Luke Davies

Luke Davies
Luke Davies
	Davies in 2013
Born	1962 (age 61–62)
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Sydney (BA)

Luke Davies (born 1962) is an Australian writer of poetry, novels and screenplays. His best known works are Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction (which was adapted for the screen in 2006) and the screenplay for the film Lion, which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Davies also co-wrote the screenplay for the film News of the World.

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Davies studied Arts at the University of Sydney.^[1]

His first poetry collection Four Plots for Magnets was published in 1982 by S. K. Kelen at Glandular Press. Long out of print, it was republished (with additional poetry and prose) by Pitt Street Poetry in 2013.^[2] He co-wrote the screenplay for the 2006 film Candy with director Neil Armfield, based on his 1997 novel Candy. The film stars Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish as struggling heroin addicts.^[3] Davies himself overcame heroin addiction in 1990.^[1]

Davies' other works include the novels Isabelle the Navigator and God of Speed, and several volumes of poetry – Four Plots for Magnets, Absolute Event Horizon, Running With Light, Totem and Interferon Psalms – as well as the chatbooks The Entire History of Architecture [...] and other love poems (Vagabond Press, 2001)^[4] and The Feral Aphorisms (Vagabond Press, 2011).^[5] Davies wrote the screenplays for Air (a 2009 short film which he also directed),^[6] Life,^[7] Lion,^[8] and the Felix van Groeningen drama Beautiful Boy.^[9] He wrote the screenplay for the 2020 film News of the World, adapted from Paulette Jiles' novel, starring Tom Hanks .^[10]

Davies is also a film critic for The Monthly, and occasional book reviewer and essayist for other magazines and newspapers. In 2010, Davies won the John Curtin Prize for Journalism, at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards,^[11] for his essay The Penalty Is Death,^[12] about the lives inside prison of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, two drug runners on Bali's death row. (They would be executed by firing squad, to great public controversy, in 2015.)^[13]

His children's book, Magpie, was published by ABC Books in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

In May 2017, the ABC Television program Australian Story profiled Davies' life in a two-part episode.^[14]^[15]

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1995: Turnbull Fox Phillips Poetry Prize Shortlisted for Absolute Event Horizon
1998: A Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year
2000: Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, Judith Wright Poetry Prize for Running With Light
2004: The Age Poetry Book of the Year for Totem
2004: Overall Age Book of the Year for Totem
2004: Grace Leven Prize for Poetry for Totem
2004: Philip Hodgins Memorial Medal at the Mildura Writer's Festival^[16]
2006: South Australian Premier's Awards, John Bray Poetry Award for Totem
2006: Awgie Award for Feature Film-Adaptation for Candy shared with Neil Armfield (Won)^[17]
2006: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Screenplay-Adapted for Candy shared with Neil Armfield (Won)^[17]
2010: John Curtin Prize for Journalism at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards for the essay The Penalty Is Death^[11]
2011: Southern California Journalism Awards for the essay The Cisco Kid (Finalist)^[18]
2012: Prime Minister's Literary Awards Poetry Winner for Interferon Psalms^[19]
2016: Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)
2016: Austin Film Festival Audience Award for Marquee feature for Lion (Won)^[17]
2016: WAFCA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominee)^[17]
2016: SLFCA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominee)^[17]
2016: SDFCS Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominee)^[17]
2016: PFCS Award for Best Screenplay Adapted from Other Material for Lion (Nominee)^[17]
2016: Sierra Award for Best Screenplay, Adapted for Lion (Nominee)^[17]
2016: AFCA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominee)^[17]
2016: Capri Adapted Screenplay Award for Lion (Won)^[17]
2016: AWFJ EDA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)
2016: Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards for Breakthrough Screenwriter for Lion (Won)^[20]
2017: Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)^[17]
2017: AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)
2017: USC Scripter Award for Best Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)
2017: Capri International Film Festival Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Won)^[21]
2017: BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Won)
2017: Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)
2017: Online Film & Television Association Film Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for Lion (Nominated)^[17]
2017: AACTA Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Won)^[17]
2017: EDA Awards for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)^[17]
2018: Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards for Best Screenplay for Lion (Nominated)^[17]
2018: Asia-Pacific Film Festival Awards for Best Screenplay for Lion (Won)^[17]
2021: Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for News of the World shared with Paul Greengrass (Nominated)^[17]
2021: National Board Of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for News of the World shared with Paul Greengrass (Won)^[17]
2021: Satellite Awards for Best Screenplay, Adapted for News of the World shared with Paul Greengrass (Nominated)^[17]
2021: Critics Choice Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for News of the World shared with Paul Greengrass (Nominated)^[17]
2021: AARP Movies for Grownups Awards for Best Screenwriter for News of the World shared with Paul Greengrass (Nominated)^[17]
2021: Writers Guild of America Awards for Adapted Screenplay for News of the World shared with Paul Greengrass (Nominated)^[17]

