AaronPetersenAward winning director & editor

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My latest projects

Aerial view of waves breaking along a rocky coastline at golden hour

About me

I’m a Director, Shooter, Producer, Editor
Curious about the story, obsessed with the craft.

Portrait of Aaron Petersen

I direct, shoot, and edit – often all in one go. With 30 years in the industry, I’ve worked across every corner of production. I know how to make things look slick and make them land. My journey started in postproduction, where I learned the power of story through the edit. From there, I moved through the ranks building a toolkit that’s equal parts creative instinct, technical know-how, and business savvy. That mix is what makes me reliable, adaptable, and easy to work with.

In 2004, I founded CoBox (formerly PostBox Sydney), a creative production collective built to flex with the needs of each project. We’ve partnered with global brands and local businesses alike, producing content for socials, corporate comms, commercials, documentaries, podcasts, and film. My work as a film director has been recognised internationally, including Best Director nominations for an AACTA Award and an ADG Award. But what drives me most is the chance to learn something new from every project. Whether it’s the story, the tech, the people, or the brand behind it, I take a genuine interest in the moment and the message.

Aaron Petersen directing a farmer and a young boy in a wheat field, camera on set

These days, I work primarily as a Director / Shooter Producer, a role that keeps me close to the creative heartbeat of every project. I work solo when needed, scale up when it counts, and bring a cinematic eye, technical precision, and editorial instinct to every frame. And when a project needs to grow, I’ve got a trusted network of collaborators ready to jump in and help bring big ideas to life.

I love what I do, I’m here to help, and always up for a chat.

Still from the Nikon Lenswear campaign: a smiling couple outdoors

Awards and Accolades

  • 2019 Melbourne International Film FestivalShort Film Category“Wet. Warm. Dribble.”Official selection
  • 2019 Bangalore Shorts Film FestivalBest Actress“Wet. Warm. Dribble.”Winner
  • 2018 Adelaide Youth FestivalBest Feature Documentary“Zach's Ceremony”Winner
  • 2017 AACTA AwardsBest Feature Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Nominated
  • 2017 Australian Directors Guild (ADG) AwardsBest Direction Of Feature Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Nominated
  • 2017 Australian Teachers Of Media (ATOM) AwardsBest Feature Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Winner
  • 2017 Australian Teachers Of Media (ATOM) AwardsBest Indigenous Online“Zach’s Ceremony”Winner
  • 2017 Film Critics Circle Of Australia (FCCA)Best Feature Length Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Nominated
  • 2017 FIFO (Tahiti)Best Feature Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Special jury prize
  • 2016 Byron Bay Film FestivalBest Film“Zach’s Ceremony”Winner
  • 2016 Byron Bay Film FestivalBest Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Winner
  • 2016 Margaret Mead Film Festival (New York)Feature Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Official selection
  • 2016 Melbourne International Film FestivalAudience Award – Best Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Winner
  • 2016 Sydney Film FestivalFoxtel Audience Award – Best Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Winner
  • 2016 Hot Docs International Film Festival (Toronto)Feature Documentary“Zach’s Ceremony”Official selection
  • 2009 Astra AwardMost Outstanding Music Program“Max Masters: Coldplay”Winner