Director James Holt has joined Giraldi Media for stateside representation. Holt, who resides in Auckland, N.Z., continues to be handled Down Under by Film Motel, which is headquartered in Sydney. Holt is no stranger to the American ad market, having earlier directed via Aero Film and prior to that, Flying Tiger.
Known for his work in comedy and storytelling marked by a strong sense of design, Holt has over the past six months helmed assorted jobs for Unilever Australia as well as Procter & Gamble and Purina. His ad credits over the years span such brands as Visa, MasterCard, Guinness, Nissan, Foxtel, Vodaphone, and New Zealand Cheese.
For the latter, Holt directed “Spies,” a quirky comedy spot which earned him Best Director honors at the New Zealand Axis Awards competition. Paired with “Diplomat,” another spot in the NZ Cheese campaign, “Spies” earned Holt a finalist nod for Best Director at the London International Awards.
Holt began his filmmaking career directing various short films, documentaries and music videos before breaking into advertising. His commercialmaking exploits have taken him around the world to direct for major brands.
Director Bob Giraldi of Giraldi Media observed, “It’s nice to have another storyteller in house, especially one that makes people laugh.”
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More