Name Justin Pemberton | ||
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ScreenTalk Short: Justin Pemberton
Justin Pemberton is a documentary filmmaker based in Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known for the films Chasing Great and The Golden Hour.
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Life and career
Justin Pemberton has a degree in psychology and Post-graduate Diploma in Broadcast Communication from The University of Auckland.
In 2000, he established the production company The TV Set with filmmakers Megan Jones and Pietra Brettkelly.
Pemberton’s film Love, Speed and Loss, about Grand Prix road-racer Kim Newcombe, won Best Documentary, Best Editing and Best Directing at the 2007 New Zealand Screen Awards and was awarded Best Arts/Festival Documentary at the 2007 Qantas Television Awards.
His next film The Nuclear Comeback investigated the nuclear power industry’s claim that, as a low carbon emitter, nuclear power is an environmentally friendly source of energy. The documentary won Best Documentary at Italy’s CinemAmbiente Film Festival in 2008 and Best New Zealand Feature Documentary at the DocNZ Film Festival. Pemberton was also awarded Achievement in Directing (Documentary) at the 2008 Qantas Film and Television Awards for The Nuclear Comeback. The documentary screened on The Sundance Channel in the US and is distributed by Films Transit International.
In 2012 he wrote and directed the docudrama feature The Golden Hour, based on the heroic achievements of New Zealand athletes Peter Snell and Murray Halberg at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. The Golden Hour was nominated for a 2013 International Emmy Award for best documentary.
In 2016 Pemberton co-wrote and directed a film about rugby legend Richie McCaw called Chasing Great. The film topped the New Zealand box office with a record-breaking opening weekend and became the highest grossing New Zealand documentary of all time.
At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival it was announced Pemberton is to direct a feature film based on the NY Times best-seller Capital in the Twenty-First Century by French economist Thomas Piketty.
Pemberton has frequently worked with New Zealand musician Anika Moa. He has directed two documentaries following the singer as well as music videos and numerous photo shoots including the cover of her 2010 album Love In Motion. Moa has also composed the soundtracks for five of Pemberton’s films.
Pemberton served on the Executive Board of the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand from 2007-2009.
Filmography
Festivals and awards
I Spy (With My 5 Eyes)
The Golden Hour
Is She or Isn't He?
The Nuclear Comeback
Death On The Beach
Love Speed and Loss
Airports and Overtures
3 Chords & the Truth: the Anika Moa Story
Dads Wanted