# Pip Karmel

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Australian filmmaker (born 1963)

Pip Karmel Born Philippa Karmel 1963 (age 62–63) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Occupations Film editor, director, screenwriter Years active 1984–present

**Philippa "Pip" Karmel** (born 1963) is an Australian filmmaker. As a film editor, she has worked exclusively with director [Scott Hicks](/source/Scott_Hicks_(director)) in a [notable collaboration](/source/List_of_film_director_and_editor_collaborations) from 1988 through 2007; their work together includes the 1996 film *[Shine](/source/Shine_(film))*. She has directed and written several films, including *[Me Myself I](/source/Me_Myself_I_(film))* (2000), which was released internationally.

## Early life and education

Philippa "Pip" Karmel was born in 1963 in [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide), [South Australia](/source/South_Australia).[1]

She studied visual arts in Adelaide. She subsequently studied film directing and editing at the [Australian Film Television and Radio School](/source/Australian_Film_Television_and_Radio_School).[1] She interrupted her studies to edit [Scott Hicks](/source/Scott_Hicks_(director))' feature *[Sebastian and the Sparrow](/source/Sebastian_and_the_Sparrow)* (1988), which was her first feature credit as an editor.[2]

Her graduate film was *Sex Rules* (1989), a short film.[3][*[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)*][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*]

## Career

### Television and *Shine*

In the early 1990s Karmel worked primarily as a director and writer. She directed an episode, *The Long Ride*, for the Australian television program *[Under the Skin](/source/Under_the_Skin_(TV_series))*; the episode won the [Australian Film Institute Award for Best Tele-feature](/source/Australian_Film_Institute_Award_for_Best_Telefeature%2C_Mini_Series_or_Short_Run_Series).[3] Hicks persuaded Karmel to return to editing for the film, *[Shine](/source/Shine_(film))*, which Hicks was directing and had co-written.[2] *Shine* (1996) has become Hicks' most recognised film; it is based on the early life of [David Helfgott](/source/David_Helfgott), who became a concert pianist following several years of institutionalization for mental illness. In his *Variety* review, [David Stratton](/source/David_Stratton) wrote, "Securing the musician's cooperation was obviously crucial to Jane Scott's accomplished production, which is also distinguished by [Geoffrey Simpson](/source/Geoffrey_Simpson)'s fine camerawork and Pip Karmel's editing, the latter skillfully shaping a wealth of material into a fast-paced, compelling narrative."[4] Karmel has now edited several additional films with Hicks.

## *Me Myself I*

Karmel worked throughout the 1990s on the film *[Me Myself I](/source/Me_Myself_I_(film))* (2000), which she wrote and directed. Karmel's script explores the choices made by an unmarried woman who has become a successful journalist; in the film, the woman enters an "alternate reality" in which she is married to a former beau and has three children. The film was mainly seen in Australia, but was internationally distributed and widely reviewed.[5][6][7]

## Screenplays

Karmel wrote a screenplay for a film adaptation of [Geraldine Brooks'](/source/Geraldine_Brooks_(writer)) 2001 novel, *[Year of Wonders](/source/Year_of_Wonders)*, a story of a 17th-century plague year in an English village.[8] Karmel was slated to direct the film, but it was still "in development" in 2012.[9]

Karmel and [Vincent Sheehan](/source/Vincent_Sheehan_(producer)) wrote a screenplay for a comedy *What Alice Forgot*, and in 2012 received a grant to support further development of a film.[10]

In August 2020, it was announced that Karmel would be writing the script for a screen adaptation of *The Mothers*, written by Genevieve Gannon.[1]

## Recognition and awards

[Andrew Sarris](/source/Andrew_Sarris) noted in his review of *Me Myself I* in *[The New York Observer](/source/The_New_York_Observer)*, "Ms. Karmel, whether as erstwhile writer, editor, or maker of short films, has earned the right to a long and fruitful directorial career on the strength of *Me Myself I*, one of the most striking feature-film debuts ever".[11]

Karmel's editing of *Shine* (1996) was nominated for the [Academy Award for Best Film Editing](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Film_Editing),[1] the [BAFTA Award for Best Editing](/source/BAFTA_Award_for_Best_Editing), and an [American Cinema Editors Eddie Award](/source/American_Cinema_Editors#Eddie_Awards), and it won the [Australian Film Institute Award for Best Achievement in Editing](/source/Australian_Film_Institute_Award_for_Best_Achievement_in_Editing).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

For *Me Myself I* (2000), Karmel was nominated for the [Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction](/source/Australian_Film_Institute_Award_for_Best_Direction) and for [Best Screenplay](/source/Australian_Film_Institute_Award_for_Best_Screenplay).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Filmography

This filmography is based on the [Internet Movie Database](/source/IMDb), and incorporates referenced additions to that listing.[12]

### Editor

- *Ana Who* (documentary) (Karmel, 1984).

