Eddie Cockrell Obituary – Eddie Cockrell, a renowned film critic and programmer, passed away on December 29 in Sydney, Australia, due to liver failure. His sister, Ann, confirmed the news. Cockrell had an extensive career, reviewing numerous films for Variety at various film festivals such as Berlin, Karlovy Vary, Montreal, and Toronto. He also contributed reviews to Indiewire, Nitrate Online, and various television outlets.
After relocating to Australia in 2005, Cockrell primarily focused on films from Australia and New Zealand. From 2010 onwards, he held positions as a TV columnist, feature writer, and film reviewer for The Australian, a prominent Sydney newspaper. Cockrell’s contributions extended beyond film criticism. He served as the associate director of film programming for the American Film Institute National Exhibitions at the Kennedy Center. Additionally, he was a regular guest presenter at Harlan Jacobson’s “Talk Cinema” screening and lecture series for over two decades.
Jacobson fondly remembered Cockrell, stating that he was a beloved figure among Talk Cinema audiences. Cockrell’s energy, humor, and insightful commentary made him a favorite. He participated in Talk Cinema events since its inception in 1994, appearing in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York at The Walter Reade at Lincoln Center. Despite living in Australia, Cockrell made regular trips to see his family and continued to join Talk Cinema film festival tours worldwide. His sharp analysis of films showcased his extensive experience in cosmopolitan, world-traveled film festivals, covering a wide range of movies from “Memento” and “Sideways” to “Fish Tank,” “The Girl With The Pearl Earring,” “The Son’s Room,” and “Waking Ned Devine.”
Cockrell’s involvement in the film industry extended to programming and writing for various institutions. He curated films and wrote about cinema for the Washington D.C. International Film Festival, the Goethe-Institut Washington’s Film Neu series, and the Kino! film series in Munich, the Centre for Continuing Education in Sydney, and Telefilm Canada’s Canadian Front program at MOMA. He also served as a programming consultant and writer for the Sydney Film Festival and taught Film History at American University in Washington, D.C.