Ari Rajin Gunnarsson
Bio
Ari Gunnarsson was born in Toronto in 1987. He studied at the University of Kings College and McMaster University, and at Beijing Foreign Language University, speaks fluent Chinese and has achieved a HSK Level 5.
Gunnarsson lived in Beijing for seven years, during what became known as the ‘wild east’ period of China’s opening to the west. He filmed and interviewed musicians and artists at the heart of the Beijing underground music scene, directed videos for artists including Djan San and 16 minutes, and documented regions of the country including Inner and Outer Mongolia, Chongqing, Qinghai and Mianyang for sponsors including Hancheng Tourism and Culture Board, Gunnarsson returned to Canada in 2019.
In 2017, Gunnarsson directed CODENAME SALLY, with Salman Rushdie, a short documentary that premiered at the PEN Canada gala at Hot Docs cinema and was reviewed by Brian Johnson as “moving, funny and inspiring, Codename Sally tells the cloak and dagger story of a Canadian mission like no other, while revealing the significance of an extraordinary moment in our cultural and political history”.
Gunnarsson has assistant directed over 20 feature film and television productions in Toronto and Vancouver for studios including Disney, Netflix, HBO, Warner and Paramount. He’s completing an English translation of the Chinese novella 2015 by Wang Xiaobo, and developing THE WILD EAST as a documentary film about a return visit to see where the artists he filmed five years ago have landed in the new China. Gunnarsson is currently co-writing a feature film adaptation of WRONG SIDE OF THE COURT, which he hopes to direct in 2024.
Resume
Director
2017: Codename Sally with Salman Rushdie - a short documentary that premiered at the PEN Canada gala at Hot Docs cinema. “Moving, funny and inspiring, Codename Sally tells the cloak and dagger story of a Canadian mission like no other, while revealing the significance of an extraordinary moment in our cultural and political history. - Brian Johnson, McLeans
2015-17: Djang Si An- Beijing (Band) - Photographer/Music Video Director
2015-17: 16 Minutes- Beijing (Band) - Photographer/Music Video Director
2015-17: The Harridans- Beijing (Band) - Photographer/Music Video Director
2014: Fete De La Musique -Beijing (music festival) - Video Director
2014: Hutong (documentary short) - Director/Cinematographer
Assistant Director
2023: Curious Caterer: Last Supper (Hallmark) - Assistant Director
2023: Dream Moms (Hallmark) - Assistant Director
2022: Curious Caterer: Grilling Season (Hallmark) - Assistant Director
2022: Queen of Bones (Lumanity/ Appian Way) - Assistant Director
2022: Dating The Delaneys (Hallmark) - Assistant Director
2022: Shining Light (Hallmark) - Assistant Director
2022: Prom Pact (Disney) - Assistant Director
2022: Heart of the Matter (Hallmark) - Assistant Director
2021: Animals (Subaru) - Assistant Director
2021: Painkiller (Netflix) - Assistant Director
2021: Frosted Flakes (Kellogg’s) - Assistant Director
2021: Five Days at Memorial (Apple+) - Assistant Director
2021: ZOMBIES 3 (Disney) - Assistant Director
2021: 8-bit Christmas (Warner) - Assistant Director
2020: Man from Toronto (Sony feature) - Assistant Director
2017-18: Study.com - Video Animator/ Editor
2013: Neemic (fashion company) - Brand representative
2012-13: Monsoon (CBC/Arte. Feature documentary) - Production Assistant/ Research Assistant/ Stills Photographer/Digital Information Technician/ Camera Operator
2009: Force Of Nature (NFB/CBC feature documentary) - Production Assistant / Stills Photographer/ Digital Information Technician
2008: Road Crew/Campaign Petitioner for Ralph Nader Presidential Campaign (New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts)
2007: Air India 182 (CBC. Feature documentary); Production Assistant / Stills Photographer
2006: Volunteer: XVI International AIDS Conference. Visitor’s liaison
2005: Above and Beyond (CBC. Dramatic mini-series) - Assistant Set Dresser (IATSE Permitee)
2004: Beowulf and Grendel (Equinoxe/Union Station. Feature film) - Art Department Assistant
Translater
2019: Chef Pig (video game) Chinese to English translation.
2019-24: 2015 English translation of the Chinese novella 2015 by Wang Xiaobo,