South Australian Film Corp founding director and chairman Gil Brealey died aged 85 on Sunday April 1.
The producer and director, who made his first amateur films at the tender age of 20, was hailed as a ‘great visionary of our industry’ for his amazing achievements.
Gil made his mark in the entertainment industry with award-winning film Annie’s Coming Out as well as producing classics such as Sunday, Too Far Away.
Sad: South Australian Film Corp chairman Gil Brealey dies aged 85 (pictured on set for Annie’s Coming Out in 1984)
It was at South Australian Film Corp that Gil produced Ken Hannam’s Sunday, Too Far Away in 1976, which launched Jack Thompson’s acting career.
In the same year, he produced Henri Safran’s Storm Boy and he splashed out the funds on Peter Weir’s iconic movie Picnic at Hanging Rock.
The director stepped away from the limelight and quit the position in 1976, citing stress as the reason.
Amazing achievement: Gil made his mark in the entertainment industry with award-winning film Annie’s Coming Out (pictured) as well as producing classics such as Sunday, Too Far Away
Gil also found great success in 1984 with his film Annie’s Coming Out, which was released in America as Test of Love.
The movie secured the best film, best female actor and best adapted screenplay titles at the 1984 Australian Film Institute awards.
Annie’s Coming Out tells the story of a 13-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who is unable to communicate with others, living in a government institution.
Fabulous: The producer found great success in 1984 with his film Annie’s Coming Out, which was released in America as Test of Love (pictured)
Therapist Jessica Hathaway uses an alphabet board to communicate with the youngster and then launches a legal battle to get Annie released.
The story-line closely follows the real lives of disability activists Rosemary Crossley and Anne McDonald.
Elsewhere, while Gil was working at Australian Broadcasting Commission, he worked on Australian television series The Stranger which was aired on ABC in 1964 to 1965.
‘He was a great visionary of our industry, whose imagination, commitment and keen eye for talent drove the agency and the wider Australian screen sector into its renaissance in 1972,’ Gibson said, according to news.com.au.
Top work: He produced Henri Safran’s Storm Boy and he splashed out the funds on Peter Weir’s iconic movie Picnic at Hanging Rock (pictured)