James Choi is a prolific, award-winning filmmaker with over a decade of film industry experience in Los Angeles having worked in representation, production and digital media.
He has a long history of collaborating and supporting young directors on their debut feature films. He has produced two award-winning feature films from first-time directors that premiered at South by Southwest - "Made in China" winning the Grand Jury Award and "Saint Frances" the Audience Award. The films were distributed by IFC Films and Oscilloscope Laboratories, respectively. Saint Frances was nominated for two Gotham Awards and the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards in 2021.
James has also been involved in helping students produce their first feature films through Indie Studio, which he founded in 2017. Indie Studio is an initiative that provides financing and support to students at DePaul who are interested in directing and producing independent feature films. "Waiting for the Light to Change," the latest feature film to come out of Indie Studio, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Feature at Slamdance in 2023. James has become an integral part of the independent film community by being committed to mentoring and collaborating with emerging filmmakers.
James is frequently recognized as one of Newcity’s Film 50, a list celebrating the leaders of Chicago’s film culture. A trailblazer in the independent film movement, he has directed numerous films that have screened internationally, earning awards and securing distribution. His most recent feature as a writer, "All Things Considered", recently sold to Tubi as a finalist in the Tubi/Blacklist To Be Commissioned Initiative.
James’ latest project as a writer/director, "Before the Call," was filmed in Seoul, Korea, and is scheduled to premiere in 2025. His career exemplifies a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.