After studying linguistics at Victoria University, New Zealand, Alex went on to work as a speech writer in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet crafting the biographies for the Queen’s Birthday and New Year’s honours. Inspired by these high achieving New Zealanders, Alex followed his dream to be a filmmaker by applying to the New Zealand Film and Television School in 2004.​

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After graduation, Alex worked extensively in corporate and promotion videos and, in 2007, wrote and directed his first feature film, the suspense thriller When Night Falls. The film received excellent reviews “When night falls is an intriguing and unexpected local film that richly deserves your support,” Graeme Tuckett, Dominion Post. It was released in 25 cinemas throughout New Zealand. It was also distributed by E1 Entertainment in the US and Canada.

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In 2013, Alex made his second feature film, the Hong Kong/New Zealand sci-fi mystery Eternity (2014). Eternity was also released in over 25 cinemas throughout New Zealand and screened on Air NZ International flights. It was also nominated for Best Self-Funded Film at the New Zealand Film Awards in 2013.

 

Eternity screened at ten international festivals including Cannes Cinephiles, Boston Film Festival, Lucerne Festival and the Madrid International Film Festival, winning several awards. Eternity was particularly successful in China, being chosen to have its Asia Premier at the Shanghai Film Festival, then screening at the NZ Film Festival in China before going on to be a finalist for Best Foreign Film at the 2014 China Golden Roosters (Chinese Oscars) in Lanzhou, China. Eternity also secured a distribution deal in China through Galloping Films.

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Alex’s third feature film, an adaptation of Henry James’s classic ghost story The Turn of the Screw, was completed in 2020 and has now screened at over 30 festivals overseas including the 2020 Shanghai International Film Festival and been selected for the Golden Roosters (Chinese Oscars) Best International Film for 2021. The film was released theatrically in the US and Canada in March 2022.

 

Alex has lectured in film in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Shanghai and London. From 2014-2016, he was a Film Tutor at the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) and has worked at Victoria University of Wellington as a Film Lecturer, specialising in script writing, directing and production.

 

Alex is also a trained singer and was a member of the New Zealand Opera Chorus from 1998 to 2015. In 2016, Alex directed his first opera Don Giovanni and has since also directed The Marriage of Figaro, Madam Butterfly and Rigoletto at the Hannah Playhouse. These productions have all been commercial and critical successes.