Legendary Aussie producer who worked with ARIA Hall of Famer Paul Kelly dead

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Australian documentary producer Susan MacKinnon has died. 

The celebrated filmmaker, known for collaborating with Paul Kelly on the documentary ‘Stories of Me’, died last week.

Her cause of death is not yet known.  

Documentary Australia CEO Mitzi Goldman praised Susan as a dedicated and talented filmmaker, calling her a ‘champion’ of documentaries in a statement on the organization’s Instagram page.

Documentary Australia was deeply saddened to learn of Susan MacKinnon’s passing last week, as announced in a recent post.

‘Susan MacKinnon was a champion of documentary always.

From the very beginning of Documentary Australia, my colleague and I collaborated to find compelling stories and demonstrate to potential funders how well documentary filmmaking supports their charitable objectives.

Goldman described the filmmaker as friendly and enthusiastic, and someone who was always willing to support others working in the field.

‘She was attentive to many filmmakers as they struggled to get their films made. 

I will always remember Susan’s work in building DA, and the time we spent working together will remain a significant part of our story.

She fondly recalled her laughter, kindness, and support for those working in film.

‘Vale Susan, and thank you.’

The post featured a photo of Mitzi, alongside a caption remembering Susan and director Ian Darling receiving the Stanley Hawes Award at the AIDC in 2013 for their significant contributions to Australian documentaries.

Susan gained recognition in the film industry for her work on the award-winning documentary, *Paul Kelly: Stories of Me*, which the Film Critics Circle of Australia named Best Documentary in 2012.

The film, directed by Ian Darling, tells the story of the life, relationships, and hardships of the singer-songwriter behind the hit song ‘Love Never Runs On Time.’ He’s widely considered one of Australia’s most talented musicians and is an inductee into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Susan also worked on projects such as The Ride, Wall Boy and 4. 

For eight years, this award-winning producer was a key leader at Documentary Australia, helping to launch the organization in 2006. Their work focused on using documentaries and supporting filmmakers to drive positive social impact.

Thanks to her work with the foundation, it was nominated for the 2015 Sydney Peace Prize. The nomination recognized the power of documentaries to connect people and promote peace.

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2025-09-23 13:37