Pemberton's early career was marked by his work in music videos and television, but his first foray into documentary filmmaking came at the tender age of 24 when he was approached to direct a film documenting the collaboration between the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the reuniting legendary Kiwi group Spitz Enz.
As the years progressed, Pemberton co-founded a documentary production company with fellow filmmakers Megan Jones and Pietra Brettkelly, paving the way for a prolific career in documentary filmmaking. His impressive body of work includes award-winning documentaries such as Love, Speed and Loss, which took home the trifecta of best documentary, directing, and editing at the NZ Screen Awards.
Pemberton's filmography is dotted with critically acclaimed documentaries, including The Nuclear Comeback, which The Guardian praised for its engaging, nuanced, and non-preachy approach. His International Emmy-nominated film, The Golden Hour, showcases his ability to craft compelling documentaries that resonate with audiences.
His documentary, Chasing Great, went on to become the highest-grossing New Zealand documentary of all time, cementing Pemberton's reputation as a masterful storyteller. He also executive-produced the quirky hit documentary Tickled and directed his first interactive documentary, I Spy, which delves into the transnational Five Eyes surveillance network.
I Spy received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Original Interactive Production, demonstrating Pemberton's innovative approach to storytelling. His current feature documentary, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, is his most ambitious project to date. Based on the best-selling book by French economist Thomas Piketty, the film explores the journey of wealth and power across time, shedding light on the complex relationships between capital, power, and our future.
Pemberton's dedication to crafting thought-provoking documentaries has earned him a reputation as one of the most respected and innovative documentary filmmakers of his generation.
