Michael Greenspan

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Michael Greenspan
Born
Laval, Quebec, Canada
EducationYork University (BFA)
American Film Institute (MFA)
Occupation(s)Director, Writer, Producer

Michael Greenspan is a film director, producer and writer best known for the psychological thriller Wrecked, which debuted at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Film Festival and starred Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody and actress Caroline Dhavernas.[1]

Early life[edit]

Michael was born and raised in Laval, Quebec. From a young age he had a passion for theater, art and the movies. He moved to Toronto to study film and video production at York University and later moved to Los Angeles to study at the American Film Institute.

Michael began his career in Canada where his work was recognized by The National Film Board of Canada, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and the Canadian Society of Cinematographers.

Michael’s films Fishtales and Lost & Found were received with critical acclaim at festivals in Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal and Tel Aviv.

The Legend Of Razorback starring Academy Award® nominee Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatcher, Death Of A Salesman, Innerspace), won awards in Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and Temecula where it won the Audience Choice Award and Houston WorldFest where it received the Eastman Kodak Scholarship Award and the Gold Special Jury Award for Best Dramatic Student Film.

Wrecked starring Academy Award® winner Adrien Brody premiered in 2010 at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and was distributed by IFC Films. In 2012, Michael co-wrote and directed the Kill For Me starring Katie Cassidy and Donal Logue. The film was loosely based on Strangers on a Train and Single White Female,[2] and was released in 2013.[3]

Michael's latest film SEAT 23B had its world premiere at the L.A. Shorts International Film Festival in July 2023.    

Michael also teaches filmmaking at The Los Angeles Film School and at Chapman University.[4]

Awards and honors[edit]

Film Festival Awards & Nominations Year
SEAT 23B L.A Shorts International Film Festival Official Selection 2023
Torino Underground Cinefest Official Selection 2023
North Hollywood Cinefest Best Director, Nominated for Best Actor, Best Thriller 2023
Wrecked Shanghai International Film Festival Official Selection 2011
Whistler Film Festival Nominated for Best Canadian Feature 2010
Abu Dhabi Film Festival New Horizons Competition 2010
The Legend of Razorback Temecula Valley Film Festival Audience Choice Award 2003
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Official Selection 2003
Rochester International Film Festival Shoestring Award 2003
American Society of Cinematographers Nominated for John F. Seitz Heritage Award for Outstanding Cinematography 2003
Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films Official Selection 2003
Milwaukee International Film Festival Official Selection 2003
St. Louis International Film Festival Official Selection 2003
Newport Beach International Film Festival Official Selection 2003
Pacific Palisades Film Festival Official Selection 2003
Seh Suchte International Student Film Festival Official Selection 2003
Flicker Film Festival Official Selection 2003
Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival Nominated for Best Children's Production and Best Male Performance - Austin Stout 2003
International Hollywood Student Film Festival Best Cinematography 2003
Lost & Found Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival Official Selection 2000
Canadian Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography 2000
Palm Springs International Short Film Festival Market Official Selection 2000
The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Post-Graduate Filmmaker’s Scholarship, Apprenticeship Grant 2000
Fishtales TVO Telefest Awards Best Student Short Film, Honorable Mention (Best Comedy) 1999
CANPRO Best Performing Arts and Entertainment Award, Best Educational Program Award 1999
Montreal World Student Film Festival Official Selection 1999
National Film Board of Canada Filmmaker Apprenticeship Program 1998

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Distributor
2023 Seat 23B Producer, Director, Editor
2013 Kill For Me Co-Writer, Director Sony
2010 Wrecked Director IFC Films
2002 The Legend of Razorback Director Dark Matter Films
1999 Lost & Found Producer, Director
1998 Fishtales Writer, Producer, Director

References[edit]

  1. ^ Staffe, Indiewire (2011-01-14). ""Wrecked" Director Michael Greenspan". Indiewire. online. Retrieved 2019-09-14.
  2. ^ "Kill for Me (2013) Review". Love Horror. June 11, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  3. ^ Barton, Steve (January 25, 2013). "Katie Cassidy and Tracy Spiridakos Are Ready to Kill For Me". Dread Central. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Michael Greenspan".

External links[edit]