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John Polson(I)

  • Producer
  • Director
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
John Polson
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:14
The Dry (2020)
3 Videos
12 Photos
John Polson is an acclaimed director, actor, writer, and producer, most recently recognized for helming the critically acclaimed limited series The Last Anniversary, based on the bestselling novel by Liane Moriarty and screening on AMC Plus (US), BBC One (UK), Binge (Australia), and elsewhere globally. Executive producing alongside Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films and Made Up Stories for Fifth Season, Polson also directed all six episodes.

Polson first gained international attention with his feature Siam Sunset (starring Linus Roache), which won awards at several global festivals, including Cannes. He went on to direct the U.S. box office hits Swimfan (with Jesse Bradford and Erika Christensen) and Hide and Seek (starring Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning), both of which opened at #1.

Polson began his career as an actor, earning critical acclaim for roles in The Sum of Us, The Boys, Idiot Box, and Mission: Impossible 2. More recently, he appeared in the Australian box office success The Dry.

In television, Polson has directed and/or executive produced more than 150 hours of top-rated programming, including The Mentalist, Elementary, The Good Wife, The Walking Dead, The Wilds, Tell Me Your Secrets, and Law & Order: Organized Crime. He is known as a versatile, collaborative force with a strong reputation for working alongside top-tier writers and talent.

Polson is also the founder of Tropfest, the world's largest short film festival-now a not-for-profit known as the world's leading catapult for emerging film talent. What began in a Sydney café in the early 1990s has evolved into a global launchpad for filmmakers, with events held in New York, London, Berlin, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, and more. Under his leadership, Tropfest has become a cultural phenomenon embraced by audiences and industry icons alike.

He divides his time between Upstate New York and Brooklyn, and regularly returns to his native Australia.
BornSeptember 6, 1965
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornSeptember 6, 1965
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos12

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    Known for

    Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II (2000)
    Mission: Impossible II
    6.1
    • Billy Baird
    • 2000
    Siam Sunset (1999)
    Siam Sunset
    6.4
    • Director
    • 1999
    Eric Bana in The Dry (2020)
    The Dry
    6.8
    • Scott Whitlam
    • 2020
    The Sum of Us (1994)
    The Sum of Us
    7.3
    • Greg
    • 1994

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • The Last Anniversary (2025)
      The Last Anniversary
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2025
    • Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)
      Law & Order: Organized Crime
      7.7
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2022–2023
    • Amy Brenneman and Lily Rabe in Tell Me Your Secrets (2021)
      Tell Me Your Secrets
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2021
    • Rachel Griffiths, Mia Healey, Charles Alexander, Tanner Ray Rook, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Sophia Ali, Reign Edwards, Aidan Laprete, Nicholas Coombe, Reed Shannon, Jenna Clause, Sarah Pidgeon, Erana James, Shannon Berry, Alex Fitzalan, and Zack Calderon in The Wilds (2020)
      The Wilds
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in Elementary (2012)
      Elementary
      7.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013–2017
    • In Liu of Watson (2013)
      In Liu of Watson
      7.3
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • Holmes Sweet Holmes (2013)
      Holmes Sweet Holmes
      8.4
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • Set Tour with Lucy Liu (2013)
      Set Tour with Lucy Liu
      7.4
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • A Holmes of Their Own (2013)
      A Holmes of Their Own
      8.1
      Video
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • Bear (2011)
      Bear
      7.3
      Short
      • producer
      • 2011
    • Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Anthony LaPaglia, Josh Hopkins, Enrique Murciano, Eric Close, Poppy Montgomery, and Roselyn Sanchez in Without a Trace (2002)
      Without a Trace
      7.0
      TV Series
      • producer
      • 2007–2008
    • September (2007)
      September
      6.4
      • producer
      • 2007
    • What's Going On, Frank?
      7.1
      Short
      • producer
      • 1995

