James Napier Robertson is a New Zealand writer/director best known for his most recent feature film, THE DARK HORSE (2014) starring Cliff Curtis.
Initially an actor by trade, James landed leading roles in a number of local and international TV shows before making a conscious move behind the camera in his early twenties.
James garnered respect for his discerning direction of performances and mood in his debut feature, the micro-budget, noir-thriller I’M NOT HARRY JENSON, which he wrote, directed and edited.
I’M NOT HARRY JENSON premiered at the Shanghai and New Zealand International Film Festivals and was released theatrically on 30 screens in its home territory to strong reviews in 2010, before selling into a number of foreign territories. Despite its budget, the film generated much buzz around the newcomer director and caught the eye of many industry players, including national film-funding body the New Zealand Film Commission.
His fascination with dysfunctional, outsider characters, social disorientation and personality disorders underpinned the dramatic tension of the film – a theme he continues to explored in his latest work THE DARK HORSE, an evocative drama based on the true life story of Genesis Potini.
Session info: Secrets of The Dark Horse with Tom Hern and James Napier Robertson
