The story so far...

Widestream Films has worked with many leading producers, cameramen, and editors making specialist films on subjects that inspire us. We've worked for major broadcasters as well as individual clients and often initiate and develop our own projects, from shorts to music and arts documentaries to feature films. In the evolving world of film production we are always looking for fresh approaches, ideas that excite us and new means of funding. 

Widestream Films is lead by Mark James an award winning documentary and feature film director. Mark studied fine art Goldsmiths College birthplace of famed ‘YBAs’ (Young British Artists) like Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas, and more recently the Oscar winning artist turned film maker Steve McQueen. Mark went on to study film production at the prestigious Film School of the Royal College of Art where former students included Ridley Scott and his brother the late Tony Scott. 

Mark went on to direct a number of influential films for television, including the controversial and highly influential FREEZE for BBC1 - the first television documentary on DAMIEN HIRST and the emerging ‘YBAs’ (Young British Artists). He also made major films on pop musicians DAVE STEWART, BRYAN FERRY AND PHIL COLLINS and continued to make over 50 films on art, design, dance, music and architecture. 

Mark took on the disturbing subject of a teenage vampire cult in KENTUCKY TEENAGE VAMPIRES.  The Story of Rod Ferrell, a self-confessed vampire who killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents and is now on Florida’s death row. It inspired his first feature film VAMPIRE DIARY – a stylish art-house horror shot as a visually compelling video diary that picked up 4 (of 8) awards at the Milan International Film Festival 2008. Best Film, Best Editing, Best Actress, Best Cinematography. 

In 2010 Mark completed A BIPOLAR EXPEDITION, a feature documentary for More 4’s True Stories that follows a Midland’s businessman to a fantasy castle in Jamaica as part of a bizarre quest to find a wife from a group of 12 Ukranian women who join him there.  

Also in 2010 Mark completed DANCE DANCE DANCE 3D for Sky Arts – a spectacular 60min dance showcase that went on to win the International 3D Society Award for Entertainment and Music at Mann’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood.

Mark has just completed STUDIO 17: THE LOST REGGAE TAPES a film on a famous studio at the heart of Jamaica’s music revolution, due for release in October 2019 and broadcast on BBC4. Also completed is WILLIAM TILLYER: THE GOLDEN STRIKER a feature documentary about one of Britain’s foremost artists William Tillyer. Mark is currently in development with a number of feature films he has written.