James Hunter is a multi-award winning director based in Melbourne, Australia. His background is in short films, music videos, commercials and he has just completed his debut feature film, THE LATCHER, which had its Worldwide Premiere at Melbourne International Film Festival and International Premiere at FrightFest London (the UK’s largest genre film festival) in 2026. He is interested in bold, emotionally resonant, cinematic storytelling.

James Hunter's most recent award winning short film NEST is a visceral black and white bush fable starring Lasarus Ratuere (Ghost in the Shell, Pieces of Her, Mabo) written by Steve Anthopoulos (Final Draft Big Break Grand Prize Winner), shot on 16mm film by Campbell Brown (ACS Gold Tripod Winner) and was produced by Faith Guoga in association with the Victorian College of the Arts.

It was called “A masterfully executed, mystifying gothic psychodrama that makes a monster of one man’s isolation and desperation” by the Melbourne International Film Festival and “a demonstration of extreme precision, a masterclass in pace and tone, featuring images that work on almost microscopic levels” by the Vancouver International Film Festival.

NEST had its Australian premiere at the 69th Melbourne International Film Festival, in the Accelerator Shorts program, an annual MIFF initiative designed to fast-track the feature film careers of outstanding emerging filmmakers. Alumni of MIFF Accelerator include Taika Waititi (Thor Ragnarok), David Michod (Animal Kingdom), Justin Kurzel (True History of the Kelly Gang) and Natalie Erika James (Relic).

NEST had its international premiere at the Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival (one of the most respected genre film festivals in the world).

NEST went on to have its NSW premiere at Flickerfest, Australia’s leading Academy® Qualifying and BAFTA Recognised short film festival and had its USA premiere at the prestigious Atlanta Film Festival, named one of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world by MovieMaker Magazine. It went on to open the St Kilda Film Festival, Australia's longest-running short film festival, at the iconic Astor Theatre in Melbourne and then Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Australia’s leading independent film event. NEST screened at HollyShorts, its sixth Academy® Qualifying film festival at the iconic TCL Chinese 6 Theatres and its Canadian premiere was at the 41st Vancouver International Film Festival, one of the largest film festivals in North America and a showcase of exceptional cinema in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Nest won Best Sound Design at the Canberra Short Film Festival and was nominated for Best Editing in Short Drama at the Australian Screen Editors Ellie Awards, Best Australian Narrative Short Film at the Brisbane International Film Festival, Best Achievement in Sound Post Production at St Kilda Film Festival and Best Fantastic Short, Best Cinematography and Best Sound at FilmQuest.

Most recently, James has just completed his debut feature film - THE LATCHER, a supernatural/psychological chiller which celebrated its Worldwide Premiere at Melbourne International Film Festival followed by its International Premiere at FrightFest London (the UK’s largest genre film festival) in 2026. Critics are calling the film “Powerful”, “Captivating”, and “Amazing, intense & harrowing”. James’ debut feature drew praise from legendary genre critic Anton Bitel at Projected Figures who called it “the birth of a new talent in horror filmmaking”. Ali Mozaffari at Filmink called it a “promising debut” and gave it 4/5, while Kat Hughes at The Hollywood News noted “THE LATCHER marks James Hunter’s feature debut, and he comes out of the blocks strong. His first feature is packed full of atmosphere, boasts a compelling lead performance, and explores maternal nightmares from a different angle to the norm”.