Simon Hunter, a Scottish filmmaker, was born and raised in Dumfrieshire, Scotland. His early life was marked by a passion for filmmaking, as he made his first film, "Spaceman", at the tender age of seven. Instead of attending school, Simon spent his early years making Super 8 epics in the woods, a creative outlet that would shape his future endeavors.
As he grew older, Simon's curiosity and adventurous spirit led him to travel to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) to shoot a documentary on Super 8 about life on the riverboats that traverse the Congo River. This experience not only honed his filmmaking skills but also broadened his cultural awareness and appreciation.
Simon's formal education in film production began in 1990 when he enrolled at the University for Creative Arts in Farnham, England. During his time at the university, he specialized in thriller short films and made an ambitious graduation film, "Tea and Bullets", which told the tale of two pensioners racing across England in search of King Arthur's cave.
Simon's first feature film, "Lighthouse", was released theatrically in 2002, marking the beginning of a successful career in the film industry. He subsequently became a sought-after commercials director, working on various projects before returning to feature films with "Mutant Chronicles" in 2006.
In 2016, Simon directed his passion project, "Edie", a film that tells the story of an older lady who climbs a mountain in Scotland at the age of 83. The film was completed in 2017 and premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and won audience awards at several film festivals. The movie was released theatrically in various countries, including the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, France, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Simon's most recent feature film, "Can You Hear Me?", is a World War One drama that stars Peter Facinelli, James Cosmo, and Sir John Standing. The film, which was made on a budget of five million dollars, explores the themes of war, sacrifice, and the human cost of conflict.
In 2024, Simon will be show-running and directing a crime series entitled "Cold Mind", which will be shot in Portugal in the spring of that year. This project marks a new chapter in Simon's career, as he transitions from feature films to television.
Simon is married to Daniela Bräuer, who appeared briefly in "Edie" as a German hiker. They have two children, Samuel and Isabel, who have grown up surrounded by the world of filmmaking.
