James Ricketson
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James Ricketson | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Staniforth Ricketson[1] |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | Australian Film and Television School |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Notable credits |
|
| Opponent | Cambodian Children's Fund |
| Criminal charge | Espionage |
| Criminal penalty | Six years in custody (sentenced under Cambodian law) |
| Criminal status | Pardoned |
| Relatives | Staniforth Ricketson (grandfather)[2] |
| Awards |
|
James Staniforth Ricketson is an Australian film director, known for the feature film Blackfellas. He became more widely known when he was charged with espionage for flying a drone in Cambodia in 2017.
Film career[edit]
Ricketson studied at the Australian Film and Television School and has made a number of features and documentaries.[3]
In 1973 Ricketson filmed and helped to organise Philippe Petit's high-wire walk between the two north pylons of Sydney Harbour Bridge. A short film of the walk was released on DVD with Man On Wire, the Academy Award-winning documentary on Petit's World Trade Center Twin Towers walk.[4]
Ricketson directed the feature films Third Person Plural (1978), Candy Regentag (1989), Blackfellas (1994). His documentaries include Reflections (1973), Roslyn and Blagica Everyone Needs a Friend (1979), Born in Soweto (1994), Sleeping with Cambodia (1997), Backpacking Australia (2001), and Viva (2004).[citation needed]
In 1981 he became one of the founding members of the Australian Directors Guild.[5] In the same year he directed one of the four episodes of the award-winning Australian miniseries Women of the Sun. In July 2012 it was announced he was suing Screen Australia.[6]
Trouble in Cambodia[edit]
In 2014 Ricketson was fined six-million Cambodian riel (A$1,500) and given a suspended two-year prison sentence by a Phnom Penh court for threatening to broadcast accusations that a local branch of the Brisbane-based Citipointe Church sold children.[7][8]
In June 2017, he was arrested while flying a drone at a Cambodia National Rescue Party rally in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and charged with espionage, a charge he denies.[9] He was held in Prey Sar prison and his trial began in a Phnom Penh court on 16 August 2018, with character testimony from Australian film director Peter Weir.[10][11] On 31 August he was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison.[12] It was announced on 21 September 2018 that Cambodian authorities had pardoned Ricketson for the offence.[13]
Selected filmography[edit]
- Third Person Plural (1978)
- Candy Regentag (1989)
- Blackfellas (1994)
Awards[edit]
- AACTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Blackfellas (1994)
- AACTA Award for Best Film, Reflections (1973)
- Alan Stout Award for Best Short Film, Reflections (1973)
Personal life[edit]
Ricketson is the grandson of stockbroker Staniforth Ricketson.[2] He has a son, Jesse, and is a surrogate father to Roxanne Holmes, whom he met "while researching a film project about street kids" in the 1980s.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ Chheng, Niem (24 September 2018). "Ricketson family express 'eternal gratitude' for filmmaker's pardon". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ a b "The scarlet man". The Saturday Paper. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ David Stratton, The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry, Pan MacMillan, 1990 p136
- ^ "ABC OPEN: Man on a Sydney wire || From Project: 500 Words: I Was There". open.abc.net.au. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "History of the ADG - Part 1". Screen Director. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Film-maker James Ricketson takes legal action against Screen Australia - Mumbrella". Mumbrella. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Ratana, Uong (3 April 2014). "Filmmaker 'guilty' in conflict with church". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Fact Sheet: James Ricketson and CCF - the facts". Cambodian Children's Fund. 27 September 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Australian film-maker charged with espionage in Cambodia". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 10 June 2017. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ Handley, Erin (16 July 2018). "James Ricketson secures a trial delay until after Cambodian election". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
- ^ Blomberg, Matt (17 August 2018). "Cambodian judges question accused spy James Ricketson's links to Australian Government". ABC News. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Handley, Erin (31 August 2018). "Australian James Ricketson found guilty of espionage in Cambodia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ Blomberg, Matt (21 September 2018). "James Ricketson: Cambodia pardons Australian filmmaker jailed for espionage". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "Fighting for a father's freedom". ABC News. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
