Originally from the junction of Wonnarua, Geawegal and Gamillaroi country, Hattie Archibald is an emerging director, writer and producer with a passion for drama and children’s content that aims to uplift, inspire and shift narratives.

After starting out in the industry as an intern at Spectrum Films and later working as impact producer, Hattie made the switch to drama directing through completing her Master of Arts: Screen in Directing (2018) at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. Her graduating project, Gut Feeling, a 3 x 12 minute comedy-drama web series, was picked up by ABC Comedy + iview in 2020 and presented at MIPCOM as part of the 2019 Best of Short Form showcase. Awards of note include the Audience Choice at Melbourne WebFest, Audience Choice at Minnesota WebFest, Best Series and Best Comedy Screenplay at Sydney Webfest, and the Best Student Series at Melbourne and Santa Monica Webfests.

Currently, Hattie is one of the regular directors on ABC’s Play School. She directed the ‘All Together’ special that won the 2026 AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program and was nominated for a Logie. Other Play School credits include Down On The Farm, the Make and Create series, My Place My Home series, Mighty Machines series, What’s Cooking series, Let The Games Begin series, Story Time Series 6, and episodes of Show Time featuring G Flip, Nikki Webster, Lenny Pearce, Pierce Brothers, Diver City and The Cat Empire.

Other work of note in the children’s/family space includes her live action adaptation of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas. The 15 min film produced by Caleb Irwin for his Masters at AFTRS, screened on ABC Kids for Book Week 2025 after premiering at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival in 2023 and at Flickerfest in Australia 2024. Awards include Best Film at the Scone Film Festival, Best Casting of a Short Film (for Danny Long) at the 2023 CGA Awards, the Gold Award - Best Student Cinematography (for Pete Moses) by the Australian Cinematographers Society.

Hattie has also directed a series of popular kids music videos for Zindzi and the Zillionaires for ABC Music, several comedy sketches for We Interrupt This Broadcast for Channel 7 on which she also worked as a 1st AD, along with a suite of other content, including branded content for HelloFuture.tv and several short films.

She is grateful to have had director’s attachment opportunities with Nash Edgerton on Season 3 of Mr Inbetween and David Gould on Home & Away.

Other key learning for Hattie has been through her work as an assistant director. She worked as the 1st AD on the AACTA award-winning feature Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt); the short film MumLife that was in official competition at La Cinef 2022 at Festival de Cannes; and Rocky & Me, a CJZ film for ABCMe DisRupted for which she was an associate producer. Projects as a 2nd AD include Limbo directed by Ivan Sen, The Moth Effect for Bunya Productions, Rachel Perkins’ The Australian Wars for SBS and NITV, and Limitless With Chris Hemsworth for Disney+.

Hattie has a slate of drama and family content in development through her production company, Staircase Productions, together with her producing partner Emily Bull of HelloFuture.tv.