James Bolton

James Bolton is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. Three of his films have been selected to premier at the Berlinale. Bolton's debut feature film, Eban and Charley, was released theatrically in 2001 to much critical praise and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Feature at the Chicago Reeling Film Festival. The film shattered perceptions about inter-generational relationships at festivals around the world. Gus Van Sant championed the film and compared it to the work of Ingmar Bergman. Eban and Charley was the first feature both shot digitally and released theatrically digitally in the US. It was shot by Judy Irola, ASC (Northern Lights (palm d'or winner), ambush of ghosts, winner of the Sundance Cinematography Award), the first woman in the ASC, who then became a leader in the digital cinema revolution. From 2002-2004 Bolton was the driving force behind Other Voices Film Fund, created by Bolton to assist independent filmmakers in producing and distributing their work. The advisory board included Parker Posey, John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus), Craig Chester (I Shot Andy Warhol), Stephen Winter (Producer, Tarnation). Bolton's second feature film, The Graffiti Artist premiered at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival as part of the Panorama and went on to play major international film festivals around the world (over 70 international film festivals), garnering several awards along the way. The film was released theatrically in the US and in Europe. The film also aired on the Sundance Channel and Showtime in 2005. Bolton has also directed several short films including "Growing Up and I'm Fine", which tells the story of two homeless teenagers on the streets of LA. This film was made while Bolton himself was a teenager and was selected to premier in the Panorama category of the Berlin International Film Festival. It also screened in museums and in high schools in Europe as a Public Service Announcement. Bolton's third feature Dream Boy had it's world premier at the 2008 Berlinale and sold around the world. Bolton won the award for Best screenplay at the 2008 Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles, and the film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cardiff Film Festival in Wales. The film starred Oscar nominated actress Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, The Social Network), Oscar nominated actress Diana Scarwood (Silkwood), and music icon Rickie Lee Jones. Bolton's most recent feature film, A Secret Life, is being produced by Myriad Pictures and is a spy thriller based on a true story of the Cold War. Bolton lives in Paris, France and Los Angeles.