Chris Cunningham is an English director known for music videos, commercials and art films. He first works in the early 1990s in the art departments of major film productions, where he designs robots and creatures for filmmakers including Clive Barker and David Fincher. His work on Judge Dredd leads to further film work, including involvement with A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, where he works with Stanley Kubrick before Kubrick’s death and the project is later completed by Steven Spielberg.

Music videos and short films

While working with Kubrick, Cunningham directs his first music video, for Autechre’s Second Bad Vilbel. He then makes a series of videos for alternative English rock bands, developing his filmmaking practice. In 1997 he directs the video for Aphex Twin’s Come to Daddy, which brings him wider recognition. Over the next two years he directs thirteen short works in total: six music videos and seven commercials.

Art gallery films and later work

In 2000 Cunningham makes two short films for the Anthony D’Offay Gallery, titled flex and Monkey Drummer. These works are described as showing a highly modern and hyper-realistic approach. In 2005 he releases Rubber Johnny, a six-minute short film issued with a book of photographs. He later directs a video for the garage rock band the Horrors.

Unfinished projects

Cunningham also attempts screen adaptations of William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer and the comic RanXerox. He is also associated with one or more feature films in development.