Tony Ayres is a highly admired writer and director whose work as showrunner on programs such as The Slap 2011 adapted from the novel by Christos Tsiolkas Bogan Pride 2008 starring Rebel Wilson Nowhere Boys 2014 and Glitch 2015 directed by fellow VCA alumnus Emma Freeman have put Ayres at the centre of the Australian screen industry and made him one its most influential leaders He is a founding partner of Matchbox Pictures