James Mackay (b. 1954) is a foundational figure in British independent and experimental cinema, especially known for his long-term collaboration with director Derek Jarman. After studying film at North East London Polytechnic, Mackay became a programmer at the London Filmmakers’ Co-op, curating avant-garde film series such as New British Avant-Garde for the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Forum section of the Berlin International Film Festival.
In 1981, he founded Dark Pictures, a production and distribution company focused on experimental film and video. Under Dark Pictures, he produced early Jarman works like In the Shadow of the Sun, The Angelic Conversation, and Caravaggio (1986). Mackay later founded Basilisk Communications, a production company through which he produced The Last of England (1988), The Garden (1990), Blue (1993) and Glitterbug (1994), made in collaboration with the BBC Arena Series.
Beyond Jarman, Mackay’s producing credits include Ron Peck’s short What Can I Do With a Male Nude?, music videos for The Smiths and the Pet Shop Boys, and the feature film Daybreak (2000). In 2008, he served as executive producer on the documentary Derek, directed by Isaac Julien, a cinematic portrait of Jarman built from rare archival footage, a 1991 interview, and reflections by Tilda Swinton — further solidifying his commitment to preserving and interpreting Jarman’s life and work.
After Jarman’s death, Mackay became custodian of his precious Super 8 archive — 92 reels of experimental home movies — and spent over two decades restoring and digitizing them. This effort culminated in the 2014 publication Derek Jarman Super 8 (Thames & Hudson), a definitive volume of stills, essays, and archival context. Mackay continues to champion Jarman’s legacy through curatorial work, exhibition, and scholarship. He has advised major institutions such as the LUMA Foundation (which houses the Jarman archive), and curated retrospectives — including a Derek Jarman series for the Museo Reina Sofía — ensuring that Jarman’s radical, poetic, and deeply personal cinema remains alive and accessible to new audiences.
In 1981, he founded Dark Pictures, a production and distribution company focused on experimental film and video. Under Dark Pictures, he produced early Jarman works like In the Shadow of the Sun, The Angelic Conversation, and Caravaggio (1986). Mackay later founded Basilisk Communications, a production company through which he produced The Last of England (1988), The Garden (1990), Blue (1993) and Glitterbug (1994), made in collaboration with the BBC Arena Series.
Beyond Jarman, Mackay’s producing credits include Ron Peck’s short What Can I Do With a Male Nude?, music videos for The Smiths and the Pet Shop Boys, and the feature film Daybreak (2000). In 2008, he served as executive producer on the documentary Derek, directed by Isaac Julien, a cinematic portrait of Jarman built from rare archival footage, a 1991 interview, and reflections by Tilda Swinton — further solidifying his commitment to preserving and interpreting Jarman’s life and work.
After Jarman’s death, Mackay became custodian of his precious Super 8 archive — 92 reels of experimental home movies — and spent over two decades restoring and digitizing them. This effort culminated in the 2014 publication Derek Jarman Super 8 (Thames & Hudson), a definitive volume of stills, essays, and archival context. Mackay continues to champion Jarman’s legacy through curatorial work, exhibition, and scholarship. He has advised major institutions such as the LUMA Foundation (which houses the Jarman archive), and curated retrospectives — including a Derek Jarman series for the Museo Reina Sofía — ensuring that Jarman’s radical, poetic, and deeply personal cinema remains alive and accessible to new audiences.
Portrait of James Mackay, taken on the set of The Garden. Courtesy of Basilisk Communications.
Contributions:
(◦) Conversation in the context of the project meeting in the blue fold