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PIA MIRANDA AS JOSIE ALIBRANDI

Pia Miranda is a relitively fresh face on Australian screens, one of the most important factors that gained her the role of Josephine Alibrandi. She is perhaps best known as Karen Oldman from Neighbours, however she has also appeared on Australia's Most Wanted, The Snow Show and Catwalk as well as numerous advertisements. She most recently appeared in a theater production of The Wild Duck, as Hedwig.
The role of Josie in "Looking for Alibrandi" is Pia's first in a feature film.

GRETA SCACCHI AS CHRISTINA ALIBRANDI

Greta Scacchi is one of Australia's best know actresses, and the first choice for the role of Christina Alibrandi. Her international career includes performances in film, television and theater. These roles include the films Emma, The Player and Presumed Innocent, and the plays Uncle Vanya, Miss Julie and Simpatico. Geta was drawn to "Looking For Alibrandi" because of the relationship between Christina, Josie and Katia.

ANTHONY La PAGLIA AS MICHAEL ANDRETTI

Anthony La Paglia returned to Australia for the first time in four years to take on the role of Josie's father, Michael. Anthony's career began on the Australian stage, before he relocated to the US and achieved phenominal success on both stage, film and television.In 1998 he won a Tony Award for his performance in the hit play, A View From The Top. Anthony also appeared in the feature films : Betsy's Wedding, The Client, Empire Records and Summer of Sam. He also starred in the hit television series Murder One. Anthony was drawn to "Looking For Alibrandi" because of his own childhood experiences growing up as an Italian-Australian.

ELENA COTTA AS NONNA KATIA

Elena Cotta lives in Rome where she is a highly regarded and critically acclaimed actor in television and theater. What is most interesting about her casting in "Looking For Alibrandi" is the fact that Elena does not speak english. When looking for an acttress to play Katia all eyes turned to the Old Country and Elena Cotta was one of the last people to be cast in her role.

KICK GURRY AS JACOB COOTE

Kick Gurry is also a reletively fresh face on Australian screens, with "Looking For Alibrandi" being his third (and most major) film role. He has also starred in Bootmen and the international war drama TheThin Red Line. His television credits include Wildside, Halifax f.p, State Coroner and Raw FM. Kick says that the best thing about playing the role of Jacob was getting to meet the author of "Looking For Alibrandi", Melina Marchetta.

MATTHEW NEWTON AS JOHN BARTON

Matthew Newton has long been known as the son of television personalities Bert and Patty Newton. Graduating from NIDA in 1998, he has established himself as a competent actor in both stage productions, television and film. Some of his television performances include roles in : The Flying Doctors, The Man From Snowy River and Chances. he recently starred as David Kennedy in the feature film My Mother Frank. Matthew recieved a nomination for Best New Talent in the 1996 Mo Awards.

DIRECTOR: KATE WOODS

"Looking For Alibrandi" is director Kate Woods' first feature film. An established director of television show such as Janus, Wildside, Raw FM, Police Rescue and GP her career has spanned more than 20 years in Australian television. In 1996 she directed Simone De Beauvoir's Babies, a mini series that recieved an Australian Film Insitute award nomination for Best Mini Series. It also won awards in the Best Television Actor and Actress categories. Kate Woods has also recieved an AFI for Best Episode in a Drama Series for Phoenix and a Human Rights award in 1995 for the Janus episode, 'Fit to Plead'.

PRODUCER: ROBYN KERSHAW

Robyn Kershaw has produced the works of some of Australia's most prominent composers, directors, designers and actors. While General Manager of Belvoir Street Theate she produced many original theater works including Diary of a Madman, starring Geoffrey Rush. Many of the plays she has produced have been made into feature films some of these include Dead Heart by Nicholas Parsons, Aftershocks by Paul Brown and NWCAC, and Radiance and Cosi, both by Louis Nowra. In 1997 Robyn and Tristram Miall created Miall and Kershaw Productions and joined with Beyond International to develop feature films.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:TRISTRAM MIALL

Tristram Miall, once a staging assistant at the ABC in 1970, has developed to become one of the Australian film industry's most influential figures. In 1997 Tristram and Robyn Kershaw created Miall and Kershaw Productions and joined with Beyond International to develop feature films. He is currently acting as the Chairman of Council at the Australian Film, Television and Radio school. In 1992 Tristram produced the international hit Strictly Ballroom and has served as Executive Producer on films such as A Little Bit of Soul, starring Geoffrey Rush, and Children of the Revolution, both directed by Peter Duncan.

WRITER: MELINA MARCHETTA

Melina Marchetta is the author of both the novel and the screenplay "Looking For Alibrandi". "Looking For Alibrandi" the novel was first published in Australia by Penguin in 1992 and is now to be published in Denmark, Italy, germany, Spain Norway and Canada.. The novel has received many awards including the 1993 Childrens Book of the Year Award, the Australian Multicultural Literature Award and the Kids Own Australian Literature Award. Melina currently teaches at a secondary school in Sydney.

CINEMATOGRAPHER: TOBY OLIVER

Toby Oliver graduated from Swinburne Film and TV school in 188, since then he has worked on many low budget short films, television programs and music clips. "Looking For Alibrandi" is his third feature film as CInematographer. Previous films include Everynight...Everynight and Fresh Air , he also shot Gregor Jordan's (Two Hands) award winning short film Stitched. Toby has won numerous awards including a Gold Award from the Australian Cinematographers Society Awards NSW for Stitched in 1997 and The Flutemaker in 1995, and a Silver in 1994 for Everynight...Everynight.