An Emmy Award winning filmmaker with an eye for the uncomfortable truths in everyday life, David has moved between directing drama, documentary, music videos and  television commercials in a career that’s been eclectic and highly accomplished.

 

RECENT

 

Joining forces with Thomas Robins in 2009, the pair formed KHF Media and immediately conjured up the Emmy Award winning drama series and telefeatures - Reservoir Hill - which enjoyed two critically acclaimed seasons and numerous international sales.  This was followed by three seasons of Girl versus Boy, a primetime romantic comedy whodunnit.  In 2016 KHF will release the major television feature drama - "Catching the Black Widow", to be broadcast as part of TVNZ's Sunday Theatre

 

In 2015 David's debut theatrical feature "Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses" premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival and had it's international premiere at the Melbourne International Festival in 2016.   Co-produced with Thomas Robins, Belief is a confronting docudrama in the vein of The Imposter, telling the true story of a family's decent into terror and hysteria when they believe one of there own has been possessed by a demon. 

 

David's latest feature film "Daffodils" was released in March 2019, and is currently the highest grossing independent film of the year at the New Zealand box office.  With rave four star reviews, Daffodils begins it's international  journey at the Sydney International Film Festival in June 2019.

 

BACKGROUND

 

David's thirty year career in the film industry began as a runner on a cat food commercial.  After several years in varioius freelance roles David moved into film editing and then directing at New Zealand's National Film Unit. His first short film, Running for Empties was marketed at MIP-com and sold to numerous overseas territories. In the late 90s, David’s first 35mm theatrical short, the bizarre and twisted drama Helmut & Gretel, enjoyed success on the European film festival circuit and won Best Director at the Diva Awards.   David set up production company Krafthaus Films in 2002 after he’d spent a number of years directing TVCs and visual effects projects for Sector 14 Productions in Wellington and helming a broadcasting project for UNICEF in Beijing. Krafthaus became one of the biggest and busiest production houses in Wellington, with an award winning team and numerous high profile projects under its belt.

 

David has directed many celebrated large budget TVCs and has featured as a Director on the prestigious UK Shots Reel. He has also directed several music videos for Sony Music and Universal Music and was a finalist for best director in the 2003 and 2004 New Zealand Music Video Awards.

 

In 2008 David completed the 35mm theatrical short The Handover, a dramatically ambitious contemporary drama about a man who can’t let go or move on after a failed relationship. The Handover had its world premiere screening in competition at the 2009 Chicago International Film Festival.