James Wright is an award-winning director based in Los Angeles and a George Lucas Scholar currently pursuing his MFA in Film & Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He creates both narrative and documentary work, with films that have been recognized at multiple festivals. Following graduation, he aims to direct feature films.
Please List the Title of Your Film at BIFF 2026
BEER RUN
What was your first experience with film and how did it influence your first project?
My interest in film goes back to drawing cartoon flip books as a kid. I also used MS Paint and Movie Maker to animate characters and record voices with my cousin. Later, I got a camcorder in junior high and started filming my friends around the neighborhood. The first film that really connected with an audience was a short documentary about the Vietnam War I made for a high school history assignment—it ended up winning an award. Looking back, storytelling through film has always been something I loved.
Who are your favorite Filmmakers?
Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Stanley Kubrick, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele, James Cameron, Michael Mann, Denis Villeneuve, Ava DuVernay, Werner Herzog, Clint Eastwood, Judd Apatow… the list goes on.
What are you working on that no one knows about?
Writing my first feature film.
Who would play you in a movie? What’s your go to movie snack? What’s the film title that best describes your life?
Play me in a movie: Someone once told me I remind them of Sam Rockwell.
Go-to movie snack: Something sour or the classic Milk Duds.
Film title that best describes my life: Into the Wild.
