A leading member of the new wave of Australian filmmakers, John Duigan (pronounced DY-gan) has been a prolific director who also wrote the screenplays for his works and often explored coming-of-age and post Vietnam/1960s themes. His films have often been cited for their sociological themes, particularly their interpersonal relationships and their focus on the outsider attempting to assimilate.

Duigan was born in England to Australian parents and raised there and in Malaya, before settling in his native land while attending boarding school. He began acting on stage and in films while in college.