Genevieve Clay-Smith

Writing

Genevieve Clay-Smith

Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Genevieve Clay-Smith stands as a trailblazing filmmaker, renowned for her visionary directorial work that champions inclusivity and diversity within the film industry. With a career marked by innovation and advocacy, Genevieve has solidified her position as one of Australia’s foremost directors, shaping narratives that resonate deeply with audiences worldwide. Her inclusively made debut feature film, Boss Cat, premieres at the Sydney Film Festival in 2026. Genevieve’s films have been showcased at over 200 film festivals world-wide, including Toronto International Film Festival Kids and the United Nations. She has claimed awards at Oscar qualifying festivals, Rhode Island International, Cleveland International, Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia and Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. Genevieve has won over seventy awards for her films, her film The Interviewer has a current audience viewership of 45 million. She is the Series Director of SBS documentary series, Perspective Shift for which she was nominated for a 2020 ADG award and AWGIE award. Her 2020 short film, Groundhog Night premiered at Sydney Film Festival and she is the creator and series director of ABC Kids interstitial series Tell Me a Tale. She is also receives regular commissions as a director of segments for Sesame Street and recently directed the short form series Bluey Cookalongs and Bluey Fancy Restaurant for the BBC and Bluey’s team. Her directorial work in advertising has been recognized by the B&T Women In Media Awards where she won top gong for Creative in 2016. She’s made branded content for Google, Uber, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, mockumentaries for NAB, a comedy web series for Australia Post which was acquired by ABC iView and Qantas inflight and a family film for Uniting which premiered at TIFF kids and played in front of all theatrical releases at Event cinemas on International Day of People with disability in 2016. She has given keynote speeches on inclusive filmmaking at the BBC UK, TIFF, Disney HQ and the Glasgow Mental Health Festival. Genevieve was the 2015 NSW Young Australian of the year and has been named in the 2014 and 2019 100 Women of Influence. One of Genevieve’s many passions is Bus Stop Films, which she co-founded in 2009. The social enterprise which continues to provide education, filmmaking and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disability in the screen-industry. Genevieve’s work as pioneered change in the film industry when it comes to authentic casting and inclusion in the filmmaking practice. Genevieve’s work as the Series Writer and Director season 1 of the 26 x 11-episode ABC television show, Fizzy and Suds, garnered global attention with two nominations at Prix Jeunesse one of those being the UNESCO Prize, intended to honour a children’s or youth programme that convincingly promotes a better under­standing of people, of different cultures and experiences.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Stairs poster
6.0

A young man’s dream to make a living in Ulaanbaatar is put to the test when he must navigate the social and physical obstacles in his path.

Stairs

2019

Stairs poster
6.0

A young man’s dream to make a living in Ulaanbaatar is put to the test when he must navigate the social and physical obstacles in his path.

Stairs

2019

Dancer poster
NR

Gerelee, a deaf teenage girl, decides to follow her dreams and audition for a dance company, despite her father’s protest.

Dancer

2024

Dancer poster
NR

Gerelee, a deaf teenage girl, decides to follow her dreams and audition for a dance company, despite her father’s protest.

Dancer

2024

Kill Off poster
NR

A woman with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) forms an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee through their mutual love of krump.

Kill Off

2017

Kill Off poster
NR

A woman with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) forms an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee through their mutual love of krump.

Kill Off

2017

The Interviewer poster
7.0

Thomas Howell gets more than he bargained for at his interview with a prestigious law firm; an insult about his tie, a rendition of Harry Potter and the chance to change the lives of father and son.

The Interviewer

2012

The Interviewer poster
7.0

Thomas Howell gets more than he bargained for at his interview with a prestigious law firm; an insult about his tie, a rendition of Harry Potter and the chance to change the lives of father and son.

The Interviewer

2012

Gratus poster
NR

A poetic, performative, experimental documentary that gives voice to people with lived experience of mental health issues. The Documentary explores how practicing gratitude can have a positive impact on mental health and assist in the journey of recovery after experiencing a complex mental health issue.

