Justin Burquist is an American filmmaker and music video director who directed the films Broken Knuckles (2013), Touch (2022), and was the cinematographer for the films Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2023) and Pulp Friction (2021). Burquist's films have won awards at Oceanside International Film Festival and Berlin Short Film Festival.
Early life Burquist grew up in El Centro and Imperial County, California. He got involved in filmmaking at a young age after his brother brought home a video camera from school. He graduated from Holtville High School in 2001, attended Imperial Valley College and graduated from San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus in Calexico before moving to Kensington, San Diego.
Career Burquist started his career making short films and music videos, directing videos like Glitter Star by Dynamite Doll. He helped pitch the idea for the Imperial Valley Film Festival which began in 2010, and his work is often submitted there.
In 2013, Burquist started production on the second season of the web series Proxy titled Proxy 2: The Mortido. He cited Brian De Palma and Andrei Tarkovsky as influences. In 2019, Burquist completed a music video he had been working on for more than five years. In 2024, he was the director of photography on a dystopian film called Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea which screened at the 13th Oceanside International Film Festival.
Touch short film
Burquist's short film Touch screened at Monster Fest in 2022, opening for the premiere of The Cost by Matthew Holmes. In 2023, it screened at Berlin Short Film Festival, Oceanside International Film Festival, and the San Diego Comic-Con Independent Film Festival, where Burquist was a panelist with actors Eva Ceja and Randy Davison. It was released on Klipist and received positive reviews.
Personal life Burquist currently resides in San Diego, California.
Filmography YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerCinematographerNotes2009Lou's PlaceShort film2011ProxyWeb series2013Broken KnucklesShort filmBetween BulletsWeb series featuring James Kyson2014Twisted RoadShort film2016A Quintmas CarolShort film2021Pulp FrictionShort film2022TouchShort film2023Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink TeaTBAFeaturing Michael Madsen
Accolades FestivalYearAwardTitleResultRef.Oceanside International Film Festival2013Best Picture – Audience ChoiceBroken KnucklesIdyllwild International Festival of Cinema2022Juan Ruiz Anchia Award for Best CinematographyPulp FrictionBerlin Short Film Festival2023Best Horror Short Film – Audience ChoiceTouchImperial Valley Film Festival2013Best CinematographyBroken KnucklesVarious Artists independent Film Festival2017Best ComedyA Quint-mas CarolImperial Valley Film Festival2017Best Music VideoOne Hundred Twenty by Emerald PortalSan Diego Film Awards2023Best Narrative Short FilmTouchBest DirectorBrightside Tavern Film Festival2024Best Director Horror/ThrillerBest Horror/ThrillerBest Concept
References
External links
Official site