Justin Pemberton
Justin Pemberton is a documentary filmmaker based in Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known for the films Chasing Great and The Golden Hour.
Justin Pemberton has a degree in psychology and Post-graduate Diploma in Broadcast Communication from The University of Auckland.[1]
In 2000, he established the production company The TV Set with filmmakers Megan Jones and Pietra Brettkelly.
Pemberton’s film Love, Speed and Loss, about Grand Prix road-racer Kim Newcombe, won Best Documentary, Best Editing and Best Directing at the 2007 Air New Zealand Screen Awards[2] and was also awarded Best Arts/Festival Documentary at the 2007 NZ Television Awards.
His next film The Nuclear Comeback investigated the nuclear power industry’s claim that, as a low carbon emitter, nuclear power is an environmentally friendly source of energy. The documentary won Best Documentary at Italy’s CinemAmbiente Film Festival in 2008 [3] and Best New Zealand Feature Documentary at the DocNZ Film Festival.[4] Pemberton was also awarded Achievement in Directing – Documentary at the 2008 Qantas Film and Television Awards for The Nuclear Comeback.[5] The documentary screened on The Sundance Channel in the US and is distributed by Films Transit International.[6]
In 2012 he wrote and directed the docudrama feature The Golden Hour, based on the heroic achievements of New Zealand athletes Peter Snell and Murray Halberg at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. The Golden Hour was nominated for a 2013 International Emmy Award for best documentary.[7]
In 2016 Pemberton co-wrote and directed a film about rugby legend Richie McCaw called Chasing Great.[8] The film opened at number one at the New Zealand box office with a record-breaking opening weekend [9] and became the highest grossing New Zealand documentary of all time. [10]
At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival it was announced Pemberton is to direct a feature film based on the NY Times best-seller Capital in the Twenty-First Century by French economist Thomas Piketty.[11]
Pemberton has frequently worked with New Zealand musician Anika Moa. He has directed two documentaries following the singer[12] as well as music videos and numerous photo shoots including the cover of her 2010 album Love In Motion. Moa has also composed the soundtracks for five of Pemberton’s films.
Pemberton served on the Executive Board of the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand from 2007-2009.
Filmography
- I Spy (With My 5 Eyes) (2016), Interactive Documentary
- Chasing Great (2016), Feature Documentary
- The Golden Hour (2012), Feature Docudrama
- Is She or Isn’t He? (2010), Feature Documentary
- In Bed With Anika Moa (2010)
- The Nuclear Comeback (2007) (2011), Feature Documentary
- Death On The Beach (2006)
- Love, Speed & Loss (2005), Feature Documentary
- Airports and Overtures (2005), Feature Documentary
- A Sleepy Life (2004)
- 3 Chords & the Truth: the Anika Moa Story (2003)
- Animal Imitators (2002)
- Dads Wanted (2000)
- ENZSO: Dirty Creature (1996), Feature Documentary
Festivals and Awards
The Golden Hour
- 2013 International Emmy Awards: Nominated, Best Documentary
Is She or Isn't He?
- 2011 Documentary Edge Festival, NZ
The Nuclear Comeback
- Winner: Achievement in Directing, 2008 NZ Film & TV Awards
- 2007 DOC NZ Film Festival (Winner, Best NZ Feature)
- 2008 Cinemambiente – International Environmental Film Festival, Torino, Italy (Winner, Best Documentary)
- 2008 Göteborg International Film Festival, Sweden
- 2008 Rodos Film Festival, Greece (Runner-up Medium Length Feature)
- 2008 South African International Documentary Film Festival
- 2008 Festival Internacional de Cine Documentary, Mexico
- 2008 Green International Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea
- 2008 Globale Berlin Film Festival, Germany
- 2008 XXII Pärnu International Film, Estonia
- 2008 Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival, New Zealand (Winner, Best Documentary)
- 2009 Cinema Planeta, Mexico
- 2009 One World Film Festival, Prague, Czech Republic
Death On The Beach
- 2008 Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival, New Zealand
Love Speed and Loss
- Winner: Best Documentary, 2007 NZ Screen Awards;
- Winner: Achievement in Directing, 2007 NZ Screen Awards;
- Winner: Best Arts/Festival Documentary, 2007 NZ TV Awards
- 2005 New Zealand International Film Festivals
- 2006 Globians Film Festival, Potsdam, Germany
- 2006 Reel Life On Film, Melbourne, Australia
Airports and Overtures
- Winner: Best Factual Cinematography, NZ Screen Awards
3 Chords & the Truth: the Anika Moa Story
- 2004 ReelWorld Film Festival, Toronto
Dads Wanted
- 2001 Gay And Lesbian Film Festival, Sydney
References
- ↑ "The Docufactory". The Docufactory Ltd. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ "NZ On Screen". Justin Pemberton Biography. NZ On Air. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ CinemAmbiente. "Winners 2008". CinemAmbiente. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ "The Nuclear Comeback". THE DOCNZ TRUST. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ "Qantas Film and Television Awards 2008 - Winners List" (PDF). Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ Films Transit. "The Nuclear Comeback". Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ↑ "2013 International Emmy Award Nominees". The International Emmy Awards web site.
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5722234/
- ↑ http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/entertainment/chasing-great-breaks-box-office-record-for-nz-doco/
- ↑ https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/entertainment/richie-mccaws-chasing-great-highest-grossing-nz-doco-all-time
- ↑ http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/thomas-pikettys-capital-in-the-21st-century-set-for-doc-adaptation/5103665.article
- ↑ NZ On Screen. "Justin Pemberton Biography". NZ On Air. Retrieved 27 August 2012.