James Elazzi is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and director known for championing marginalised voices. His work has earned a 2024 Martin-Lysicrates Prize, three consecutive NSW Premier's Literary Award nominations, and multiple nods from the Sydney Theatre Awards, Rodney Seaborne Award, and Silver Gull Playwriting Award.
In 2024, he was Assistant Director on Holding the Man at Belvoir St Theatre. His second short film, Seeds of Gold, exploring Lebanese migration, won the 2024 Panavision Award and has screened at eight international festivals. His debut film Yannis (2022) was selected for over 17 global festivals and won Best Performance at the LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival, alongside multiple nominations and awards.
James' sold-out stage works include Saints of Damour (Qtopia Sydney), Karim (National Theatre of Parramatta), Son of Byblos (Belvoir 25A), Lady Tabouli, Queen Fatima, and Omar and Dawn. Through bold storytelling, he continues to push boundaries and amplify diverse narratives.
STAGE
2025
Saints of Damour – Writer/ Producer
Presented by Qtopia Sydney & Sydney City CouncilYalla to Lebanon - Co Writer/ Co Producer/ Co Director'
Bankstown Sports Club Theatre
2024
Karim – Writer & Co-Director
National Theatre of ParramattaHolding the Man – Assistant Director
Belvoir St Theatre
2023
Son of Byblos – Writer
Belvoir St Theatre 25A (2022) / Brave New Word
2021
Queen Fatima – Writer
National Theatre of Parramatta / Sydney Festival 2021
2020
Lady Tabouli – Writer
National Theatre of Parramatta / Sydney Festival 2020
2019
Lady Tabouli – Writer
Griffin Theatre Batch Festival / Green Door Theatre Co / Apocalypse Theatre CompanyOmar and Dawn – Writer
KXT Bakehouse / Apocalypse Theatre Company / Green Door Theatre Co
screen—
SEEDS OF GOLD (2024/2025)
Official Film Festival Selections
Lebanese Independent Film Festival
Lebanese Film Festival Australia 2024
Florence Indie Film Festival 2024
Melbourne Independent Film Festival 2024
Prague Underground Film Festival 2024
Ciné-Beyrouth / Cinema Beirut 2024
Awards & Recognition
Winner – Panavision Australia Film Award, Lebanese Film Festival Australia 2024
Semi-Finalist – Melbourne Independent Film Festival 2024
Semi-Finalist – Florence Indie Film Festival 2024
Semi-Finalist – Prague Underground Film Festival 2024
YANNIS (2023)
Official Film Festival Selections
Pride Film Festival 2023
Flickerfest Film Festival 2023
LGBTQI+ Film Festival, Poland 2023
Lebanese Film Festival 2023
Canberra Short Film Festival 2023
Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2023
Lift-Off Global Network: First-Time Filmmakers, Pinewood Studios 2023
LGBTQIA+ Los Angeles Film Festival 2023
Black Cat Award International Film Festival 2023
Made in the West Film Festival 2023
Lift-Off Sydney Film Festival 2023
Made Out West Film Festival 2023
Omovie Napoli Film Festival 2023
Melbourne CINEVERSE Film Festival 2023
Lebanese Independent Film Festival 2023
Awards & Nominations
Winner – Best Lead Actor, Made in the West Film Festival
Runner-up – Best Film, Made in the West Film Festival
Winner – Best Performance, LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival
Made Out West Film Festival – Nominated for:
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Lead Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Best Original Score
Best Cinematographer
Best Editor
OTHER WORKS
2021 Red Stitch ‘Playlist Festival’
‘Lion Tattoo’.
A celebration. A gathering. Theatre’s choose-your-own-adventure is, this time, a three-night music and performance festival featuring an extraordinary line-up of Melbourne practitioners.
2020 Dear Australia
“The Flock”. Commissioned by Play Writing Australia 2020.
2020 STC Virtual
“Lebanese BBQ”, performed by Priscilla Doueihy. 2020
A THOUSAND WORDS. SYDNEY LIVING MUSEUM.
“Aleksy and the Metal Sheds”. 2020. Sydney Living Museums with the support of WestWords.
‘A picture tells a thousand words.’ This adage is the inspiration for an innovative new online exhibition, in which the public becomes the curator.
2020. ‘Come To Where I Am’.
“Violin”. Critical Theatre Travels. Produced in partnership with the UK’s Paines Plough. 2020.
2021. Eat Me.
NIDA/ Sydney Theatre Company