Federation Pictures was founded in the centennial year of Australian Federation by Michael Graves, a Melbourne-based independent producer and director of short film.

Michael Graves holds a B.A. & Grad. Dip. in Media Studies from Deakin University, studied drama at that institution's Rusden campus, and screenwriting at the then Swinburne School of Film & Television. Federation Pictures was established to further the development and production of short and, ultimately, feature film in this country.

While Australia's attractiveness to runaway overseas production is not without benefit, this must not be at the expense of maintaining a vibrant indigenous industry. Federation Pictures endeavors to be at the crest of the inevitable Second New Wave of Australian cinematic talent, to contribute a consistent flow of identifiably local product that is both commercially viable, and of artistic worth.