James Huntsman

James Huntsman is one of those filmmakers who doesn’t really stick to one lane, you know? He’s got this wild range—from indie drama to documentary to a bit of quirky coming-of-age, and honestly, you can see him flex in every single frame. Take "Lukas" (2018) for example—this isn’t your run-of-the-mill indie flick. It dives into the messiness of life, all those tangled relationships and choices that never seem to make sense until it’s too late. The characters feel raw, like Huntsman just let them loose and said, “Go ahead, screw up, we’ll roll with it.” There’s a sense of realness that a lot of directors wish they could pull off. Then you swing over to "Summer '03" (also 2018), and suddenly you’re in the middle of this awkward, hilarious, and sometimes painfully honest coming-of-age story. It’s all hormones, secrets, and those cringe-worthy moments you wish you could forget from your own teenage years. You can tell Huntsman has a soft spot for the weirdness of growing up, and he doesn’t hold back on the humor or the heartache. But wait, he’s not done— "Bhutan: The Snowman's Trek" drops you right into the middle of the Himalayas. It’s as much about dragging yourself through wild, beautiful landscapes as it is about digging deep and figuring out what really matters. Huntsman’s got a knack for telling stories that stick with you—doesn’t matter if it’s in the suburbs or halfway up a mountain, he’s always chasing that honest, messy, totally human moment.