Hands On Producer Program - Acquiring and Adapting Valuable IP

James Brown started his career in independent production and film criticism in his native Australia. He worked as a critic for the national Austereo Radio Network, directed documentary projects for ABC TV and Foxtel, and was awarded the Panorama Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival in 2004 for his drama short FUGUE.

After relocating to London, Brown worked in acquisitions at various independent UK distribution companies, holding Head of Acquisitions roles at companies including Tartan Films and Metrodome. During his time as a buyer, James established a reputation as a key foreign language buyer on the international distribution circuit, acquiring such breakout arthouse titles as I AM LOVE and THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES for both the UK and Australia/NZ. His work in acquisitions continues, most recently with his serving as Head of Content Partnerships for global VOD platform Eyelet.

In 2011 he produced his first feature, AGE OF HEROES starring Sean Bean. STILL ALICE, his second feature as a producer, was adapted from the bestselling novel by Lisa Genova and acquired by Sony Pictures Classics at the Toronto Film Festival 2014. STILL ALICE won its star Julianne Moore the SAG Award, Indie Spirit, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscar in 2015. In 2017 James produced and directed the family film YOU CAN TUTU which was acquired by Netflix for all English-language territories.

His short as writer/director, FAILURE TO THRIVE, premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2018. He was selected for the Toronto Film Festival Director’s Lab the same year. His latest feature as producer, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT starring Judith Light, Mandy Patinkin and Alec Baldwin, premiered in Competition at Sundance 2019 and was released in the US by 1091 (previously THE ORCHARD).

Upcoming projects as a producer include an adaptation of another Lisa Genova novel titled INSIDE THE O'BRIENS and a feature film based on the life of famed Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie called MAKING NOISE.