Jane Campion on The Power of the Dog

In an interview for The Power of the Dog Electronic Press Kit, director Jane Campion discusses how she first came across the novel of the same name, by Thomas Savage, and why she chose to adapt it as a film.

At the 94th Oscars in March 2022, Jane Campion won for Best Directing. In total, the New Zealand-Australian co-production of The Power of the Dog received 12 nominations, making it the most Oscar-nominated Australian film to date.

Campion, who had previously won the Original Screenplay Oscar for The Piano (1993), received 3 nominations: for Best Directing, Motion Picture (alongside fellow producers Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier) and Adapted Screenplay.

The film's other Academy Award nominations include: Actor in a Leading Role (Benedict Cumberbatch), Actor in a Supporting Role (Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee), Actress in a Supporting Role (Kirsten Dunst), Cinematography (Ari Wegner), Editing (Peter Sciberras), Production Design (Grant Major and Amber Richards), Original Score (Jonny Greenwood) and Sound (Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb).

In the lead-up to the Oscars, The Power of the Dog won over 30 Best Picture prizes including at the British Academy Awards (the BAFTAs), Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards and AACTA International Awards.

In addition, Campion won over 30 individual Best Director prizes from critics' groups and other organisations, including the New York Film Critics' Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics' Association.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen