Genevieve Clay-Smith

Directing

Genevieve Clay-Smith

Place of birth

Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Known for

Directing

Credits

44 titles

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, Clev…

Known for

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

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

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

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

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

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

Film 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inclusion Makes the World More Vibrant poster
NR

A little boy helps his blind mother experience an art gallery in a surprising and unusual way.

Inclusion Makes the World More Vibrant

2018

Inclusion Makes the World More Vibrant poster
NR

A little boy helps his blind mother experience an art gallery in a surprising and unusual way.

Inclusion Makes the World More Vibrant

2018

Heartbreak and Beauty poster
NR

Devised by twelve people living with an intellectual disability over a period of 10 months, Heartbreak and Beauty is an experimental short film that combines music, visual metaphor, dance and original poetry to express how we are all connected through our shared human experiences of love and loss.

Heartbreak and Beauty

2015

Heartbreak and Beauty poster
NR

Devised by twelve people living with an intellectual disability over a period of 10 months, Heartbreak and Beauty is an experimental short film that combines music, visual metaphor, dance and original poetry to express how we are all connected through our shared human experiences of love and loss.

Heartbreak and Beauty

2015

Taking Back the Waves poster
NR

Paralympian, Paul Nunnari, travels up Australia's world famous coast uncovering NSW Surf Lifesaving programs that help people with disabilities access the beach.

Taking Back the Waves

2019

Taking Back the Waves poster
NR

Paralympian, Paul Nunnari, travels up Australia's world famous coast uncovering NSW Surf Lifesaving programs that help people with disabilities access the beach.

Taking Back the Waves

2019

What Was It Like? poster
NR

Eight filmmakers with intellectual disability interview their parents about what it was like when doctors delivered the news of their diagnosis.

What Was It Like?

2020

What Was It Like? poster
NR

Eight filmmakers with intellectual disability interview their parents about what it was like when doctors delivered the news of their diagnosis.

What Was It Like?

2020

What Was It Like? poster
NR

Eight filmmakers with intellectual disability interview their parents about what it was like when doctors delivered the news of their diagnosis.

What Was It Like?

2020

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

Head Over Wheels poster
NR

Elle and Luke meet each other on the way to their respective blind dates—their chance encounter unexpectedly turns their evening upside down.

Head Over Wheels

2023

Head Over Wheels poster
NR

Elle and Luke meet each other on the way to their respective blind dates—their chance encounter unexpectedly turns their evening upside down.

Head Over Wheels

2023

Gambling with Minds poster
NR

A poetic, experimental documentary which voices the experiences of various mental health advocates who have lived experience of mental illness and the Australian mental health system.

Gambling with Minds

2016

Gambling with Minds poster
NR

A poetic, experimental documentary which voices the experiences of various mental health advocates who have lived experience of mental illness and the Australian mental health system.

Gambling with Minds

2016

I Am Emmanuel poster
NR

Emmanuel is determined not to let the past define his future. After fleeing from war-torn Sudan with his family, he finds the chance to start a new life in Australia offers many opportunities, and equally, many challenges.

I Am Emmanuel

2013

I Am Emmanuel poster
NR

Emmanuel is determined not to let the past define his future. After fleeing from war-torn Sudan with his family, he finds the chance to start a new life in Australia offers many opportunities, and equally, many challenges.

I Am Emmanuel

2013

Be My Brother poster
7.0

Armed with nothing but charm and a dictaphone, a young man changes the perspective of two people he meets at a bus stop.

Be My Brother

2009

Be My Brother poster
7.0

Armed with nothing but charm and a dictaphone, a young man changes the perspective of two people he meets at a bus stop.

Be My Brother

2009

Be My Brother poster
7.0

Armed with nothing but charm and a dictaphone, a young man changes the perspective of two people he meets at a bus stop.

Be My Brother

2009