Mark Albiston

Career

In 2000, Albiston started the production company Sticky Pictures. The company produced award-winning content across a wide range of genres including documentary, short films, music videos, and commercials. These projects offered Mark the opportunity to refine his directing talent from a variety of angles writing, editing and shooting on various projects. Mark won a number of Documentary and factual TV awards including best arts documentary for ‘The Magical World of Misery’ and best factual entertainment TV show for ‘The Living Room’ 

In 2007, Albiston (director) received recognition in the Short Film Section at the Cannes Film Festival for his short film Run. Created in collaboration with writer/actor Louis Sutherland, the film won prizes at a number of other festivals.

The two later partnered again, this time under the co-directorial banner Mark & Louis, to win the same Jury award at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival with their follow-up short film The Six Dollar Fifty Man. The Six Dollar Fifty Man. Mark was the first director to win twice in that category at Cannes. The film was a breakout hit on the festival circuit; its tally included winning the award for best international short at The Sundance Film Festival, a special mention in its section at Berlin, scooping three awards at the 2009 Qantas Film and Television Awards — including Best Short — and top prize at the 2010 Flickerfest festival in Australia. The Six Dollar Fifty Man made the 10-strong long-list for the Academy Awards, ultimately missing out on the final five.

At the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Mark premiered Shopping, his feature film co-directorial debut. Also created with Louis Sutherland, the film earned several awards including a Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival, and seven New Zealand Film Awards. including Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.

Albiston is currently developing his first solo-directed feature film together with NZ writer Paul Stanley Ward called Cat Burglar. 

Mark has continued to work independently as a commercials director, helming films for brands including Lloyds Bank, Marks & Spencer, McDonalds, Nestle, Sky, T Mobile and Whiskas. He’s collaborated with agencies around the world, including Clemenger BBDO, DDB, Havas, Kolle Rebbe, Lowe, Ogilvy & Mather, Publicis, RKCR Y&R and Scholz & Friends, Serviceplan, Saatchi & Saatchi, Boys and Girls, Adam and Eve, BBH. 

Filmmaking style

Albiston has gained an international following by crafting a body of work that focuses on character and emotion, stripping away pretence to create authentic and raw emotional performances.

Awards

|| 2013 || Berlinale Generation || Winner - Shopping |- || 2014 || Adstars || Bronze - Cinematography - Sky Next |- || 2015 || CAANZ Axis || Bronze - Charity - One Percent Collective Superhero |- || 2015 || AWARD Awards || Bronze, Direction - One Percent Collective Superhero |- || 2016 || New York Festivals || Third Prize - Editing - Tokio Marine 'Yesterday Today' |- || 2016 || One Show || Merit - Editing - Tokio Marine 'Yesterday Today' |- || 2016 || AdFest || Silver - Cinematography - Silver - Editing, Silver - Sound Design - Tokio Marine 'Yesterday Today' |- || || 2016 CAANZ Axis || - Silver - Direction, Silver - Cinematography, Silver - Editing, Silver - Sound Design - Tokio Marine 'Yesterday Today' |- || || 2016 || Kinsale Sharks || Bronze - Direction - Tokio Marine 'Yesterday Today' |- || || 2016|| London International ||Gold - Original Music - Thomas Cook 'Pool Kid' |- || || 2016 || Kinsale Sharks || Bronze - Best Crafting, Bronze - Best Original Music -Thomas Cook 'Pool Kid' |- || || 2017 || AWARD Awards || Film Direction - Bronze, Original Music - Bronze, Tokio Marine 'Yesterday Today' |- || || 2017 || CAANZ Axis || Bronze - Direction - LTA 'Go Hit It' |- || || 2017 || CAANZ Axis || Bronze - Direction, Finalist - Editing - Lipton 'School Bus'