But Also John Clarke The Definitive Portrait of a Satirical Legend

John Clarke always drew a crowd – some things never change...

Fresh from playing to sold-out crowds, with queues around the block at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and ahead of its theatrical release on September 4, BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE has quickly become one of the most talked-about films of the season, bringing to the big screen the wit, wisdom and enduring legacy of one of Australia and New Zealand's most loved satirists.

Shot over many months across both countries, BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE captures Clarke's biggest moments and lasting impact on generations of audiences, while offering rare glimpses into the man behind the satire.

The defining satirical voice of his era, John Clarke famously revealed little of his private world. Through an intimate series of recorded conversations with his daughter, writer, performer and director Lorin Clarke, audiences are invited into the personal life of the man whose humour shaped our national identity. These exchanges illuminate Clarke's unwavering resistance to authority, his controversial decision to leave New Zealand for Australia in 1977, and his remarkable four decades in entertainment.

Forty-two of John's friends, colleagues and collaborators - actors, comedians, journalists and international comedy greats such as Ben Elton, Sam Neill, Bryan Dawe, Andrew Denton, Ernie Dingo, Jana Wendt, Shaun Micallef, David Wenham, Wendy Harmer and many more - share memories, insights and laughter as they honour a singular cultural icon.

Weaving together anecdotes, rich television archives, treasures from more than 200 boxes of Clarke's personal work and letters, and the voices of those who knew him best, BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE is the definitive film on a cultural giant - offering audiences both the public legend and the private father.

This is the feature directorial debut of Lorin Clarke, best known as the creator and narrator of the award-winning ABC Radio National series The Fitzroy Diaries, and author of the memoir Would That Be Funny (Text Publishing, 2023). She has written and directed for theatre, children's television (Bluey, Kangaroo Beach, Beep & Mort), and is a regular columnist for The Big Issue.

Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Richard Keddie, one of Australia's most experienced biopic producers, BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE continues his track record of shining a light on extraordinary Australian lives (Ride Like a Girl, Oddball, Hawke, Curtin, My Brother Jack).

Financed by Screen Australia, in association with the MIFF Premiere Fund, VicScreen, Soundfirm, and Rialto Distribution (who will distribute throughout ANZ), BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE releases in cinemas nationally from September 4, 2025.