Craig McCourry is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and director whose career spans over 35 years and more than 70 countries. As the founder of Banyan Tree Movies, Craig specializes in crafting emotionally resonant period dramas rooted in the 1930s to 1960s, with a special focus on Asian and Asian-American narratives.

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Craig began his journey in film at the University of Oregon and Lane Community College before moving to Los Angeles in 1993. There, he worked as a cinematographer on television commercials, documentaries, and image campaigns for major American networks. His early independent work took him across India and China, where he documented the final steam trains of the British and Chinese eras. This led to the acclaimed documentary Empires of Steam, which premiered at the Jules Verne Film Festival in Paris and was broadcast internationally on PBS, ZDF, RAI, La Cinquième, and other global networks.

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From 2000 to 2005, Craig produced and directed several globe-spanning documentaries including The Great Bazaars, Venice: Tides of Change, and Press Pass to the World, capturing stories from Cairo to Venice and featuring journalists from The New York Times, Time Magazine, and Reuters. His work was praised for blending vivid visual storytelling with thoughtful commentary on cultural change.

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In 2005, he founded Stock Footage World, building one of the largest independent stock footage libraries represented by Getty Images and Adobe. His cinematography has appeared in thousands of television shows, films, and commercials worldwide.

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Craig also collaborated on notable film documentaries such as Bienvenue à Cannes, a behind-the-scenes look at the Cannes International Film Festival, showcasing an array of major film stars and movie directors. Directed by acclaimed film critic Richard Schickel, the documentary featured interviews and moments with industry icons including Steven Spielberg, Sydney Pollack, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Dino De Laurentiis, and Willem Dafoe. It was broadcast on Turner Classic Movies.

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He also served as a cameraman on To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen’s Journey, directed by Warner Bros. executive Brian Jamison. The film chronicles the life of Hong Kong actress Nancy Kwan and her rise to fame in The World of Suzie Wong, and was filmed primarily in Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

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From 2010 to 2022, Craig was based in Hong Kong, where he developed and produced a documentary TV series (HongKonglicious) and, most notably, wrote, directed, and produced three World War II-themed feature films: Battlebox, Hong Kong 1942, and Christmas at the Royal Hotel. These indie historical dramas were made possible through Craig’s comprehensive expertise in all facets of filmmaking; serving as cinematographer, editor, writer, producer, and director. His hands-on approach and deep technical knowledge enabled him to execute complex productions with precision, even on limited budgets.

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Craig’s ability to successfully deliver these films stemmed not only from his filmmaking acumen but also from his profound life experience and understanding of history. For over 35 years, he has worked on film productions in more than 70 countries, filming on the streets of cities across the globe, observing cultures, capturing human stories, and gaining a trove of insights that inform his ability to lead and complete films from concept to screen. These decades of real-world experience have given Craig a unique skillset that allows him to manage the creative and logistical demands of filmmaking, especially in the indie space, with confidence, resourcefulness, and results that often exceed expectations.

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In 2023, Craig returned to the United States and established a new film studio just outside Portland, Oregon. Banyan Tree Movies operates from Battle Ground, Washington, and offers filmmakers a cost-effective production base equipped with a vast inventory of vintage wardrobe, props, and furniture, much of it transported from his former Hong Kong studio.

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Craig is passionate about telling stories that history nearly forgot, stories that reflect the complexity and richness of East-West cultural intersections. He welcomes collaborations with fellow filmmakers, producers, arts institutions, streaming channels, and investors interested in developing historical narratives with global resonance.