Vanessa Perdriau
Assistant Director, Director, Editor, Production Manager
Sydney
Biography
Director | Editor | Production Manager | 1st Assistant Director
Vanessa Perdriau is a creative storyteller and versatile filmmaker whose 15+ years of international experience span directing, editing, producing, production managing, and 1st AD’ing across the UK and Australia. Originally from New Zealand and classically trained in London (First Class Honours, Met Film School), Vanessa blends cinematic vision with sharp production savvy—making her a dynamic force on every set and in every edit suite.
Early on, Vanessa sharpened her craft working alongside BAFTA- and Sundance-winning directors, developing a keen eye for narrative and emotional detail. Her London years brought a rich tapestry of projects—fiction shorts, documentaries, commercials, music videos—with clients like Sony, Dyson, Bosch, and The British Museum. Between 2014 and 2020, she was a Senior Editor at CNN International, crafting stories that moved audiences worldwide, from ballet in Nairobi’s slums to the life-changing work of Jane Goodall.
Since settling in Sydney, Vanessa has quickly become a go-to creative, teaming up with Australia’s leading agencies and production houses including TBWA, Special Australia, Crater, M&C Saatchi, Alta, and Bloomberg Originals. Her directing work ranges from the emotional grit of a 3-part MMA docuseries (Suburban Showdown) to comedic branded content like Uber’s Father’s Day campaign starring Jack Whitehall. As an editor, she’s cut immersive mini-docs for Bloomberg, unearthing stories that dig deep into geopolitics and biotech through to dynamic Hype Reels for leading agencies.
Vanessa’s 1st AD and Production Manager credits showcase her strength in steering complex shoots with calm and clarity—from feature films like The Charitable Sisterhood to high-energy commercial sets for Crater and others. Her wide-ranging skill set means she’s equally at home shaping the creative vision or nailing the production logistics, always with a collaborative spirit and a clear focus on storytelling.
Narrative filmmaking remains Vanessa’s heartbeat. Her award-winning short The Widow’s Last won development funding, played in 25+ festivals worldwide, and earned her a BAFTA longlist. She’s now attached to direct The Long Fare (starring Noni Hazlehurst) and serve as 2nd Unit Director on Eternity (starring Ben Mendelsohn), while also writing, directing, and producing Epie & the Moonman with Birchwood Pictures in LA.
Vanessa is a proud member of ADG, Directors UK, WIFT, and Cinesisters—bringing global experience, creative agility, and hands-on leadership to every project she touches.
Available for hire as Director, Editor, 1st AD or Production Manager – across commercials, scripted content, and branded storytelling.
SELECTED WORK
Play Video
EDITOR REEL
Play Video
THE WIDOW'S LAST
Reviews
“I had the pleasure of working closely with Vanessa as the Producer on her short film The Widow’s Last. She is a talented Director, Writer and Editor with excellent intuition and instinct for the beats that drive compelling narrative. With strong vision, excellent eye for detail and a passion for drawing honest performances from her actors, she is able to create emotive, aesthetic and compelling films that will connect with audiences and engage on a deep level. On set she is prepared, professional and yet remains flexible to adapt to changing circumstances in order to achieve the best result. Throughout the entire process, from script to delivery, she is a strong leader and team player, able to hold fast to her vision for a piece whilst enjoying collaboration with others and taking onboard and working with feedback. She is an absolute joy to work with and will add great value to any project.” Jackie Sheppard Producer – Escape from Pretoria (2020)
“Vanessa Perdriau is the most talented editor I have ever worked with. I had the pleasure of collaborating with her when she freelanced at CNN International and the projects we worked on together remain the programmes I am most proud of. She is a natural storyteller, particularly gifted with music and sound edits, and is able to make every programme she works on beautiful, engaging and compelling. What I enjoyed most about working with Vanessa is that it always felt like we were working as a team. Together, we would get the flow of the story right and make joint decisions that always elevated the finished product. Vanessa’s editorial judgement is one of her greatest assets, not to mention, she is charming, enthusiastic and a joy to work with. She is professional, always goes the extra mile and has never failed to meet a deadline. I couldn’t recommend her more highly.” Olivia Yasukawa Producer (2011-2019) CNN International - London
“5 out of 5 stars - Vanessa did a fantastic edit on one of our films - great pacing and sequencing and delivered on time. Absolute stand out work! We’ll definitely be contacting her for more work in the future, if she’s free!” Robin Fall Producer Bloomberg Originals
“Vanessa was really really lovely to work with! As 1st AD, she managed to wrangle a pretty tricky schedule with ease and made everything run smoothly. Thank you for a great recommendation!” Angelina Tsinganos Cortazzo Creative Producer Jacknimble
“The best 1st AD I have ever worked with!” Jules Callen MC Saatchi