A former video store attendant in the 1990s, James Cunningham studied filmmaking at QPIX in Brisbane while working on film productions such as award-winning Australian film 'Gettin' Square' (2003), television reality series such as 'Big Brother Australia' and 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Outta Here' (UK), as well as working with local television commercial production companies such as The Roly Poly Picture Company, and filmmakers including Neil Johnson. James earned 'Best Director' at the Chicago Cinema Awards in 2022 for his short film 'The Assignment'. James served as Editor of Australian Cinematographer Magazine for eight years, and earned the Ron Windon ACS Award from the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) in 2023. James has worked as a film journalist, movie critic and reviewer, script-doctor and film festival judge. James work 'That's Racist' was shortlisted for the Midsumma Queer Playwriting Award in 2021. James continues to work part-time producing his own film and theatre projects around Australia. His works are not-for-profit and explore dark themes, confronting concepts of masculinity, identity and self-expression.
