Introduction
James Ward Byrkit (also known as Jim Byrkit and James Byrkit) is an American film director and writer. He is best known for directing the science fiction thriller Coherence and co-writing the script for Rango. Byrkit also was the conceptual artist on the first three films of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and designed some of the most iconic sequences of the series. Byrkit also directed the short film Tales of the Code: Wedlocked (2011) a prequel to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).
Byrkit's debut feature Coherence earned critical and audience praise around the world and maintains a rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Byrkit also garnered significant attention for his unconventional approach in the making of the film, as "proof that inventive filmmakers can do a lot with a little" and identifying him as a groundbreaking talent. He is set to direct the film adaptation of the Aaron Loeb play Ideation.
Awards
- Breakthrough Director (nominated) at the Gotham Independent Film Awards 2014
- Next Wave Best Screenplay at the Austin Fantastic Fest for Coherence (2013)
- Maria Award for Best Screenplay at the Sitges Film Festival for Coherence (2013)
- Carnet Jove Jury Award for Best In Competition at the Sitges Film Festival for Coherence (2013)
- Black Tulip Award for Best Feature Debut at the Imagine Film Festival for Coherence (2014)
- Imagine Movie Zone Award, Special Mention at the Imagine Film Festival for Coherence (2014)
- Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production for Rango (2011, won, shared with John Logan and Gore Verbinski)