Founding Artistic Director
CRAIG MCMAHON is the Founder and Artistic Director of Film & Television Studio International, one of Australia’s most successful national training facilities for screen actors. He and his wife, Dominique, established the studio in 1999 and continue to lead both FTSI and McMahon Management—an elite theatrical agency representing exceptional Australian actors across Australia, the USA and the UK.
Craig has spent the majority of his professional life at the forefront of the film and television industry—initially as an award-winning artist, and subsequently as a highly skilled mentor and advisor dedicated to developing the next generation of screen talent. His deep industry experience and creative leadership at McMahon Entertainment Group Pty Ltd have shaped and accelerated countless careers, with many of his clients becoming household names. Alumni include Silver Logie winner Luke Mitchell (Chicago Med; Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D; Blindspot; The Tomorrow People; Home & Away), Silver Logie nominee Ashleigh Brewer (The Bold & The Beautiful; Neighbours; Home & Away), AACTA nominee Phoenix Raie (The Rooster; The Night Agent; Stateless; Love Me; Clickbait), Claude Jabbour (Last King of the Cross; NCIS: Sydney; Eden), Eleanor Webster (High Country), Jackson Tozer (Deadloch; The Newsreader), Logie nominee Sharni Vinson (You’re Next; Step Up 3D; Home & Away), Gold & Silver Logie nominee Esther Anderson(Siberia; Home & Away), Zima Anderson (Neighbours), Amy Ruffle (Mako Mermaids), Gemma Forsyth (Mako Mermaids; H2O: Just Add Water), Mitchell Ryan (One Tree Hill), AFI nominee Christopher Milligan (Arrow; Neighbours), Andrew Morley (Home & Away; Neighbours), Taylor Glockner (Neighbours; Conspiracy 365), Silver Logie nominee Matthew Werkmeister (Neighbours), Nick Bracks (Neighbours), Valentino del Toro (Terra Nova; The Slap; Underbelly Files), Lester Ellis Jr (Ja’mie: Private School Girl; Nowhere Boys), Melissa Howard (Winners & Losers), Dan O’Connor (Death in Paradise; Hollyoaks), Simone Buchanan (Boar; Shame; My Brilliant Career; Upper Middle Bogan; Neighbours), and many more.
Craig also manages a select roster of light-entertainment personalities and continues to mentor new talent and development clients soon to be introduced to the international market.
A respected figure within the industry, Craig is an ongoing judge for the prestigious TV WEEK Logie Awards in the categories of Most Outstanding Drama Series, Most Popular New Talent, and the Graham Kennedy Hall of Fame Award. He was recognised nationally with the Most Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award for more than a decade of creative excellence at Network Ten—spanning presenting, producing and writing.
An exceptional acting coach, mentor and manager, Craig divides his time between New York, Los Angeles and Melbourne, working closely with clients on every facet of career development—from training and on-screen craft to branding, marketability and global positioning. Under his guidance, complete beginners have gone on to become accomplished, award-winning actors.