# Michael James Rowland

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Australian film director (born 1964)

**Michael James Rowland** (born 1964) is an Australian [graphic designer](/source/Graphic_design), writer and [film director](/source/Film_director). As a designer, he was art director with the [Adelaide Festival of Arts](/source/Adelaide_Festival_of_Arts) from 1987 to 1994. He wrote a series of [graphic novellas](/source/Graphic_novel) in the 1990s while studying filmmaking and making [short films](/source/Short_film). He became known for his debut feature film, *[Lucky Miles](/source/Lucky_Miles)* (2007), which he directed and co-wrote.

## Early years

Michael James Rowland was born in 1964.[1] He studied graphic design at the [North Adelaide School of Arts](/source/North_Adelaide_School_of_Arts) in [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide), South Australia.[2]

## 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](/source/Adelaide_Festival_of_Arts)[2] from 1987 until 1994.[1]

### Publishing

Rowland established the [graphic novella](/source/Graphic_novel) 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.[3][4]

### Filmmaking

In 1994, Rowland relocated to [Sydney](/source/Sydney) to study at the [Australian Film, Television and Radio School](/source/Australian_Film%2C_Television_and_Radio_School) (AFTRS), graduating in 1997.[1] While a student there, he wrote the short films *The Existentialist Cowboy's Last Stand* (1995) and *Flying Over Mother* (1996).[2] *Flying Over Mother* was screened at international film festivals and met with acclaim.[1]

Rowland has written and directed short films, documentaries and commercials.[1] He made a short film adaptation of one of his graphic novellas, *The Existentialist Cowboys Last Stand*, in 1995.[1]

Rowland's first feature film as director, *[Lucky Miles](/source/Lucky_Miles)* (2007),[1] was co-written with Helen Barnes.[2] The film was chosen to be the opening night film of the [2007 Adelaide Film Festival](/source/2007_Adelaide_Film_Festival),[5] and had its international premiere at the [Karlovy Vary International Film Festival](/source/Karlovy_Vary_International_Film_Festival),[1] where it won the special jury prize.[6] In 2008 it was programmed by ABC1 at 8:30 pm on a Sunday during the [Australia Day](/source/Australia_Day) long-weekend holiday.

In 2008, Rowland co-wrote and directed the one-hour [ABC](/source/ABC_Television_(Australian_TV_network)), [RTÉ](/source/RT%C3%89) and [BBC](/source/BBC) drama *[The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce](/source/The_Last_Confession_of_Alexander_Pearce)*. Set in 1824 [Van Diemen's Land](/source/Van_Diemen's_Land), *The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce* tells the true story of an escape from the notorious British prison [Sarah Island](/source/Sarah_Island_(Tasmania)) by eight convicts. It was co-written and produced by [Nial Fulton](/source/Nial_Fulton).[7] For his work, Rowland was nominated in the Best Telemovie Director category at the 2009 [Australian Directors Guild Awards](/source/Australian_Directors_Guild_Awards).[8]

During 2010 and 2011, Rowland directed eight episodes of the series *[My Place](/source/My_Place_(TV_series))*, produced by [Penny Chapman](/source/Penny_Chapman).[9]

In 2011 he directed several episodes of Series 2 of the ballet teen-drama *[Dance Academy](/source/Dance_Academy)*, produced by Werner Film Productions for ABC,[10] and in the second half of the year directed episodes 3, 4 and 5 of the award-winning[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] Foxtel drama *[Tangle](/source/Tangle_(TV_series))*.[11][12]

## 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.[13]

*The Existentialist Cowboy's Last Stand* won a [Silver Hugo](/source/Silver_Hugo) at the [Chicago Film Festival](/source/Chicago_Film_Festival).[1][*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] *Flying Over Mother* earned a nomination at the [1997 Australian Film Institute Awards](/source/1997_Australian_Film_Institute_Awards) in the Animal Logic Award for Best Short Fiction Film.[14]

