Karen Bryson

Karen’s passion for film craft and strong narrative informs her work across cinema, television and digital platforms. In 2003, Karen won Tropfest with the black comedy BURIED. Karen began her career producing for major Australian advertising agencies including The Campaign Palace, Clemenger BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi, BWM & Lowe. Karen has been recognized with top honors at AWARD, D&AD, Cannes, One Show & the New York Festivals.
In 2007 Karen joined the upstart trans-media company radical.media as Head of Production, moving up to Managing Director in 2009, when a significant stake of the company was sold to Fremantle Media Enterprises. In 2011 Karen joined FINCH as Executive Producer, and in 2015 Karen accepted a role on the management board.
Karen’s work on the New Zealand Traffic Authority commercial Mistakes became an internet sensation, and created one of the most awarded television commercials of the decade.
Karen’s recent project, Stop it at the Start, an anti-domestic violence campaign for Australia, attracted 14,000,000 hits in its first month and topped the YouTube Ad Leaderboard, making it the most popular Australian commercial of 2016.
In 2016 Karen produced Derin Seale’s short film ‘The Eleven O’clock’ which has attracted global recognition across the short film circuit. The film was awarded ‘Winner of Best Comedy Short’ at LA Shorts Fest, ‘Winner of Best Screenplay’ at Flickerfest International Film Festival, Winner for ‘Best Narrative Short’ at Cleveland International Film Festival as well as official selection for Toronto, Valladolid, St Kilda & Palm Springs plus Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards.
Earlier this year, Karen partnered the Australian Director’s Guild, the CPC and FINCH to create a paid internship program to mentor women for director roles within commercial production companies. Karen is Co-Chair of the Australian Commercial Producers Council, an active member of AFI/AACTA, Women in Film and Television NSW, SPAA and D&AD.