James Marsh

James Marsh’s most recent dramatic film Red Riding 1980 was broadcast on Channel 4 in March 2009.  Starring Paddy Considine, the film is an adaptation of David Peace’s novel of the same name and formed part of a trilogy of films that was later released theatrically in the USA to considerable critical acclaim.

His most recent documentary Man On Wire has won 26 awards worldwide, including the Oscar for best documentary, a BAFTA for Best British film, the Independent Spirit Award and BIFA award for best documentary and Jury and Audience prizes at Sundance. The film is partly dramatised re-telling of an outrageous plot by a group of French artists to rig a high wire between the Twin Towers for aerialist Philippe Petit to perform on in 1974. The film was released theatrically world wide and was one of the top grossing documentary films of the last five years.

Marsh’s first dramatic feature The King was selected for entry at the 2005 Cannes film festival. A tale of jealousy and revenge set in the American Bible belt, the film stars Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt.  The film was co-written with Oscar nominated screenwriter Milo Addica. Marsh’s previous film Wisconsin Death Trip premiered at the Venice film festival and won many awards, including a BAFTA and RTS award for Best Documentary. Originally made for the television, this dramatised documentary was theatrically released in the UK and the US where it stayed on art house release for two years. Born in Cornwall, Marsh has lived between London and New York since 1994, and is presently based in Copenhagen.