JOS - The Forgotten Photographer who Saved a Town

For nearly 100 years the name Jos Divis was missing from histories of New Zealand photography. Now a wrong is being righted.
Some call him the ‘inventor of the selfie’. A street photographer ahead of his time he pioneered techniques to capture images of ordinary people and their working lives in a way no-one else could.
Imprisoned for his beliefs, he lived his last years alone in the ghost town he helped bring to life, his family believing him dead.
JOS is a journey of discovery following a historian, a photographer and a museum curator all working to give Jos Divis’ the recognition he deserves.

  • David Martyn Kwant
    Director
  • Robyn Janes
    Writer
  • David Martyn Kwant
    Producer
  • Simon Nathan
    Key Cast
  • Brian Scadden
    Key Cast
  • Natalie Marshall
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    History, Photography
  • Runtime:
    45 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    72,000 NZD
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    Czech Republic, New Zealand
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    17:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • VisionCo
    Distributor
    Country: New Zealand
    Rights: All Rights
Director - David Martyn Kwant