Michael Greenspan

Last updated
Michael Greenspan
Born
Laval, Quebec, Canada
Education York 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]

Contents

Early life

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

FilmFestivalAwards & NominationsYear
SEAT 23BL.A Shorts International Film FestivalOfficial Selection2023
Torino Underground CinefestOfficial Selection2023
North Hollywood CinefestBest Director, Nominated for Best Actor, Best Thriller2023
WreckedShanghai International Film FestivalOfficial Selection2011
Whistler Film FestivalNominated for Best Canadian Feature2010
Abu Dhabi Film FestivalNew Horizons Competition2010
The Legend of RazorbackTemecula Valley Film FestivalAudience Choice Award2003
Fort Lauderdale International Film FestivalOfficial Selection2003
Rochester International Film FestivalShoestring Award2003
American Society of CinematographersNominated for John F. Seitz Heritage Award for Outstanding Cinematography2003
Palm Springs International Festival of Short FilmsOfficial Selection2003
Milwaukee International Film FestivalOfficial Selection2003
St. Louis International Film FestivalOfficial Selection2003
Newport Beach International Film FestivalOfficial Selection2003
Pacific Palisades Film FestivalOfficial Selection2003
Seh Suchte International Student Film FestivalOfficial Selection2003
Flicker Film FestivalOfficial Selection2003
Yorkton Short Film and Video FestivalNominated for Best Children's Production and Best Male Performance - Austin Stout2003
International Hollywood Student Film FestivalBest Cinematography2003
Lost & FoundTel Aviv International Student Film FestivalOfficial Selection2000
Canadian Society of CinematographersBest Cinematography2000
Palm Springs International Short Film Festival MarketOfficial Selection2000
The Academy of Canadian Cinema and TelevisionPost-Graduate Filmmaker’s Scholarship, Apprenticeship Grant2000
FishtalesTVO Telefest AwardsBest Student Short Film, Honorable Mention (Best Comedy)1999
CANPROBest Performing Arts and Entertainment Award, Best Educational Program Award1999
Montreal World Student Film FestivalOfficial Selection1999
National Film Board of CanadaFilmmaker Apprenticeship Program1998

Filmography

YearTitleRoleDistributor
2023Seat 23BProducer, Director, Editor
2013Kill For MeCo-Writer, DirectorSony
2010WreckedDirectorIFC Films
2002The Legend of RazorbackDirectorDark Matter Films
1999Lost & FoundProducer, Director
1998FishtalesWriter, Producer, Director

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References

  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".