Jason Figgis

Jason Figgis is an Irish[1] film director known for his work on a variety of projects ranging from documentaries to horror films. He was born in Ranelagh, Dublin, and attended St. Mary’s College in Rathmines before studying art at Ballyfermot Senior College in Dublin. After working for Murakami-Wolf Animation Studios and Steven Spielberg's Amblimation Studios, Figgis studied business and worked in communications dealer accounts management before setting up his own film production company, October Eleven Pictures.[2]

Figgis directed his first feature film, The Twilight Hour, in collaboration with photographer Simon Marsden in 2003.[3] The documentary feature project, narrated by John Hurt, was acquired by the Discovery Network and distributed to 100 countries in 2004. Figgis was then invited by BSkyB to join them as a director, and he directed several feature projects, including Uri's Haunted Cities: Venice and A Maverick In London.[4]

In addition to his work with BSkyB, Figgis set up Teen Feature Film Project Ireland and Feature Film Project Ireland, directing three feature projects that went on to worldwide distribution through Pop Twist Studios and MVD Entertainment Group. He also directed two horror films, Don't You Recognise Me? and Torment, both of which were multi-award winning/nominated.

In 2018, Figgis formed a film partnership with journalist and broadcaster John West, called Figgis-West. Their first joint production was the haunted house feature, The Ghost of Winifred Meeks,[5] which was distributed by BayView Entertainment and Pinewood Studios High Fliers Films. Several other feature projects have followed in quick succession, including Maverick, the official look at the history of the celebrated King's Head Theatre in London, and Colin Wilson: His Life and Work, the official biographical series of films looking at the incredible body of work of the English philosopher and writer. Figgis also restored the classic German horror film Nosferatu and commissioned a new score from composer Hugh Doolan in 2022 to mark the centenary of the film. Their version of the restoration was selected for the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival and by Element Pictures for distribution through their cinemas Lighthouse and Palas during the centenary year.

Figgis has also worked on several documentary projects, including Simon Marsden: A Life in Pictures,[6] and Shirley Baker: Life Through a Lens. He has designed covers and written forewords for several books, including Britain's Haunted Heritage and Britain's Ghostly Heritage, both authored by John West,[7] as well as The Battle of Gainsborough 1643 and In Search of Roman Lincoln.[8]

Filmography

  • 2003: The Twilight Hour: Visions of Ireland's Haunted Past (documentary) – director/writer[9]
  • 2005: Uri's Haunted Cities: Venice (documentary) – director/writer[4]
  • 2005: A Maverick in London – director
  • 2006: A Curious Incident in the Life of Uri Geller – director/writer[10]
  • 2007: Blood – Producer/cinematographer
  • 2008: Dublin: The Movie (segment "Jo Jo") – director/writer
  • 2010: Once Upon a Time in Dublin (aka 3Crosses) – director/writer
  • 2012: A Christmas Carol – director/Adaptation
  • 2013: Children of a Darker Dawn – director/writer[11]
  • 2015: The Ecstasy of Isabel Mann – director/writer.[12]
  • 2016: Urban Traffik – director/writer.[13]
  • 2016: Don't You Recognise Me? – director/writer[14]
  • 2017: Torment – director[15]
  • 2017: Grindsploitation (segment "The Wandering") – director/writer
  • 2017: The 12 Slays of Christmas (segment "The Uncommon Mr Goode") – director/writer
  • 2017: Grindsploitation 3: Video Nasty (segment "All the Little Things/Vlad the Impaler") – director/writer
  • 2017: Grindsploitation 4 (segment "Hacksaw Jack") – director/writer
  • 2017: Trashsploitation (segment "Isabel/Don’t You") – director/writer
  • 2017: Schlocksploitation (segment "Backroads/Bring Me the Head of Anto Murphy") – director/writer
  • 2017: Gore Theatre (segment "Nouveau Monde/Ethan") – director/writer
  • 2017: Home Movies (segment "The Almost Daily Journal of a Madman") – director/writer
  • 2017: Home Movies 2 (segment "Numbers") – director/writer
  • 2017: Horror Box (segment "The Last Train") – director/writer
  • 2017: 1000 Zombies (segment "In The Beginning") – director/writer
  • 2018: Simon Marsden: A Haunted Life in Pictures – director/writer[16]
  • 2018: Schlock-O-Rama (segment "Railway Children Promo") – director/writer
  • 2018: Die In 60 Seconds 3 (segment "Bedside Manner/If You Go Down To The Woods/Run Lady Run") – director/writer
  • 2018: Dark Tales (segment "Friends Forever") – director/writer
  • 2018: American Sasquatch (segment "The Grey Man") – director/writer[17]
  • 2018: Grindsploitation 8: Drive-In Grindhouse (segment "Knife") – director/writer
  • 2018: The Haunting of M.R. James – director[18]
  • 2019: Gore Theatre 2 (segment "The Black Widow") – director/writer
  • 2019: Theatre of the Deranged III (segment "In Common") – director/writer
  • 2019: Clare Island (short) – director[19]
  • 2019: Faces Of Fear (segment "The Ties That Bind") – director/writer
  • 2019: Previews of Coming Attractions (film trailer) – director/writer
  • 2019: Trailersploitation (film trailer) – director/writer
  • 2020: The Wedding Ring (short) – director/writer[20]
  • 2020: In Our Day (short) – director/writer
  • 2020: Mythmaker: George A. Romero (short) – director/writer
  • 2020: Dunkirk 80 (short) – Producer/editor/writer
  • 2020: The Ghost of Winifred Meeks – director/writer[21]
  • 2021: Maverick – director/writer
  • 2022: Nosferatu – Co-producer of newly restored/scored version of the 1922 horror classic
  • 2022: Plague of the Dead (Anthology) – director/writer
  • 2022: 60 Seconds to Live (Anthology) – director/writer
  • 2022: Die Strong – director
  • 2022: My Island (music video for Uri Geller) – director
  • 2022: Love? Docudrama on domestic abuse (written and narrated by Samantha Beckinsale) – director
  • 2023: Colin Wilson: The Outsider – director
  • 2023: Colin Wilson: The Occult – director
  • 2023: Colin Wilson: Access Inner Worlds – director
  • 2023: Voyage to a Beginning – director
  • 2023: The Athena Syndrome – director (pre-production)
  • 2023: Shirley Baker: Life Through A lens – director
  • 2024: Code Red: Spain - director/writer
  • 2024: Jane Finds the Sea Frightening - director/writer

References

  1. ^ "The Mumbas Join 3CROSSES". ShowBiz Ireland. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  2. ^ "TAEM interview with Producer/Writer/Director Jason Figgis « The Eerie Digest". eeriedigest.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019.
  3. ^ "October Eleven's 'Simon Marsden' Screening at IFC | The Irish Film & Television Network". www.iftn.ie.
  4. ^ a b "Welcome to the house of horrors". The Irish Times.
  5. ^ Gibbons, Amy (19 May 2018). "Suffolk man chosen as producer for new feature-length psychological thriller shot in East Anglia". East Anglian Daily Times.
  6. ^ "Interviewing Jason Figgis, film director". John West Media.
  7. ^ Russell, Steve (10 February 2020). "A ghost whipped off my duvet as I slept". Ipswich Star.
  8. ^ "Lincolnshire town's "small but important part" in the rise of Oliver Cromwell". 14 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Twilight Hour: Visions Of Ireland's Haunted Past | Soundview Media Partners LLC".
  10. ^ "BIOGRAPHY". Mysite.
  11. ^ Marrone, John (28 December 2013). "[BD Review] 'Children of a Darker Dawn' Will Have You Ready For Bed By Noon".
  12. ^ "THE ECSTASY OF ISABEL MANN".
  13. ^ "URBAN TRAFFIK". www.sexgoremutants.co.uk.
  14. ^ "DON'T YOU RECOGNISE ME?".
  15. ^ "TORMENT".
  16. ^ "Simon Marsden: A Life in Pictures - Lincolnshire Life". www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk.
  17. ^ "American Sasquatch - MVD Entertainment Group B2B". mvdb2b.com.
  18. ^ "The Haunting of MR James in Norfolk". Great British Life. 8 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Figgis-West Film Partnership - October Eleven Pictures LTD". John West Media.
  20. ^ "Lockdown hasn't stopped Diane Keen from acting as new film written for her". Hampshire Chronicle.
  21. ^ "WINIFRED MEEKS".