Biography

Kelli Jean Drinkwater is a filmmaker, artist and activist recognized internationally for her creative practice and voice in radical body politics. Kelli Jean uses the body as a site to explore themes of body positivity, queer and feminist theory and society's obsession with "perfection". Often confrontational, her work aims to investigate the complex relationship we all have with our bodies. She is an interdisciplinary artist creating within and outside the genres of performance, film and image making. In 2016, Kelli Jean was asked to present a TedXSydney talk on fat phobia, at the Sydney Opera House, which has received over 1.7 million views As Artistic Associate on Force Majeures' award winning dance theatre production Nothing to Lose, Kelli Jean collaborated with renowned Director Kate Champion. Co-commissioned by Sydney Festival and Carriageworks, the show had sell out seasons for both Sydney Festival and for Dance Massive and The Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne. Kelli Jean is an award-winning filmmaker working across many roles and genres of storytelling, with a focus on documentary. Her short documentary "Aquaporko!" (2013), won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at QueerScreen Mardi Gras Film Festival in 2013. She was the primary editor on "The Pink House" (2017), Directed by Sasha Ettinger-Epstein, which won the Documentary Australia Foundation award for Best Documentary at Sydney Film festivals in 2017. Kelli Jean directed, edited and wrote "Monsta Gras" (2018), a short documentary commission for Abc Arts as part of the Love Bites series. "Nothing to Lose" (2018), is Kelli Jean's first feature documentary as Director, Editor and Writer. Is enjoying rave reviews on the International film festival circuit. Now available on Sbs On Demand. Kelli Jean's latest project "The Rainbow Passage" (2019) is commissioned by Screen Australia and 10 Play for their Out Here initiative. She will be Co-Director and Post Producer.
- IMDb mini biography by: Kelli Jean Drinkwater