An additional Australian director has been hired for Foxtel's Picnic at Hanging Rock miniseries following backlash over a foreign director being given the plum role.
Variety reports FremantleMedia has relented and agreed to hired an additional local female director after the industry rounded on the project for engaging Canadian filmmaker, Larysa Kondracki​.
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Picnic at Hanging Rock - Trailer
A story about the disappearance of several Appleyard College students, and a teacher, from Hanging Rock.
In December, Foxtel announced it had green-lit a six hour miniseries based on the 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay about the mysterious disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher at Hanging Rock in 1900.
The news attracted additional anger given Picnic at Hanging Rock is being fully-financed in Australia.
![A scene from 1975 film <i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i>.](/web/20161227180656im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/e/6/b/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gthtq8.png/1482766106532.jpg)
Directors' Guild of Australia CEO Kingston Anderson told Fairfax Media Kondracki's appointment beggared belief.
"We're appalled that FremantleMedia are going to import a Canadian director to direct an iconic Australian television series," Anderson said.
"We have some of the best directors of television in Australia now so why they're bringing a director in, we don't understand."
Actor-director Rachel Ward told Daily Review it a "bitter pill to swallow".
![Actor Rachel Ward said if Australian directors wanted to succeed, they had to make waves overseas first.](/web/20161227180656im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/h/t/t/5/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gthtq8.png/1482766106532.jpg)
"It's ultimately just sad that those of us who have committed so many years as Australian filmmakers are thought so little of by some production teams and broadcasters here that we must import someone to do the job for us."
Kondracki's work includes episodes of The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul and Gotham.
Australian-born Deadline Gallipoli director Michael Rymer is also attached to the project, now taking the director tally to three. It is understood the local female director will helm one episode.
According to Screen Australia, only 22 per cent of local television drama is directed by Australian women.
In a statement, FremantleMedia Australia & Asia Pacific CEO Ian Hogg said the company had a "strong track record of championing gender equality".
"We have a proud history of taking Australian-led stories overseas, including Foxtel's Wentworth, which is now an international success and has attracted critical acclaim for telling strong female stories."
Film Victoria CEO Jenni Tosi told TV Tonight the move was a step toward "recognising the value of women in the screen industry and the importance of ensuring they have access to development and progression opportunities in the industry."
"We're delighted this matter has been resolved and we look forward to the production enjoying great success with audiences at home and abroad."
The project begins shooting in Victoria in February.