2-2011/29308 | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref>
In 2011 he directed several episodes of Series 2 of the ballet teen-drama ''[[Dance Academy]]'', produced by Werner Film Productions for ABC,<ref>{{cite web | title=Dance Academy Season 2 | website=Werner Film Productions | url=https://www.wernerfilmproductions.com.au/projects/dance-academy-season-2 | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> and in the second half of the year directed episodes 3, 4 and 5 of the award-winning{{clarify|date=March 2026}} Foxtel drama ''[[Tangle (TV series)|Tangle]]''.<ref>{{cite web | title=TV Review: Tangle, S3E4 | website=Film Blerg | date=13 April 2012 | url=http://www.filmblerg.com/2012/04/13/tv-review-tangle-s3e4/ | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Australian Television: Tangle: episode guide: series 3 | website=australiantelevision.net | date=30 October 1998 | url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/tangle/series3.html | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref>
==Recognition and awards== Rowland won the Master's Chair award from the Adelaide Advertising & Design Club in 1992 for his work in advertising "Something On Saturday" for the CTR Trust at the Adelaide Festival.<ref>{{cite web | title=44th AADC Annual Awards| date=2021 | publisher=AADC | url=https://cdn.aadc.com.au/downloads/AADC-Award-Books/AADC_Awards_Book_2021_web.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250311055543/https://cdn.aadc.com.au/downloads/AADC-Award-Books/AADC_Awards_Book_2021_web.pdf | archive-date=11 March 2025 | url-status=dead | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref>
''The Existentialist Cowboy's Last Stand'' won a [[Silver Hugo]] at the [[Chicago Film Festival]].<ref name=kviff/>{{when|date=March 2026}} ''Flying Over Mother'' earned a nomination at the [[1997 Australian Film Institute Awards]] in the Animal Logic Award for Best Short Fiction Film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aacta.org/winners-nominees/1990-1999/1997.aspx |title=AFI Past Winners - 1997 Winners & Nominees |work=AFI-AACTA |accessdate=24 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104053151/http://aacta.org/winners-nominees/1990-1999/1997.aspx |archivedate=4 January 2015 }}</ref>
In 2007, ''Lucky Miles'' won the Special Jury Prize at the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]]<ref name=rigg2007/> and the audience award for Best Film at the 2007 [[Sydney Film Festival]].<ref >{{cite web | title=Lucky Miles wins Audience Award for Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival | website=IF Magazine | date=1 June 2007 | url=https://if.com.au/lucky-miles-wins-audience-award-for-best-film-at-the-sydney-film-festival/ | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> Rowland and Helen Barnes were nominated for Best Screenplay at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for the film.<ref name=apsa/>
''The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce'' drew TV industry nominations and wins in various award categories in both Europe and Australia. It was nominated for Best Drama at the 2010 [[Rose D'Or]] awards in Switzerland,<ref>{{cite web | last=Hind | first=Morgan | title=Australians nominated at Rose d'Or Festival | website=IF Magazine | date=11 June 2010 | url=https://if.com.au/australians-nominated-at-rose-dor-festival/ | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> and Best Documentary at the [[Inside Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web | title=2009 Inside Film award winners | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=19 November 2009 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/2009-inside-film-award-winners-20091119-gdtt2z.html | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref> Rowland was a finalist at the [[ADG Awards]] for the film.<ref name=adg>{{cite web | title=ADG announces awards finalists | website=IF Magazine | date=20 August 2009 | url=https://if.com.au/adg-announces-awards-finalists-2/ | access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{imdb name|0746730}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowland, Michael James}} [[Category:Australian film directors]] [[Category:Mass media people from Adelaide]] [[Category:Date of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:Australian Film Television and Radio School alumni]]