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IanJohn

  • Editor
  • Director
Ian-John-profile.jpg

Born and raised in England, Ian John relocated to New Zealand in the early 1970s, after training as an editor with the BBC. During his four years with Wellington company Pacific Films, John worked on landmark documentary series Tangata Whenua. After going solo he cut breakthrough features Sleeping Dogs and The Scarecrow — and directed and produced a range of television documentaries and informational films.

Screenography

The Pelagonauts
2020 Director Short film
Into Africa
2016 Director, Subject, Camera Operator Short film
Galápagos - Blown Out of the Water
2014 Director, Camera Operator, Subject Short film
The Band
2010 Director, Co-Producer Television

Biography

Ian John has edited everything from pioneering Māori series Tangata Whenua to breakthrough New Zealand movies Sleeping Dogs and The Scarecrow. After adding directing and producing to his kitbag, he worked everywhere from the Himalayas to the Amazon. His subjects have ranged from tourism to the America’s Cup, and from sportspeople to medical documentaries.

Awards

2007 Air New Zealand Screen Awards
Nominated for Best Sports Programme (with Martin Crowe): for The Chosen Ones, John Walker episode

“I often felt that the corporate sector had been overlooked by filmmakers, so I started to introduce documentary skills and techniques to inspire clients to aim higher.”

— Ian John