Mark Albiston

Mark Albiston (born 19 March 1972) is a New Zealand film, television and advertising director. He graduated from Canterbury University (Christchurch) in 1992 with a degree in Fine Arts.

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.^[1] These projects offered Mark the opportunity to refine his talent from a variety of angles while also honing his skills as a writer, editor, cinematographer, and director.

In 2007, Albiston received recognition in the Short Film Section at the Cannes Film Festival^[2] 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 award at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival^[3] with their follow-up short film The Six Dollar Fifty Man.^[4] They were the first directors 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,^[5] 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.^[6]

At the 2013 Sundance Film Festival,^[7] Mark premiered Shopping,^[8] 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,^[9] and seven New Zealand Film Awards.^[10] 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, Surf 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.

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.^[11][12]

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'

References

External links

• Mark Albiston on IMDb
• Sticky Pictures
• The Sweet Shop
• New Zealand Film Commission