Quick Facts
Biography
Marc James Francis (also known as Marc J. Francis and Marc Francis) is an award-winning British film director, producer and documentary cinematographer.
In 2007 he and his brother Nick Francis were chosen by Harper’s Bazaar magazine as one of their top Forty Under 40; Household Names of the Future., and also in 2007 The Observer newspaper named the brothers as some of Britain’s Rising Stars. He and his brother were regular contributors to the Observer's sister paper The Guardian between 2006 and 2012 notably in the film blog.
He is Creative Director of the production company Speakit Films, founded by him and his brother.
Early life
Prior to his film career, Marc was an undergraduate at the University of Leeds where he learned Mandarin, studied Chinese cinema and lived in China during the economic boom of the mid-1990s.
Career
In 2004, Marc and his brother Nick founded British production company Speakit Films. His work has been supported by The Sundance Institute, The BRITDOC Foundation, the BFI, Bertha Foundation CNC and EU MEDIA Programme Fund.
Feature Films
Black Gold (2006)
Directed and produced with his brother Nick Francis. The film follows the efforts of an Ethiopian Coffee Union manager as he travels the world to obtain a better price for his workers' coffee beans.
When China Met Africa (2010)
Directed and produced with his brother Nick Francis. Set on the front line of Chinaʼs foray into Africa, the film follows the lives of a Chinese farmer, a road builder, and the Zambian trade minister.
Walk With Me (2017)
Directed and produced with Max Pugh the Benedict Cumberbatch narrated film about Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Short Films
A Letter from Calais (2016)
Directed and produced by Marc and Nick Francis released in October 2016 for Benedict Cumberbatch's company, Sunny March. Featuring Jude Law, the film aims to draw attention to the hundreds of unaccompanied children living in the Calais refugee camp.
Madam President (2012)
Directed and produced by Marc and Nick Francis released on The Guardian website in December 2012 and supported by The Guardian and the Worldview Broadcast Media Scheme. The film is an exclusive portrait of Malawi’s first female President Joyce Banda, as she tries to steer her country out of an economic crisis.
TV Documentaries
Nuke UK (2001)
Channel 4 / Ideal World Productions TV documentary directed by Marc and Nick Francis.
St Dunstans (2003)
TV documentary of 6 x 30 minutes episodes directed by Marc J. Francis and released on ITV.