Vale David Stratton

The Adelaide Film Festival honours the life and legacy of David Stratton AM, Australia’s most prolific film critic, writer, and passionate cinephile, and a beloved Patron of our festival, following the announcement of his passing by his family yesterday.

David was truly iconic. He provided Australians with a profound education in cinema, engaging us with film through a critical lens. He not only connected us with films from around the globe, he championed Australian cinema on the international stage, most notably in his role as a critic for Variety (1983-2003), the world’s most prestigious and longest-running entertainment publication.

His passion, generosity, and unwavering commitment to screen culture was second to none; David will be profoundly missed by both the industry and film lovers alike. Best known as the co-host of SBS’s The Movie Show from 1984 to 2004 and At the Movies on ABC TV until 2014, alongside the irrepressible Margaret Pomeranz AM, David’s illustrious career spanned over six decades and encompassed countless roles. As the director of the Sydney Film Festival from 1966 to 1983, he was a fearless advocate against film censorship, a cause he and Margaret tirelessly championed throughout their careers. David also shared his wealth of knowledge as a lecturer at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education for an impressive 35 years. A constant in Australian newspaper publishing with film reviews as well as author of six books, David’s final book Australia at the Movies was published just last year.

As we head into the weekend with a rich selection of films to enjoy, we pay tribute to David with a heartfelt request from his family: they invite us to celebrate his remarkable life and legacy by watching their favourite film—or, as David himself would have preferred, his all-time favourite—Singin’ in the Rain. Another noteworthy film to revisit is Sally Atkin’s documentary David Stratton: A Cinematic Life (available on DocPlay). The doc premiered as part of the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund slate at a special AFF pop-up event in 2016 before being presented at Cannes Film Festival in 2017, a testament to the respect held for David around the globe.

In reflecting on David’s contributions, we recognise not just his impact on film criticism but also his role in nurturing a love for cinema across generations. His legacy will continue to inspire filmmakers, critics, and audiences alike for years to come.