In 2007, *Lucky Miles* won the Special Jury Prize at the [Karlovy Vary International Film Festival](/source/Karlovy_Vary_International_Film_Festival)[6] and the audience award for Best Film at the 2007 [Sydney Film Festival](/source/Sydney_Film_Festival).[15] Rowland and Helen Barnes were nominated for Best Screenplay at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for the film.[2]

*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](/source/Rose_D'Or) awards in Switzerland,[16] and Best Documentary at the [Inside Film Awards](/source/Inside_Film_Awards).[17] Rowland was a finalist at the [ADG Awards](/source/ADG_Awards) for the film.[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-kviff_1-8) ["Lucky Miles"](https://www.kviff.com/en/programme/film/11/3580-lucky-miles). *[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival](/source/Karlovy_Vary_International_Film_Festival)* (in Czech). Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-apsa_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-apsa_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-apsa_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-apsa_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-apsa_2-4) ["Michael James Rowland"](https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/apsa-academy-members/michael-james-rowland). *Asia Pacific Screen Awards*. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["inauthor:"Michael James Rowland""](https://www.google.com.au/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Michael+James+Rowland%22). *Google Search*. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Rowland, Michael James (2002). [*The Existential Cowboy's Last Stand*](https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Existential_Cowboy_s_Last_Stand.html?id=BG5wzwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y). Cowboy Books. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["More Please: Report on the 3rd Biennial Adelaide Film Festival – Senses of Cinema"](https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2007/festival-reports/adelaide-ff-2007/). *Senses of Cinema – Established in Melbourne (Australia) in 1999*. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rigg2007_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rigg2007_6-1) Rigg, Julie (12 July 2007). ["Interview with Michael James Rowland, writer-director: Lucky Miles"](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radionational/archived/movietime/interview-with-michael-james-rowland-writer/3235830). *ABC Radio National*. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["NEWS FEATURE: Writing the Last Confession"](https://if.com.au/news-feature-writing-the-last-confession/). *IF Magazine*. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-adg_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-adg_8-1) ["ADG announces awards finalists"](https://if.com.au/adg-announces-awards-finalists-2/). *IF Magazine*. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["My Place series 2 (2011)"](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/my-place-series-2-2011/29308). *Screen Australia*. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Dance Academy Season 2"](https://www.wernerfilmproductions.com.au/projects/dance-academy-season-2). *Werner Film Productions*. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["TV Review: Tangle, S3E4"](http://www.filmblerg.com/2012/04/13/tv-review-tangle-s3e4/). *Film Blerg*. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Australian Television: Tangle: episode guide: series 3"](http://www.australiantelevision.net/tangle/series3.html). *australiantelevision.net*. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["44th AADC Annual Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250311055543/https://cdn.aadc.com.au/downloads/AADC-Award-Books/AADC_Awards_Book_2021_web.pdf) (PDF). AADC. 2021. Archived from [the original](https://cdn.aadc.com.au/downloads/AADC-Award-Books/AADC_Awards_Book_2021_web.pdf) (PDF) on 11 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["AFI Past Winners - 1997 Winners & Nominees"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150104053151/http://aacta.org/winners-nominees/1990-1999/1997.aspx). *AFI-AACTA*. Archived from [the original](http://www.aacta.org/winners-nominees/1990-1999/1997.aspx) on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Lucky Miles wins Audience Award for Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival"](https://if.com.au/lucky-miles-wins-audience-award-for-best-film-at-the-sydney-film-festival/). *IF Magazine*. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Hind, Morgan (11 June 2010). ["Australians nominated at Rose d'Or Festival"](https://if.com.au/australians-nominated-at-rose-dor-festival/). *IF Magazine*. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["2009 Inside Film award winners"](https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/2009-inside-film-award-winners-20091119-gdtt2z.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2026.

## External links

- [Michael James Rowland](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746730/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International VIAF National Czech Republic

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michael James Rowland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_James_Rowland) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_James_Rowland?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.