- *[Sebastian and the Sparrow](/source/Sebastian_and_the_Sparrow)* (TV) (Hicks, 1988).

- *[Shine](/source/Shine_(film))* (Hicks, 1996).

- *The Ultimate Athlete* (documentary, Hicks, 1996).[2]

- *[Hearts in Atlantis](/source/Hearts_in_Atlantis_(film))* (Hicks, 2001).

- *[No Reservations](/source/No_Reservations_(film))* (Hicks, 2007).

### Director

- *Ana Who* (documentary) (1984)

- *Sex Rules* (short) (1989). Won the Jury Prize at the [ATOM (Australian Teachers of Media) Awards](/source/ATOM_Award).[3]

- *Fantastic Futures* (short) (1991). Won Gold Award of the [New York Film Festival](/source/New_York_Film_Festival).[3]

- *The Long Ride* (1993) (episode of the television series *[Under the Skin](/source/Under_the_Skin_(TV_series))*, written by [Tony Ayres](/source/Tony_Ayres)).[2][13] Won [Australian Film Institute Award for Best Tele-feature](/source/Australian_Film_Institute_Award_for_Best_Telefeature%2C_Mini_Series_or_Short_Run_Series).[3]

- *[Me Myself I](/source/Me_Myself_I_(film))* (2000). Karmel also wrote the screenplay.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-austlit_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-austlit_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-austlit_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-austlit_1-3) ["Pip Karmel"](https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/OLD?id=A%23G%28&idtype=oldid). *[AustLit](/source/AustLit)*. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Urban_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Urban_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Urban_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Urban_2-3) Urban, Andrew L. ["Pip Karmel, Editor"](http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=97&s=Features). *Urban Cinefile*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sardi_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sardi_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sardi_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Sardi_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Sardi_3-4) [Sardi, Jan](/source/Jan_Sardi); [Hicks, Scott](/source/Scott_Hicks_(director)) (1997). [*Shine: Screenplay*](https://books.google.com/books?id=cRQMov9juNgC&pg=PA164). Grove Press. p. 164. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8021-3508-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8021-3508-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Stratton_4-0)** [Stratton, David](/source/David_Stratton) (21 January 1996). ["Variety Reviews - Shine"](https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117904862?refcatid=31). *Variety*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Ebert, Roger](/source/Roger_Ebert) (21 April 2000). ["Me Myself I"](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20000421/REVIEWS/4210305/1023). *The Chicago Sun Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Holden, Stephen](/source/Stephen_Holden) (7 April 2000). ["Me Myself I (1999) - FILM REVIEW; Oh, It's a Wonderful Life! (If Only She'd Realized It)"](https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9802E3DD133FF934A35757C0A9669C8B63). *The New York Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Critic Reviews for Me Myself I"](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/me-myself-i/critic-reviews). *metacritic.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Rodgers, Jonathan (2006). ["Literati to glitterati"](http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/film/newsinterviews/literati-to-glitterati.aspx). *Time Out Sydney*. Interview with James Bogle, Pip Karmel, and Luke Davies about adapting novels for screenplays.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Year of Wonders (Rumbalara)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121103204010/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/445530/Year-of-Wonders-Rumbalara-/overview). Movies & TV Dept. *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 2012. Archived from [the original](https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/445530/Year-of-Wonders-Rumbalara-/overview) on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Thirteen feature projects to receive development support from Screen Australia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121017010058/http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/Media-Release-documents/2012/mr_120301_dev_approvals.pdf) (PDF). Screen Australia. 1 March 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/Media-Release-documents/2012/mr_120301_dev_approvals.pdf) (PDF) on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sarris_11-0)** [Sarris, Andrew](/source/Andrew_Sarris) (9 April 2000). ["Station Wagon Fender Bender is Rachel Griffiths' Big Break"](https://www.observer.com/node/42805). *The New York Observer*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-imdb_12-0)** [Pip Karmel](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006729/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)). Karmel's work as a first assistant editor on *Call Me Mr. Brown* is not credited at IMDb.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [The Long Ride](https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/37065005) in libraries ([WorldCat](/source/WorldCat) catalog)

## Further reading

- Williams, Phillip (3 February 2007). "[The Peak Experiences of Pip Karmel: Editor/director shines in her latest, 'Hearts in Atlantis'](https://archive.today/20070618104131/http://www.moviemaker.com/editing/article/the_peak_experiences_of_pip_karmel_2464/)", on Moviemaker website

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Netherlands Israel

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