Gratus

2017

Sunshine poster
NR

A waitress with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) sees that one of her customers is very upset. She goes out of her way to try and make the customer feel better; little does she realise that her efforts have an impact beyond what she could have imagined.

Sunshine

2021

Sunshine poster
NR

A waitress with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) sees that one of her customers is very upset. She goes out of her way to try and make the customer feel better; little does she realise that her efforts have an impact beyond what she could have imagined.

Sunshine

2021

Beautiful poster
NR

Two people living with a disability navigate through family and societal pressures as their relationship blossoms.

Beautiful

2010

Beautiful poster
NR

Two people living with a disability navigate through family and societal pressures as their relationship blossoms.

Beautiful

2010

Boss Cat poster
NR

When her mother suddenly dies, Sonja is thrown into tumult. Dealing with early-twenties existential angst and a sense of responsibility for her teenage younger sister Emma, she has a lot on her plate. Suddenly under the care of her controlling grandma and—as a young woman living with Down syndrome—constantly faced with a society that judges what she’s capable of, Sonja is desperate to be herself and take charge of her own life. When a chance encounter with the charismatic Hakim leads her to a krump class, Sonja discovers a life-changing outlet for expression.

Boss Cat

2026

Boss Cat poster
NR

When her mother suddenly dies, Sonja is thrown into tumult. Dealing with early-twenties existential angst and a sense of responsibility for her teenage younger sister Emma, she has a lot on her plate. Suddenly under the care of her controlling grandma and—as a young woman living with Down syndrome—constantly faced with a society that judges what she’s capable of, Sonja is desperate to be herself and take charge of her own life. When a chance encounter with the charismatic Hakim leads her to a krump class, Sonja discovers a life-changing outlet for expression.

Boss Cat

2026

Visible poster
NR

A teenage girl, who feels left out and ignored by her peers, is inspired to do something audacious in order to get noticed. When her plan backfires she learns that being popular isn’t as important as including those who are left out.

Visible

2022

Visible poster
NR

A teenage girl, who feels left out and ignored by her peers, is inspired to do something audacious in order to get noticed. When her plan backfires she learns that being popular isn’t as important as including those who are left out.

Visible

2022

Shakespeare in Tokyo poster
7.3

An Australian Shakespeare fan with Down Syndrome sets off on a solo adventure to discover Tokyo in order to get away from his overbearing older brother. Along the way he uses his knowledge of the Bard, his sketchbook and his wits to win the hearts of the people he meets.

Shakespeare in Tokyo

2018

Shakespeare in Tokyo poster
7.3

An Australian Shakespeare fan with Down Syndrome sets off on a solo adventure to discover Tokyo in order to get away from his overbearing older brother. Along the way he uses his knowledge of the Bard, his sketchbook and his wits to win the hearts of the people he meets.

Shakespeare in Tokyo

2018

Frances and Annie poster
NR

When a young woman drops by to greet her new neighbours, her preconceptions of who is responsible for a horrendous tragedy hinges on a face and a note.

Frances and Annie

2009

Frances and Annie poster
NR

When a young woman drops by to greet her new neighbours, her preconceptions of who is responsible for a horrendous tragedy hinges on a face and a note.

Frances and Annie

2009

Groundhog Night poster
1.0

For carer Gary, moving on and keeping his family together isn’t always easy. Tensions run high when his late wife’s parents arrive unannounced after he brings home a date.

Groundhog Night

2020

Taking Back the Waves poster
NR

Paralympian Paul Nunnari takes a road trip up Australia's famous coastline to explore the different barriers of access that people with disabilities face when trying to enjoy the beach.

Taking Back the Waves

2017

Taking Back the Waves poster
NR

Paralympian Paul Nunnari takes a road trip up Australia's famous coastline to explore the different barriers of access that people with disabilities face when trying to enjoy the beach.

Taking Back the Waves

2017