Adam Elliot
Academy Award® winner Adam Elliot, is one of the world's most celebrated and critically acclaimed independent filmmakers. His five animated films have been viewed by millions of people and have participated in over 600 film festivals.
Specialist Profile
In 2009, Adam’s feature film “Mary and Max” was invited to open Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival - the first Australian and first animated film to ever do so. Adam’s films have received over one hundred awards, including five AFI Awards and an Oscar® in 2004 for “Harvie Krumpet.”
In 1999 he was named Young Victorian of the Year and to everyone's surprise Adam was recently announced as an Australian National Treasure! He is the official patron of “The Other Film Festival,” new cinema by, with and about people with a disability and is a voting member for the Annual Academy Awards. In 2003 the Annecy International Animation Festival included “Harvie Krumpet” as one of the top 100 animated films of all time. His production company, “Adam Elliot Pictures,” creates unique and bittersweet animations or, as Adam calls them, 'Clayographies' - clay animated biographies.
Key Points
- Academy Award winner Adam Elliot, is one of the world's most celebrated and critically acclaimed independent filmmakers. His five animated films have been viewed by millions of people and have participated in over five-hundred film festivals.
- Former Young Victorian of the Year, Adam has also been recognised as an Australian National Treasure.
- Eclipsing the work of the Disney, Pixar and Fox studios, Adam's film HARVIE KRUMPET, won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2004 and in 2009 Adam's full length film MARY AND MAX" was invited to open Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival - the first Australian and first Animated film to ever do so.
- In 2009, Adam won the Best Director Award at the Annual Screen Directors Guild Awards in Sydney.
- A naturally gifted, engaging and entertaining communicator, Adam shares his story: A Dream and Vision. A story of persisting through years of success without wider recognition, numerous obstacles, rejections, limited funding, long hours, appalling work conditions to finally produce a global winner. His universal and very funny story is not only thoroughly entertaining but incredibly inspiring and motivating.
Biography
Adam Elliot is not only an Academy Award® winning Animator, but also one of Australia’s funniest, most unique and most refreshing corporate speakers and entertainers. Adam has given his inspiring and motivating presentations to hundreds of groups all over the world, from the giants at Google and Apple to a bunch of hairdressers in Borneo. His anecdotes are timeless and extremely popular with a diverse range of audiences. Adam has spoken at virtually every type of event and conference, including business breakfasts, gala dinners and awards nights. He often receives applause throughout his presentations and leaves audiences thoroughly entertained, enthused and exhausted!
The son of an acrobatic prawn farmer, Adam has become one of the world’s leading independent filmmakers and ‘clay’ animators. His story and journey of how he won his Academy Award is one of the most funny and inspiring rags to riches presentations you will ever hear. He eclipsed three of Hollywood’s giants - Disney, Pixar and Fox studios, to win his Oscar - a classic David and Goliath scenario where Adam triumphed and in front of one billion people, gave his hilarious and moving Oscar Speech. His slide-show and anecdotes about what happened afterwards, along with his encounters with Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg and other Hollywood icons will keep your audiences enthralled and captivated.
Dedicated to his artform, Adam spent years animating blobs of plasticine in a run-down storage unit in searing summer heat. Far from the glamour of Hollywood, his plasticine would often melt and he would be forced to work in his underpants. Despite running out of money and ending up on the dole, he was determined to finish HARVIE KRUMPET and with conviction, persistence and passion, took on the Hollywood studios and won - proving that small businesses can take on the big guys and that with the right mind-set, anything is possible.
Adam’s five animated films are sophisticated and bittersweet tales for mature audiences, voiced by some of the world’s biggest stars including Geoffrey Rush, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Humphries and Eric Bana. They have been viewed by millions of people and have won over 100 awards and have participated in over 600 film festivals.
His latest film, ‘Mary and Max’ starring Toni Collette, won a string of awards and was the only Australian Film to ever open Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival. His films have inspired many and have a cult following. They have been turned into books, plays and ‘Mary and Max’ is even being developed into a Broadway Musical.
In 1999 Adam was the Young Achiever of the Year for Victoria and is now an official voting member for the Annual Academy Awards.® ‘Mary and Max’ is now officially one of the highest rated animated films of all time and in-between his speaking commitments, Adam is currently developing his next plasticine epic. He was also host of the 2013 AFI AACTA Awards with Geoffrey Rush and Hugh Sheridan.
A naturally gifted, engaging and entertaining communicator, Adam Elliot shares his life story of hard work, persistence, patience and determination to finally win an Academy Award. He tailors his keynotes for all sorts of groups and has a wonderful collection of glowing testimonials. Clients often cite Adam as one the best speakers they have ever booked.
"Adam Elliot was an amazing MC last night, he was cooperative, charming, friendly and extremely funny. "
Australian Production Design Guild
“Adam Elliot was a highly engaging speaker whose story of triumph was very inspirational. His presentation was a good mixture of comedy and life lessons with a message that is universal; you can do anything that you believe. He could not have been more generous with his time, chatting with people after his speech for as long as he possibly could and signing autographs for anyone who wanted.
After being involved in many conferences as a delegate and organiser I have been exposed to many high profile speakers all around the world but Adam was head and shoulders above them all (figuratively of course!). One speaker that I highly recommend to anyone.”
National Association of Australian University Colleges
“Adam was an absolute delight. His talk engaged our people and was a source of humour and inspiration. He was extremely generous with his time, taking the time to meet with a number of our delegates which was a real highlight for them. His speech capped off a three day program and really brought it all into perspective and ensured the audience left on a high.”
