Monash alumna wins Oscar

March 2008

Monash University proudly congratulates alumna and film producer Eva Orner (BA(Hons) 1993), who last week won an Academy Award for ‘Best Documentary Feature’.

Ms Orner was the only Australian to receive an Oscar at the 80th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood. Research has shown that it is likely she is also the first Monash graduate to win the prestigious award.

Ms Orner received the award for producing the documentary Taxi to the Dark Side and was very pleased with the result.

“I’m incredibly proud and honoured to be here as only one of two Australians nominated this year,” she said, referring to renowned Australian actress Cate Blanchett.

Taxi to the Dark Side centres on the murder of an innocent taxi driver at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. The documentary exposes the Bush Administration’s flawed policy of detention and interrogation. Directed by Alex Gibney, the film triumphed over other popular nominations in the ‘Best Documentary Feature’ category including Sicko by previous Oscar winner Michael Moore.

“I’d like to thank Alex Gibney for taking such a chance and being so brave to make this film at a time when people said this movie should not be made,” said Ms Orner backstage.

This is not the first time Ms Orner has been recognised for her film-making talents. In 1995, she and Sarah Barton (who also studied at Monash) won an Australian Film Industry (AFI) award and a Logie for their film Untold Desires, a documentary on sexuality and disability.