James Thompson is Head of Sales & Marketing at the New Zealand Film Commission. James assumes overall responsibility for domestic and international sales and marketing activities of the New Zealand Film Commission. He oversees the NZFC’s participation at major international film markets and the development of closer relationships with local and international distributors, film festivals and co-investors. This includes management of the NZFC’s commercial sales agency operation, which represents over 100 New Zealand feature titles. James has negotiated distribution deals for NZ film titles with major independents and Studio divisions for key territories such as North America, the UK and Europe.
James previously worked as a lawyer in a major NZ commercial law firm and as a Senior Manager with KPMG in Europe. In 2002 he returned to NZ and worked in various production roles in the screen industry before joining the NZFC in Business Affairs in 2006. He has represented the NZFC at major international film markets since 2006 and was appointed Head of Sales and Marketing in 2009.
