WORK

I specialise in documentary, with feature films, multiple broadcast credits and a catalogue of shorts and branded films in my portfolio.

I am currently editing a series for broadcast under the working title THE HISTORY OF POLAND.

Also in post-production is STICKY MICKEY, an obs-doc following a charismatic queer amateur boxer as he contests for a national title while wrestling with drugs and multiple personal challenges and my directorial debut MUSEUM PIECES (working title), a character piece about a community of crafters and shop owners in a peculiar Sussex enclave.

Recent feature film credits include documentary A LIFE IN TANDEM, executive produced by academy award-winner Ellen Windemuth (My Octopus Teacher) - which has enjoyed a sellout cinema run across the UK and is now available on YouTube - and Katharine Hepburn biopic CALL ME KATE, which is directed by the fantastic Lorna Tucker and out now on Netflix US/Europe and Sky UK.

My work in the feature development stage has been successful. I edited the short documentary YUJA, which helped obtain funding for the feature YUJA, directed by Lorna Tucker and shortly to be released in UK cinemas (Sky UK via Cargo Film & Releasing).

I am also tied to feature documentaries currently in development, such as FLYTRAP TOWN directed by Emmy and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Robert Ford (Super/Man: The Christopher Reeves Story, The Deepest Breath) and THIS MOTHER & THIS SON (working title) directed by award-winning filmmaker Chloe White.

I have also edited multiple award-winning scripted short films, which have played in festivals across the world. These include FIRST (2025), FROM ME TO YOU (2024) and MINE (2016).

In addition to the bigger-name projects above, I enjoy long-standing relationships with many directors, producers and clients in the world of short-form and love keeping busy in between feature and broadcast work.

CRAFT

With a background as a writer (BA Hons Creative Writing: First) I have strong skills in storytelling, character and rhythm and I bring both a creative and logical approach to building narrative. In addition, I have developed advanced skills in sound editing - earning a feature credit in sound editing for CALL ME KATE.

I am a technically disciplined editor who works well independently, but also I love collaboration. I take pleasure in building relationships with directors and producers and welcome the process of notes and refinement; always working in service of creating the best film possible.

CONSULTANCY & BEYOND

Beyond the edit suite, I use my experience in long-form storytelling to work as a consultant, assisting productions either in pre or post to develop story from existing or potential material, helping to find clarity of story and expand the vision of a project.

Also, I am co-founder of a network of filmmakers in Lewes, East Sussex, and am a filmmaker in my own right, writing and directing.

jamesburteditor@gmail.com