Tributes pour in for Australian director Amanda Brotchie after cancer death

Australian writer and director Amanda Brotchie, whose credits included directing and co-writing the ABC series Lowdown and the 2018 revival of Picnic At Hanging Rock, died this week after a battle with cancer. Her husband, Adam Zwar, announced the news on social media, sharing a series of photographs from their life together and praising her professional achievements and generosity.

Brotchie’s résumé extended across Australian and UK television. In Australia she directed and co-wrote Lowdown, a project she created with Zwar, and she helped bring the 2018 Picnic At Hanging Rock reboot to life. Her international work included directing episodes for Doctor Who, as well as other British series such as Renegade Nell and Riot Women. She balanced a prolific directing career with a background in linguistics, holding a doctorate, and she was part of the seminal 1980s band Not Drowning, Waving.

Zwar posted on Friday that Brotchie had died after a long illness, and he reflected on their 23 years together. He recalled meeting her and how she could light up a room with her warmth, intelligence and adventurous spirit. In his message, he highlighted Brotchie’s balance as a creator who could cook, direct and write with a light touch, while remaining deeply devoted to family and friends. He described her as brave, endlessly supportive of the people around her, and as someone who found joy in the successes of others.

Industry colleagues and fans quickly joined the chorus of tributes. Patrick Brammall, known for Hunters, expressed his condolences and called Brotchie extraordinary, offering solace in the belief that she had been ready for what lay ahead. Other performers offered their sympathies as well, with Kate Mulvaney and Julia Zemiro sharing notes of sorrow and acknowledging Brotchie’s impact on their careers and lives. Russell T Davies, showrunner of Doctor Who, praised Brotchie’s work on the show and said that her contributions—on two episodes in particular—were marked by precision, style and imagination, adding that she was loved across the production.

The Australian Writers’ Guild memorialized Brotchie as a longtime member who earned two AWGIE Awards for Lowdown, a project she created with Zwar. The guild’s statement underscored her influence within the Australian screen community and her generosity in mentoring others. Screen Producers Australia added that Brotchie had made a lasting contribution to the industry and was widely admired for her creative vision and strong collaborative relationships.

In conjunction with tributes from industry groups, fellow artists noted Brotchie’s broader impact on storytelling, noting how she bridged Australian and international screens and brought distinctive voices to projects across genres. Her death leaves a void in both the Australian animation of voice and tone and the international avenues she helped open for Australian creators. Friends and colleagues described Brotchie as someone who celebrated others’ successes as if they were her own, a mentor who valued collaboration, and a creative force who could navigate complex narratives with clarity and warmth.

As the entertainment community processes the loss, many of Brotchie’s collaborators have pledged to honor her legacy by continuing the projects she helped shape and by supporting the next generation of writers and directors. The outpouring of condolences and memories reflected Brotchie’s standing as a director, writer and producer who touched chairs across continents, cultures and audiences. The family, colleagues and fans await official tributes and memorials in the weeks ahead, while remembering a figure who left the world better through her work and her spirit.