Commonwealth Bank
“Adam is a down-to-earth, intelligent and humorous speaker, a great Australian success story. He had the audience's attention from the outset and presented with the right mix of informative content and humour. Congratulations on your success. I am sure that all our guests are eagerly awaiting your next film.”
PricewaterhouseCoopers
“I believe Adam was the best speaker we have had at our Graduation Ceremony. He took the audience through the process of the Academy Awards, as if we were there with him. He appealed to all ages – from our 17 year old trainees to the grandparents attending the event in their support. His humour was contagious and he made himself available to our guests for questions, autographs and photo’s. I would recommend him highly for any event. Thank you Adam!”
M.E.G.T.
“Adam was absolutely fantastic he told a story that kept everyone entertained and exposed us to a world that we know very little about. Adam stayed and entertained my clients long into the afternoon which was above what we expected, I would strongly recommend him.”
Fuji Xerox
“Adam presentation was extremely well received and was off centre to what everyone expected from a guest speaker when addressing a conservative "Building Industry" audience. It worked beautifully.
Great use of visualise tools and his preparation was extremely professional.”
Bluescope Lysaght
“Adam was fantastic, a huge success and everyone loved him. His story was very funny and captivating. His style was warm and honest. He came across as an everyday guy, doing what he loves, who happened to win an Oscar along the way. He makes you feel like you could do it too!”
Flight Centre
“Adam presented a very stylish, humorous and personal account about his recent successes. It was exceptionally well pitched at students with a brilliant mix of images and anecdotes that had their attention all the way to the end. In fact you could hear a pin drop in that auditorium of 1000 people. Well done!” Montmorency Secondary College
“Adam is a very genuine person with a great story that he presents very well. Along with Tony he added a lot of value to our Team Building Activity”
212 F
"He's just simply the best! His positive energy, love of the Aussie way and understated quiet achiever ethos, coupled with his quiet charm is just a huge winning combination!”
Golden Key
“Adam, was very popular and his story is different everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and with Adam staying with the group after and signing autographs made it even better.”
Meritum Financial Group
“Refreshing speaker. What a down to earth, personable presenter. A lovely pace and a great story.”
Banyule City Council
“Adam was an engaging speaker who has a special warm aura about him. He was more than generous with his time and was willing to meet and greet the crowd of admirers on an equal level. I was very impressed. We will definitely get him back.” Toorak College
“ Excellent. From the outset Adam was fantastic to work with, discussing our needs and objectives prior to the event, circulating amongst our guests as they arrived before giving a wonderful presentation that was entertaining, humorous and inspirational to all.”
A.G. Coombs
“We all found Adam’s story very moving, motivational and funny. Adam is a great speaker he is very inspirational.”
Dukes Financial Services
“Excellent. Adam was warm and an absolute joy to work with. Our students, staff and families all were charmed by his take on ambition and excellence. He really won the room and continued to do so well into the evening. He was great with a room full of pharmacists, scientists and academics. If he can win them he can win anyone. We were really happy that he was available and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him in the future.”
Victorian College of Pharmacy Foundation
“Is there a higher grade than excellent? Adam was absolutely fantastic and a joy to work with. His presentation fit our audience perfectly and I am still getting positive feedback a week after the event! He was inspiring, funny, down to earth and even stayed after the presentation to take photos with the guests - that was an unexpected surprise and really added an extra element for our guests.”
Tattersalls
“Excellent. Adam Elliot was the most entertaining, honest and truly engaging speaker that the Suits Club (Variety - the Children's Charity) has had to-date. Our members are still raving about the day. Thank you.”
Variety Club
“Adam kept the audience of 160 Educators totally enthralled at a breakfast held in Geelong, with his fantastic sense of humour and rise from the dole queue to his outstanding achievement winning the Oscar for Harvie Krumpet. Absolutely brilliant!!”
Arthur Reed Photo’s
Adam Elliott is just delightful - very engaging and witty. The sponsor for this event was particularly thrilled at the feedback and thanks from delegates.
Clearly Adam faced difficulties and hardships during his journey, however at no stage during his presentation did he convey the need for sympathy. On the contrary - he received great admiration for his passion, determination and pragmatic approach to his quest.
I happily recommend him to an audience that is looking for a speaker who takes listeners on his journey as though you were with him and delivered with such self-effacing style.
We couldn't wipe the smiles from delegates' faces - he's a winner! Australian Funeral Directors Association
“Excellent! Absolutely sensational, the best so far in 12 years of running our conference.
Every delegate was blown away by Adam’s story, and the way he presented it.”
Rainmaker Information
“Excellent! Fantastic way to represent our company.”
ICMS
"Excellent Adam had everyone's full attention - he was funny, he was real, he was inspirational and he has a great story to tell - on top of all that, he is a very nice guy..”
Department of Trade & Economic Devt
“Adam spoke exceptionally well and clear, he certainly kept the audience captivated with his success story. The audience comprised of the highest level CEO, MD of our major clients and are fully aware when good hard work is applied success is usually the result as was in Adam's case. Feedback was they could have listened to him all evening.”
Allianz
“Fantastic! A very funny, honest, wonderfully entertaining journey. Adam is great, on all levels”.
ABN AMRO Morgans
Adam was simply brilliant. He was thoughtful, approachable and funny. He spent so much time with everyone and was last to leave the event. His speech was great but the way he interacted with people was even better.
Ross Coverdale, Araluen
“Adam was very engaging in his story and the style he used to present – slideshow and humour in particular. He understood enough of SEW’s business to relate his story to our needs – that of encouraging people to come up with innovative ideas and enter into the Brain Waves Cup competition – which Adam was launching.”
South East Water
“Adam was engaging, funny and on theme with our night. His presentation was very professional and his story was truly interesting.”
Industry Capability Network
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