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[1]
Jason Steger, "Love in the time of poetry", The Age, 21 August 2004, Review, p. 3
[2]
"Luke Davies: Four Plots For Magnets". PittStreetPoetry.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
[3]
Bodey, Michael (12 September 2015). "James Dean film a lifeline for Aussie screenwriter Luke Davies". The Australian. News Corp Australia.
[4]
"Vagabond Press: Luke Davies, The Entire History of Architecture and other love poems". Vagabond Press. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
[5]
"Vagabond Press: Luke Davies, The Feral Aphorisms". Vagabond Press. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
[6]
"AIR by Luke Davies - The Masses". Wearethemasses.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[7]
"Life review: 'a fascinating look at James Dean'". The Telegraph. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[8]
"'Lion': Film Review - TIFF 2016". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[9]
Hipes, Patrick (15 March 2017). "Amy Ryan Reunites With Steve Carell For Amazon's 'Beautiful Boy'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[10]
Fleming, Mike Jr. (11 May 2017). "Fox 2000 Wins Tom Hanks-Luke Davies 'News Of The World' Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[11]
"Creative Victoria". archive.creative.vic.gov.au. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2018.^{[dead link‍]}
[12]
"The penalty is death". Themonthly.com.au. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[13]
"The Bali Nine Australian ringleaders". Bbc.com. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[14]
"Candy Man Part 1". Abc.net.au. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[15]
"Candy Man Part 2". Abc.net.au. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[16]
"Mildura Writers' Festival, Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 July 2006". Arts Festival 07 Mildura/Wentworth. Archived from the original on 8 June 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
[17]
"Luke Davies - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
[18]
"52nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards" (PDF). Lapressclub.org.
[19]
Wyndham, Susan (23 July 2012). "There is a god, finds prizewinning poet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[20]
Thorne, Will (7 November 2016). "'Fences,' 'Jackie,' 'La La Land' Among Winners at Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards". Variety.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
[21]
Fleming, Mike Jr. (23 December 2016). "'Lion' Wins Screenplay Prize At Capri Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

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ABC TV Sunday Arts 30 July 2006 Accessed: 16 July 2007
Steger, Jason (2004) "Love in the time of poetry" in The Age 21 August 2007 Accessed: 16 July 2007
Candy Film Review

[steg-1] [1]
Jason Steger, "Love in the time of poetry", The Age, 21 August 2004, Review, p. 3

[Pitt_Street_Poetry-2] [2]
"Luke Davies: Four Plots For Magnets". PittStreetPoetry.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.

[3] [3]
Bodey, Michael (12 September 2015). "James Dean film a lifeline for Aussie screenwriter Luke Davies". The Australian. News Corp Australia.

[Vagabond_Press-4] [4]
"Vagabond Press: Luke Davies, The Entire History of Architecture and other love poems". Vagabond Press. Retrieved 27 September 2016.

[5] [5]
"Vagabond Press: Luke Davies, The Feral Aphorisms". Vagabond Press. Retrieved 27 September 2016.

[6] [6]
"AIR by Luke Davies - The Masses". Wearethemasses.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[7] [7]
"Life review: 'a fascinating look at James Dean'". The Telegraph. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[8] [8]
"'Lion': Film Review - TIFF 2016". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[9] [9]
Hipes, Patrick (15 March 2017). "Amy Ryan Reunites With Steve Carell For Amazon's 'Beautiful Boy'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[10] [10]
Fleming, Mike Jr. (11 May 2017). "Fox 2000 Wins Tom Hanks-Luke Davies 'News Of The World' Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[archive.creative.vic.gov.au-11] [11]
"Creative Victoria". archive.creative.vic.gov.au. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2018.^{[dead link‍]}

[12] [12]
"The penalty is death". Themonthly.com.au. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[13] [13]
"The Bali Nine Australian ringleaders". Bbc.com. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[14] [14]
"Candy Man Part 1". Abc.net.au. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[15] [15]
"Candy Man Part 2". Abc.net.au. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[Hodgin-16] [16]
"Mildura Writers' Festival, Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 July 2006". Arts Festival 07 Mildura/Wentworth. Archived from the original on 8 June 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.

[:0-17] [17]
"Luke Davies - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 19 July 2023.

[18] [18]
"52nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards" (PDF). Lapressclub.org.

[19] [19]
Wyndham, Susan (23 July 2012). "There is a god, finds prizewinning poet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[20] [20]
Thorne, Will (7 November 2016). "'Fences,' 'Jackie,' 'La La Land' Among Winners at Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards". Variety.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

[21] [21]
Fleming, Mike Jr. (23 December 2016). "'Lion' Wins Screenplay Prize At Capri Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 August 2018.

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Luke Davies

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Life and career

Awards and nominations

Bibliography

Notes

References

External links