    Director



    • Jason Beghe, Patrick John Flueger, Marina Squerciati, and LaRoyce Hawkins in Chicago P.D. (2014)
      Chicago P.D.
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021–2025
    • The Last Anniversary (2025)
      The Last Anniversary
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2025
    • Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)
      Law & Order: Organized Crime
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021–2023
    • Jesse Lee Soffer, Christina Wolfe, Carter Redwood, Eva-Jane Willis, and Vinessa Vidotto in FBI: International (2021)
      FBI: International
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Jeremy Sisto, Alana De La Garza, Missy Peregrym, John Boyd, and Zeeko Zaki in FBI (2018)
      FBI
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • FBI: Most Wanted (2020)
      FBI: Most Wanted
      6.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Oliver Platt, Steven Weber, Marlyne Barrett, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Jessy Schram in Chicago Med (2015)
      Chicago Med
      7.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2019–2021
    • Amy Brenneman and Lily Rabe in Tell Me Your Secrets (2021)
      Tell Me Your Secrets
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Rachel Griffiths, Mia Healey, Charles Alexander, Tanner Ray Rook, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Sophia Ali, Reign Edwards, Aidan Laprete, Nicholas Coombe, Reed Shannon, Jenna Clause, Sarah Pidgeon, Erana James, Shannon Berry, Alex Fitzalan, and Zack Calderon in The Wilds (2020)
      The Wilds
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2020
    • The Code (2019)
      The Code
      6.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2019
    • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in Elementary (2012)
      Elementary
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2013–2018
    • Kim Dickens and Lennie James in Fear the Walking Dead (2015)
      Fear the Walking Dead
      6.8
      TV Series
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2018
    • Andrew Lincoln in The Walking Dead (2010)
      The Walking Dead
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2017
    • Billy Burke, Kristen Connolly, Alyssa Diaz, Nonso Anozie, James Wolk, and Gracie Dzienny in Zoo (2015)
      Zoo
      6.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Will Estes in Blue Bloods (2010)
      Blue Bloods
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2011–2013

    Actor



    • The Last Anniversary (2025)
      The Last Anniversary
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Ronald
      • 2025
    • Eric Bana in The Dry (2020)
      The Dry
      6.8
      • Scott Whitlam
      • 2020
    • CR Mission: Impossible (2011)
      CR Mission: Impossible
      Video Game
      • Billy Baird
      • 2011
    • Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma (2003)
      Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma
      6.4
      Video Game
      • Billy Baird (voice)
      • 2003
    • Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II (2000)
      Mission: Impossible II
      6.1
      • Billy Baird
      • 2000
    • The Boys (1998)
      The Boys
      6.9
      • Glenn Sprague
      • 1998
    • Kangaroo Palace (1997)
      Kangaroo Palace
      7.7
      TV Mini Series
      • Richard Turner
      • 1997
    • Big Sky (1997)
      Big Sky
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Jimbo's Competitor
      • 1997
    • Idiot Box (1996)
      Idiot Box
      6.4
      • Jonah
      • 1996
    • Stitched
      5.2
      Short
      • Johnny Peterson
      • 1995
    • Audacious
      5.2
      Short
      • Tom
      • 1995
    • Back of Beyond (1995)
      Back of Beyond
      4.8
      • Nick
      • 1995
    • Out
      Short
      • 1995
    • What's Going On, Frank?
      7.1
      Short
      • Frank
      • 1995
    • Michael Craig and Denise Roberts in G.P. (1989)
      G.P.
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Nick
      • Brendan
      • 1991–1995

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos3

    Tenderness
    Trailer 1:58
    Tenderness
    The Dry
    Trailer 2:14
    The Dry
    The Dry
    Trailer 2:14
    The Dry
    Sirens
    Trailer 0:31
    Sirens

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • The World's Largest Short Film Festical
      • The World's Largest Short Film Festival
    • Born
      • September 6, 1965
      • Sydney, Australia
    • Spouse
      • Amanda HardingSeptember 26, 2004 - present
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Interview
      • 2 Articles

    Self-verified on IMDbPro

    • Gender / Gender identity
      • Male
    • Pronouns
      • he/him

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Creator of the short movie festival Tropfest in Sydney in 1993. Today, John is the creative director of what is now called Sony Tropfest and has become the world's largest short film festival.

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