Biography

John Banas has, for over forty years, worked extensively in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. As far back as 1984 he received a New Zealand industry award for Best Script. He is also a recipient of the Prix Italia for Best Educational Script and, in 1997 and 2001 won the Australian Writers Guild Awards for Best Script in a Television Series. In 2012 John wrote the Underbelly NZ Series - 'Land of the Long Green Cloud' and the telemovies 'Siege' and 'Safe House' both of which were nominated as best dramas in the 2012 Screen Writers Awards, New Zealand. 'Siege' won Best Drama at the NZ Television Awards and was the People's Choice for Best on The Box. It also won a Golden Panda Award. (China) His screenplay 'How To Murder Your Wife' won Best Comedy at the 2015 New York International Film Festival and Britain's C21 Drama Award for best television drama. John has written over 200 hours of television, including six telemovies based on true stories. His work has been published in Australia and New Zealand (Top Shelf - Currency Press). His scriptwriter, director and producer credits include award-winning shows such as 'City Homicide' which he co-created with John Hugginson and for which he wrote over thirty episodes; 'Headland', 'All Saints', 'Blue Heelers', 'Stingers', 'Murder Call', 'Water Rats', and the Miss Phryne Fisher Murder Mysteries'. John was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Australian society through writing for television. He lives and works in Brisbane.
- IMDb mini biography by: John Banas

He has four children: daughter, Michala Banas; son, Leon Banas; son, Alexis Banas; and daughter, Claudia Banas. He is married to Evelyn Saunders and together they have a blended family of seven children. They live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Australian society through writing for television.