ABOUT DAVID STUBBS

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An Emmy Award winning filmmaker with an eye for the uncomfortable truths in everyday life, David has moved between feature films, television drama, commercials, documentary, music videos and digital projects in a 30 plus year career that’s been eclectic and highly accomplished.

 

RECENT

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Joining forces with Thomas Robins in 2009, the pair formed KHF Media and immediately conjured up the Emmy Award-winning "interactive" drama series and telefeatures - Reservoir Hill - which enjoyed two critically acclaimed seasons, numerous international sales, and was remade in Sweden, Spain and Germany. This was followed by three seasons of Girl versus Boy, a primetime romantic comedy whodunnit. 

 

In 2015 David's award-winning debut theatrical feature - "Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses" - premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival and had its international premiere at the Melbourne International Festival in 2016.  Belief is a confronting docudrama telling the true story of a family's descent into terror and hysteria when they believe one of their own has been possessed by a demon.

 

Belief won David the Best Director award for documentary at the 2017 New Zealand Film Awards.  After a US Theatrical release in 2017 it has been streaming worldwide on NETFLIX.

 

David latest feature film is the big screen adaptation of Rochelle Bright's acclaimed stage show "Daffodils" - a drama with songs. In collaboration with Transmission Films, the NZ Film Commission, Libertine Pictures and KHF.  Daffodils stars Rose McIver, George Mason & Kimbra, and was released nationwide to critical acclaim in March 2019, ultimately becoming the highest grossing independent film of the year.  It's international journey began with The Sydney and Melbourne International Film Festivals and the Busan International Festival.

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2020 saw David directing the drama series "Black Hands" for Warner Bros International.  A five part television mini series - Black Hands depicts the months leading up to the infamous Bain family murders through the eyes of the victims and the accused.

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2020 – 2022 saw David producing BBC/TVNZ series “Mystic”, (series 2 and 3) for Libertine Pictures (NZ) and Slim Film + Television (UK).

 

A busy 2022 also saw David directing Australian paranormal bromance series “In Limbo” for Bunya/Heiress and the ABC.

 

2023 sees David helming Warner Brother’s mini-series/thriller “Testify” as lead director.

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BACKGROUND

 

David's thirty plus years in the film industry began as a runner on a cat food commercial.  After several years in various freelance roles, David moved into film editing and then directing at New Zealand's National Film Unit. His first short film, Running for Empties was marketed at MIP-com and sold to numerous overseas territories. In the late 90s, David’s first 35mm theatrical short, the bizarre and twisted drama Helmut & Gretel, enjoyed success on the European film festival circuit and won Best Director at the Diva Awards.

 

David set up production company Krafthaus Films in 2002 after he’d spent a number of years directing TVCs and visual effects projects for Sector 14 Productions in Wellington and helming a broadcasting project for UNICEF in Beijing. Krafthaus became one of the biggest and busiest production houses in Wellington, with an award-winning team and numerous high profile projects under its belt.

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David now works as a freelance director (and sometimes producer) and continues to develop projects in collaboration with very clever people...