Writing, Development and Education: Craig Behenna

Craig is an award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, producer and screen educator. 

Craig’s development and consultation includes story consult on Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man (Universal / Bron Studios) and development with Flying Bark Productions (Sydney), Studio Bozzetto (Milan), POP Family Entertainment (Sydney) and other companies in Australia and Los Angeles.

Most recently, Craig wrote the production draft for the animated feature Scarygirl, starring Sam Neill and Anna Torv. Scarygirl will land on screens in the USA in 2024 after a successful premiere screening at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Scarygirl will be on screens in the USA in 2024 after a deal with Viva Pictures ahead of it Cannes premiere.

He has written on animation and live action including the Figaro Pho series, which won Best Children’s TV on three continents – KidScreen New York, The Asian TV Awards and the Australian Academy of Cinema and TV Awards. He was the lead writer (Australia) for the live action/animation series OH YUCK! with Flying Bark Productions.

Teaser for The New Adventures of Figaro Pho.

Craig’s first produced feature, One Eyed Girl (written with Nick Matthews), won the Jury Award at the Austin Film Festival and was released in cinemas and on Netflix USA/EU/Australia.

Trailer for One Eyed Girl, winner of the Austin Film Festival Dark Matters Award, released worldwide through Netflix.

Craig teaches screenwriting for John Yorke Story, the UK’s leading story education company headed by John Yorke, former head of BBC Drama. He has taught screenwriting for Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and teaches privately. He is the Lecturer, Film Acting at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide and has taught for NIDA and at Honours level for Flinders University Drama Centre, amongst others. He coaches private clients as an acting coach, creative coach and therapist.

He also has a long background as an actor, and as a director/producer in theatre, where his work has won multiple awards and been produced around Australia, UK, Europe and New York.

If you’re curious about

  • story consultancy
  • development processes for your feature or TV project
  • mindset coaching through the process of development
  • teaching and consultation at your school, university, training institution.

please get in touch and let’s have a conversation.

craig (at) craigbehenna.com