The Better Angels

Michael Cusack 's first major award was an Australian Film Institute Award in 1985 for the short film Waltzing Matilda. Since then Michael has forged a flourishing career as director of a growing number of award winning short films. Michael has received the prestigious Master’s Chair Award from the Adelaide Advertising and Design Club a record six times and received the President’s Award from The Adelaide Art Directors for outstanding achievements in TV/Cinema. In 2002 he was made an Honorary Member of the Australian Cinematographer’s Society in recognition of his contributions to the National Film Industry. In 2006 he was again awarded an AFI for Best Short Animation for his film Gargoyle. He has recently been made a member of the Australian Cinema Pioneers. His film, the highly acclaimed Sleight of Hand picked up thirty six national and international awards and was eligible for consideration in the 2014 Academy Awards. His film After All was in the International Competition in Annecy. Upon completing After All, Michael embarked on a new challenge... making a stop motion comedy film. The result was Meanwhile, at the Abandoned Factory... a spoof on the cliff hanger TV serials and movies of the 30's and 40's. Michael was recently the subject of a major retrospective of his work at the Melbourne International Animation Film Festival. Michael is frequently in demand as a speaker and has been invited onto the judging panels of many major commercial and film festivals. His latest film is the poignantly beautiful, The Better Angels was completed in 2021. Michael is currently working on his next short animation "From This Day Forward."