James Bolton is a celebrated director, writer, and producer, renowned for his innovative approach to filmmaking. His debut feature film, Eban and Charley, premiered in 2001 to widespread critical acclaim and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Feature at the Chicago Reeling Film Festival. This groundbreaking film shattered conventions about inter-generational relationships, earning comparisons to the work of the revered Ingmar Bergman by none other than Gus Van Sant. Eban and Charley was a trailblazing achievement, being the first feature film to be shot and released digitally in the US, with cinematography by the pioneering Judy Irola, the first woman to join the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). Irola's work on the film marked a significant milestone in the digital cinema revolution.
Between 2002 and 2004, Bolton played a key role in the Other Voices Film Fund, an initiative he founded to support independent filmmakers in producing and distributing their work. The advisory board of this esteemed organization included Parker Posey, John Cameron Mitchell, Craig Chester, and Stephen Winter, among others. Bolton's second feature film, The Graffiti Artist, premiered at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival and went on to be showcased at over 70 international film festivals, garnering numerous awards and accolades along the way. The film was subsequently released theatrically in the US and Europe, and aired on the Sundance Channel and Showtime in 2005.
Bolton has also directed several short films, including the poignant "Growing Up and I'm Fine", which tells the story of two homeless teenagers struggling to survive on the streets of Los Angeles. This powerful film, which Bolton made while himself still a teenager, premiered in the Panorama category of the Berlin International Film Festival and was also screened in museums and high schools across Europe as a Public Service Announcement.
Bolton's third feature film, Dream Boy, had its world premiere at the 2008 Berlinale and was subsequently sold worldwide. He won the award for Best Screenplay at the 2008 Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles, and the film took home the Grand Jury Prize at the Cardiff Film Festival in Wales. The film boasted an impressive cast, featuring Oscar-nominated actresses Rooney Mara and Diana Scarwood, as well as music legend Rickie Lee Jones.
Bolton's most recent feature film, A Secret Life, is currently in production with Myriad Pictures, and is a gripping spy thriller based on a true Cold War story. The director currently resides in both Paris, France and Los Angeles, and is widely regarded as a master of his craft, with a body of work that continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
