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 and as a journalist for a variety of print publications.

He directed documentary projects for Australian TV 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.

In 2011 he produced his first feature, ‘Age of Heroes’ starring Sean Bean.
In late 2013 Brown launched his own UK distribution company House. The company has released more than 26 titles since its inception including Ti West’s ‘The Sacrament’ and Jill Soloway’s ‘Afternoon Delight’.

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 International Film Festival in 2014. Still Alice won its star Julianne Moore the SAG Award, Indie Spirit, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Oscar in 2015. 

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). In 2017, Brown produced and directed family film You Can Tutu which was acquired by Netflix for all English-language territories. His short Failure to Thrive premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2018, and he was selected for the TIFF Director’s Lab the same year. 

Author A is Brown’s debut feature as writer-director. In 2023, the project was selected to take part in the Toronto Film Festival Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch—a program that provided four Canadian and international creators the opportunity to pitch their science and technology—related film or episodic project at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Participants delivered a presentation in front of a live audience of industry experts and decision makers.  In addition to the non-competitive pitch event, James was awarded $15,000 CAD to help further his project.  

James kindly serves as an advisor to Zel Anders and Amendment 28 Films.  We are profoundly grateful for his sage advice and humor!