James Choi is a renowned filmmaker with an impressive track record of over a decade of film industry experience in Los Angeles, boasting expertise in representation, production, and digital media.
Throughout his career, Choi has developed a reputation for supporting and collaborating with young directors on their debut feature films. His impressive portfolio includes producing two award-winning feature films from first-time directors, which premiered at the prestigious South by Southwest festival. Notably, "Made in China" won the Grand Jury Award, while "Saint Frances" took home the Audience Award. Both films were distributed by respected companies IFC Films and Oscilloscope Laboratories, respectively.
The critically acclaimed "Saint Frances" received further recognition, earning nominations for two Gotham Awards and the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards in 2021.
In addition to his work with emerging filmmakers, Choi is also the founder of Indie Studio, an initiative established in 2017 to provide financing and support to students at DePaul University interested in directing and producing independent feature films. The latest feature film to emerge from Indie Studio, "Waiting for the Light to Change," won the Grand Jury Award for Best Feature at Slamdance in 2023.
Choi's commitment to mentoring and collaborating with emerging filmmakers has solidified his position as an integral part of the independent film community. He is frequently featured as one of Newcity's Film 50 - the leaders of Chicago's film culture.
With a decade of experience at the forefront of the independent film movement, Choi has also directed numerous films that have screened widely around the world, winning awards and receiving distribution.
Choi's upcoming feature as a writer/director, "All Things Considered," was the winner of the 8th Annual showcase of Windy City feature films in development at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2022 and is slated for production in 2024.
