Jon James Smith

Jon James Smith is a British film director and screenwriter.

Acclaimed film critic MJ Simpson wrote, "It's Jon James Smith's attention to detail that really impresses" in his review of Smith's award-winning thriller Do Not Disturb (2015). The film screened at festivals worldwide, winning several awards. Smith then went on to win the Shriekfest Commercial Competition in 2016.

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His 2021 horror film Last Orders, starring Alastair Parker (Netflix's The Witcher) and Steven Elder (Netflix's The King), has received wide praise in reviews, being described as a "masterwork" by Nevermore-Horror.com. The film picked up many awards, including the Grand Jury Prize for Best Horror Short at Film Invasion LA, the Best of Fest Skully's Choice Award at The London Horror Society Indie Film Showcase, and several awards for Best Director and Cinematography.

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Jon's latest film, Babushka, stars Hayley McFarland (The Conjuring, Lie to Me) and is currently in post-production. His Screencraft Semifinalist feature screenplay, Rangda, is in development with Thorny Devil Productions.

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Studying cinematography in the UK at the prestigious Bournemouth Screen Academy (alumni include, Edgar Wright) under Witold Stok, BSC, was a great technical and creative base for his career. With a lust for hands-on experience, Jon worked on over thirty 16mm productions. His student cinematography work has been screened at festivals around the world, winning various awards. He went on to work in the industry briefly in the camera department and then as a cinematographer for several indie productions before focusing on writing and directing.

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In between making films, Jon has created content for some of the biggest brands around, has regularly worked for Google as a cinematographer and tech specialist, and works in practical special effects, recently on A Gentleman in Moscow for Paramount+ and previously for the BBC's Killing Eve, and Warner Bros. Pennyworth. Jon was also second unit director on horror feature Fanged Up, starring Steven Berkoff (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Beverly Hills Cop), produced by Richard Turner (Nativity!) and Terry Stone (Rise of the Footsoldier).