Martha Ansara was born in the United States,[1] where her father was a leading figure in the Syrian-Lebanese community and her mother an educator specialising in dyslexia.
[2] She started making films with other young filmmakers through the co-operative, but at that time professional cinematography was dominated by men and it was difficult to get work.
[citation needed] She also began writing reviews and articles on film for Filmnews, the monthly newspaper of the Sydney Filmmakers Co-operative, and then for a range of publications.
[18] During this period, Ansara was an active member of the Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees' Association, becoming the convener of its motion picture sub-committee.
[30][31] Jeni Thornley, interviewing Ansara about the film in February 1988, described it as "about so much: motherhood, war, capitalism, change, values, how to live one's life, and it's also about women's economic independence from men.
[36] In this period Ansara gradually stopped working as a cinematographer and increasingly began teaching film, including as a lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney.
[11] In 2002, Ansara produced the documentary Ordinary People, directed by Jennifer Rutherford and narrated by Tara Morice, which follows One Nation candidate Colene Hughes over two years and two elections.
[37][8][6] In 2003, Ansara joined other documentary-makers, including Jeni Thornley, Pat Fiske and Mitzi Goldman, in forming Ozdox, the Australian Documentary Forum.
[38][39] In 2005 Ansara, as a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society, was asked to work with the ACS on a photographic history of cinematography in Australia.
[40] Upon its launch, Ansara wrote "For me, The Shadowcatchers is, among other things, a tribute to the importance of the NFSA to our national heritage – to our understanding of the past".
[41] Also in 2005, she produced the documentary I Remember 1948,[42][43][8][6] In 2009 she directed and co-produced the silent short comedy drama film The Ballad of Betty and Joe,[43][8] with the assistance of some grassroots activists.
[citation needed] Ansara's documentary films have been screened in Australia, the UK, Europe, and North America and some have won international prizes.