Justin Oakey is a bilingual (English-French) writer/director from Newfoundland, where he lives with his wife, children, and droves of animals. He lives a traditional lifestyle full of hunting, fishing, growing, and storytelling. Following his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies from Ryerson University, his award-winning films introduced an atmospheric, genre-agnostic vision of rural Newfoundland around the world. The claustrophobic micro-budget Riverhead (2016) and tense neo-noir A Fire In The Cold Season (2019) found acclaim at festivals and the Canadian Screen Awards. His folkish thriller Hangashore (2025), starring James Frecheville and Hera Hilmar, is currently racking up awards on a festival run.

Also an accomplished editor, Justin has cut a number of acclaimed features – most recently the cult hit slasher Dolly, the star-studded crime thriller Blood For Dust, sci-fi adventure The Outer Threat, and fantasy drama The King Tide – for which he has won numerous awards, including top honours at the Canadian Cinema Editors Awards.

Critical response to Hangashore –
“Mixes working-class realism with gothic survivalist drama.” – Original Cin
“An icy tale of retribution - paints a desolate yet beautiful portrait." – Rue Morgue Magazine

Critical response to A Fire In The Cold Season –
“An impressive thriller with plenty of meat on its genre bones.” – Screen Anarchy
“The contrast of monumental nature and human lowliness.” – XXZ Magazine

Critical response to Riverhead –
“Claustrophobic, bleak, and minimalist.” – Wire Magazine