Paul Goldman attended the prestigious Swinburne Film and TV School in the early 80s.
He is also a graduate of the Directors Course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, in Sydney, where he also completed the NIDA Writers Workshop.
In the mid 80s he established a specialist music video production company, The Rich Kids, working as Director/DP. With his early music videos winning international acclaim he moved to London, directing music videos between the UK, Australia, and America.
He has since directed over 200 music videos and many feature length concert films, including work for Nick Cave’s various bands (The Boys Next Door, The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds), Kylie Minogue, Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly, Billy Bragg, Jimmy Barnes, Kev Carmody, Hunters & Collectors, Kate Ceberano, The Go-Betweens, The Reels, The Drones and Crowded House. His many awards include the 1990 American MTV MVA: Best Male Video for Elvis Costello’s ‘Veronica’ and the 2007 ARIA Best Music Video Award, for Silverchair’s ‘Straight Lines’.
In 1987, Goldman was Director of Photography on John Hillcoat’s acclaimed first feature film Ghosts of the Civil Dead.
In 1991 Goldman established a new production company, City Films continuing to direct music videos whilst making his first forays into commercials, directing advertising campaigns for numerous iconic brands and renowned advertising agencies.
For 14 weeks in 2000 Paul was Second Unit Director on Queen of the Damned; the sequel to the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire. Produced by Sue Armstrong and Bruce Berman, Directed by Michael Rymer.
In 2001 Paul directed his first feature film, Australian Rules. The screenplay, co-written by Goldman and Phillip Gwynne, won the Australian Film Industry (AFI) Best Adapted Screenplay Award. It was in Official Selection at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002 and was the official closing night film at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
In 2002 Goldman directed The Night We Called It a Day; an English/Australian Production starring Dennis Hopper; David Hemmings; Melanie Griffith; Joel Edgerton and Rose Byrne. It was produced by Emile Sherman, Jonathan Shteinman and legendary UK Producer Nik Powell and was released by the Weinstein Company in America.
In 2005 Goldman directed Suburban Mayhem produced by Leah Churchill-Brown and Jan Chapman. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. It subsequently screened in the Vanguard section of the Toronto International Film Festival and was the official closing night film at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
In 2010 Goldman directed the feature documentary Such is Life: The Troubled Times of Ben Cousins. Produced by Craig Griffin, this controversial portrait of a major AFL superstar, his drug addictions and affiliations with major crime figures, was sold to the Seven Network and screened over two nights.
In 2015, Goldman directed The Diplomat the Artist and the Suit: The Story of Denton, Corker, Marshall; a feature documentary, commissioned by the ABC about the men behind Australia’s most internationally acclaimed architectural firm.
In 2021 Paul began a feature documentary about Michael Gudinski; the maverick trailblazer who changed Australian music forever. Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story premiered at MIFF and was released theatrically across Australia in August 2023. The AACTA Award winning documentary, will go to air on the Seven Network in 2024.
In 2022 Paul directed Kid Snow. Set in 1971, the story of two immigrant Irish brothers, tent boxers, and the woman who comes between them. Produced by Lizzette Aitkin, Bruno Charlesworth, Megan Wynn and Matthew Gledhill, and filmed around Kalgoorlie, W.A. it will be released theatrically in mid 2024 through Madman.
In August 2023 Paul was the Guest Presenter on the ABC Television’s iconic music video show RAGE, programming and discussing his favourite music videos from across the decades.
