James Ashcroft

James is a graduate of Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. He has served internships with acclaimed theatre company The Wooster Group in New York. He attended the Venice Biennale Cinema College as one of 12 teams selected worldwide. He was also one of 15 directors/producers selected for the Torino Film Festivals inaugural Up & Coming Programme, showcasing talents from around the world. From 2006-2013 he served as Artistic Director and Chief Executive of national Maori theatre company Taki Rua Productions, developing and touring New Zealand works both nationally and internationally.

His feature film directing debut Coming Home in the Dark premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2021 to great acclaim, followed by a global festival tour. He is currently working on a slate of features in the US including adaptations of Max Brook's Devolution and Grady Hendrix' How To Sell A Haunted House for Legendary Studios and Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures, and an adaptation of the graphic novel Old Haunts for AWA Studios. His sophomore feature The Rule of Jenny Pen is currently in theatres and will appear on Shudder later this month. He is currently shooting The Whisper Man starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott for the Russo Brothers's AGBO Productions and Netflix.

He is represented by CAA and UNTITLED ENTERTAINMENT.

You can also catch up with him on Facebook and Instagram.

Interview recorded on 2025-03-16.