# Rod Freedman

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{{Short description|Australian documentary filmmaker|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2013}}<!--and looks like a copyvio from the Ronin source I have just added - needs a lot of work.--->
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Rod Freedman''' is an Australian documentary filmmaker.  

==Early life and education ==
Rod Freedman was born in [Botswana](/source/Botswana) and grew up in [Johannesburg](/source/Johannesburg), South Africa.  Freedman's grandparents were all [Jewish Lithuanian](/source/Jewish_Lithuanian) and his parents were born in South Africa. The family migrated to Australia in 1965.

Freedman attended [Vaucluse Boys' High School](/source/Vaucluse_Boys'_High_School) in  [Sydney](/source/Sydney). After completing a Bachelor of Economics at [Sydney University](/source/Sydney_University), Freedman changed tack and studied film and television production techniques. 

== Career==
Freedman joined [Film Australia](/source/Film_Australia) as a production assistant, where he learnt about the [Australian film industry](/source/Australian_film_industry) as he worked on a wide variety of films in various roles. Inspired by the [Challenge for Change](/source/Challenge_for_Change) program at the [National Film Board of Canada](/source/National_Film_Board_of_Canada) which used video as a tool for social change, Freedman helped to start Film Australia's first video production unit.  

He then travelled for five years in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including working as a teacher for two years in Southern Sudan.

Returning to Australia in 1985, Freedman helped form Summer Hill Films, specialising in discussion-starter videos known as [trigger film](/source/trigger_film)s. In 1998, Freedman and his partner Lesley Seebold formed Change Focus Media to produce corporate videos and TV documentaries. 

Freedman's personal film about his Lithuanian great uncle, ''Uncle Chatzkel'' (1999, SBS),<ref>''Australian Jewish News'', 6 November 2009, pp26-27</ref> had two [AFI Award](/source/AACTA) nominations and screened in many [film festival](/source/film_festival)s.<ref name=ronin>{{cite web |title= Rod Freedman |website=[Ronin Films](/source/Ronin_Films) |url=https://www.roninfilms.com.au/person/1605/rod-freedman.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251016163916/https://www.roninfilms.com.au/person/1605/rod-freedman.html |archive-date=16 October 2025 |url-status=live |access-date=15 January 2026}}</ref> ''One Last Chance'' (2000, SBS), about a Lithuanian war criminal, won three awards in the US.

He initiated and produced the [Tudawali Award](/source/Tudawali_Award)-winning series, ''Everyday Brave'' (2002, SBS),<ref>''Everyday Brave Study Guide'', ©ATOM & Film Australia, 2002</ref> working with emerging [Aboriginal](/source/Aboriginal_Australians) directors to tell stories of unknown Aboriginal people who have made a difference to their communities.

Freedman co-produced ''Welcome to the Waks Family'' (2003, SBS) about an [orthodox Jew](/source/orthodox_Jew)ish family with 17 children. After this he produced and directed three series of ''Australian Biography'' (2003–2008, SBS), featuring significant Australians reflecting on their lives. He produced ''Crossing the Line'' (2005, ABC) about two medical students working in a remote Aboriginal community (Best Documentary Social and Political Issues, [ATOM Award](/source/ATOM_Award)s and other awards).

He returned to South Africa in 2004 as producer/director of ''Wrong Side of the Bus'' (2010, ABC), which screened in Australia, USA, Canada, Israel, UK, and South Africa, and won Best African Documentary, International Film Festival South Africa.

Freedman was  producer of the 2014 feature documentary ''[Once My Mother](/source/Once_My_Mother)'', directed by [Sophia Turkiewicz](/source/Sophia_Turkiewicz). [Robert Connolly](/source/Robert_Connolly) was associate producer in Australia. The film won multiple Australian and international awards.<ref name=cfm>{{cite web |title=Home |website=Change Focus Media |url=https://changefocusmedia.com/ |access-date=15 January 2026}}</ref> 

==Production company==
Freedman's partner is Lesley Seebold, and they run Change Focus Media,<ref name=ronin/> established in 1977. It is located in [Balmain](/source/Balmain%2C_New_South_Wales), Sydney.<ref name=cfm/> 
<!----Needs formatting 
== Filmography ==

=== Director===
2012 A Unique Profession (documentary & educational resource)
2009 Wrong Side of the Bus (documentary) 
2008 Looking for a Monster (short) (co-director)
2003-2007 Australian Biography (TV series)
2001 One Last Chance (investigative documentary)
2000 Uncle Chatzkel (documentary)

=== Producer===
2013 Once My Mother (documentary)
2012 A Unique Profession (documentary & educational resource)
2009 Wrong Side of the Bus (documentary)
2008 Looking for a Monster (short)  
2005 Crossing The Line (documentary)
2003 -2007 Australian Biography (TV series)
2003 Everyday Brave Series TV series)
2002 Welcome To The Waks Family (documentary)
2001 One Last Chance (investigative documentary)
2000 Uncle Chatzkel (documentary) ---->

==References==
 {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freedman, Rod}}
Category:Australian documentary filmmakers
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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