Louis Sutherland

Louis Sutherland (born 8 March 1970) is a New Zealand film, television and advertising director and actor. He is of Samoan and Scottish descent, and based in Wellington.[1][2]

Louis Sutherland
Born (1970-03-08) 8 March 1970
Wellington, NZ
OccupationActor
Director
Screenwriter
Years active2002–present

Sutherland studied at Toi Whakaari (The New Zealand Drama School, Wellington)[3] where he worked with childhood friend Mark Albiston, creating a graduation short film.[4] After creating the award winning short films Run (2007) and The Six Dollar Fifty Man (2009), the duo co-directed their award-winning debut feature Shopping (2013).

Career

In 2000, Sutherland won a place at the Toi Whakaari Drama School where he first developed his dramatic talents, going on to work as a character actor for the stage and screen. Sutherland worked as an actor on a number of feature film projects King Kong[5] and Black Sheep[6] as well as TV projects including the acclaimed TV drama The Insider’s Guide to Love.[7]

In 2007, Sutherland wrote and starred in the Cannes Film Festival award-winning piece Run. Created in collaboration with Mark Albiston, the film secured a Special Mention in the Short Film category at the Cannes.[8]

Sutherland later partnered with Mark Albiston under the directing banner Mark & Louis to create their follow up short film The Six Dollar Fifty Man which earned Special Distinction at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.[9] The film went on to win major awards at both Sundance and the International Film Festival in Berlin. To date, it is the most successful short film for the New Zealand Film Commission.

At the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Sutherland premiered Shopping, his feature film co-directorial debut with Mark Albiston. Based largely on experiences from his own childhood,[10] the film received rave reviews and 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.[11]

Sutherland has increasingly focused on his directorial career, passing up acting opportunities to work as a film and commercials director.[12]

Filmmaking style

Sutherland's films have been auto-biographical to an extent, based on his experiences of growing up on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand.[10] This approach to writing and directing has given the films a "heartfelt" and honest tone, helping create "an emotional immediacy in the performances".[13] Sutherland has displayed a deft hand at working with children in his short and feature films, and this trait is also apparent in his commercial work for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, Otto and others.

Sutherland has detailed his process as a director, casting extensively and immersing cast in entire worlds, something he's experienced personally as an actor.[14]

Acting Filmography

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2002The StripWaiter"The 'Joy' of Sex" (S01E09)
2005-2006Seven Periods with Mr GormsbyHone HakanuiMain role
2006The Insider's Guide To LoveMartyMain role

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2005King KongVenture Crew #14
2006Black SheepWinstonComedy / Horror
2010Choice NightCoachDrama - Short film

Awards
YEARAWARDORGANISATION
2007Cannes Film FestivalHonourable Mention Winner - Short Film Run
2009Cannes Film FestivalSpecial Distinction Winner - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009En Corto International Film FestivalBest International Short Film[15] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009Abu Dhabi Film FestivalSpecial Narrative Short Winner[16] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009New Zealand Film and TV AwardsWinner - Silver Spike[16] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009Valladolid International Film FestivalSpecial Narrative Short Winner[16] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010Sundance Film FestivalJury Prize in International Film Making[16] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010Berlin International Film FestivalSpecial Mention[15] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010Cinequest Film FestivalBest Narrative Short Film[16] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010Aspen ShortfestBest Drama, BAFTA/LA Award for Excellence Film[15] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2013NZ Film and TV AwardsWinner - Best Film / Best Director / Best Screenplay / Best Supporting Actor / Best Supporting Actress / Best Cinematography - Shopping
2013Berlin International Film FestivalWinner - Grand Prix, Generation International Jury[17] - Shopping
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References
  1. Lydia Jenkin. "Let's go Shopping". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  2. "Louis Sutherland". nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  3. "Toi Whakaari - Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, performing arts courses in acting, design, costume construction, entertainment technology, arts management and directing". Toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  4. "The Arts Foundation : Louis Sutherland - Biography". Thearts.co.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  5. King Kong, retrieved 2020-03-03
  6. Black Sheep, retrieved 2020-03-03
  7. The Insiders Guide to Love, retrieved 2020-03-03
  8. "Palme d". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  9. "THE SIX DOLLAR FIFTY MAN". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  10. "Meet the 2013 Sundance Filmmakers #57: Louis Sutherland & - Indiewire". Indiewire. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  11. Pip Bulbeck (10 December 2013). "'Shopping' Dominates the New Zealand Film Awards With Seven Wins". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  12. "Louis Sutherland". Nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  13. "Film Review: 'Shopping'". Variety. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  14. "Creative Collaboration with Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland – Script to Screen". Script-toscreen.co.nz. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  15. "Louis Sutherland". IMDb. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  16. "The Six Dollar Fifty Man : Press Kit" (PDF). Nzfilm.co.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  17. "- Berlinale - Archive - Annual Archives - 2013 - Prize Winners". Berlinale.de. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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