Areas of interest:

DIRECTING
WRITING
EDITING

Tess McArthur-Dowty is a Naarm (Melbourne) based director, writer, and editor. She loves playing with film form and has a passion for making films that deal with social issues, especially relating to women’s experiences. This is reflected in her previous short films which have screened at film festivals globally.

Stitched Together was nominated for Best Film at VCA Film and Television, and was selected for a member's only screening at the Australian Institute of Film. Just that time of the month screened at St Kilda Film Festival, while Vigilance which was nominated for Best Australian Short Director at Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.

A graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2021, Tess brings her storytelling skillset to her commercial work, creating videos for promotion and education. She has also had the opportunity to work across various roles on fiction and non-fiction projects.

  • Editor

    I Am Daniel - dir. Simon Rose Birriah & Katrina Channells, 2022, short fiction
    St Kilda Film Festival, Orion International Film Festival

    Bryan Nason: In The Company of Actors - dir. Katrina Channells, 2022, short documentary
    Screened at Queensland Performing Arts Centre

    Director of Photography

    Bound – dir. Emmy Clifton, 2019, short documentary
    Melbourne Documentary Film Festival

    Second Assistant Director

    Snapshot – dir. Becki Bouchier, 2021, short fiction
    Austin Film Festival Best Student Short Nominee, Australian Director’s Guild Award Nominee, Australian Writer’s Guild Nominee

    Additional Editor

    Not To Be - dir. Katrina Channells, 2022, short fiction
    Byron Bay International Film Festival, Orion International Film Festival, New York Indie Shorts Awards, Cannes Indie Shorts Awards, Venezia Shorts Italy, Setting Sun Film Festival

    Sound Recordist

    Cattle Duff - dir. Katrina Channells, 2022, short documentary
    Brisbane International Film Festival, Orion International Film Fesival

    Hunt – dir. Rachel Tierney, 2019, short documentary
    St Kilda Film Festival

    Keeper – dir. Emmy Clifton, 2019, short documentary
    Setting Sun Film Festival, Melbourne Women in Film Festival

    I Love You Too – dir. Chouwa Liang, 2019, short documentary
    Melbourne Documentary Film Festival


    Post-Production & Marketing Assistant

    Speak of Country - dir. Katrina Channells, 2021, VR documentary
    Melbourne International Film Festival

    Leaving Allen Street – dir. Katrina Channells, 2020, feature documentary
    Screened on ABC TV Plus, Melbourne Documentary Film Festival Audience Choice Award Winner

    Milly – dir. Katrina Channells, 2021, short fiction
    Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival, Melbourne Women in Film Festival