Michael McNamara (born December 6, 1953) is a Canadian film and television director and producer from Windsor, Ontario, [1] who was cofounder with Judy Holm of the Markham Street Films studio. [2]
The son of poet Eugene McNamara, [3] McNamara directed episodes of children's television series such as The Elephant Show , Eric's World and Polka Dot Shorts , as well as music videos and television specials for Holly Cole Trio, Jane Siberry and Prairie Oyster, [4] in his early career, before releasing his debut feature film The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati , an adaptation of theatrical plays by Alan Williams, in 1996. [5] In 1998 he directed In Thru the Out Door , a television special billed as "network television's first-ever all-queer, all-star sketch comedy show". [6]
With his wife, Judy Holm, he launched Markham Street Films in the early 2000s. [7] With that firm, he has directed documentary films rather than narrative features, although he has been a producer of narrative features by other filmmakers. [8]
His credits as a documentary director have included Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8 (2004), [9] 100 Films and a Funeral (2007), [10] Acquainted with the Night (2010), [11] and episodes of the television documentary series The Nature of Things [12] and CBC Docs POV . [13]
His credits as a producer have included Victoria Day and Big News from Grand Rock .
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Work | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini Awards | 1988 | Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series | Jane Siberry: I Muse Aloud | Won | [14] |
| 1994 | Best Direction in a Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series | The Holly Cole Trio: My Foolish Heart | Nominated | [3] | |
| Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series | Nominated | ||||
| 1999 | Best Direction in a Variety, or Performing Arts Program or Series | In Thru the Out Door | Nominated | [15] | |
| 2001 | Best Direction in a Documentary Program | Wrinkle | Nominated | [16] | |
| 2004 | Best History Documentary Program | Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8 | Won | [17] | |
| Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series | Nominated | [18] | |||
| 2006 | Best Direction in a Documentary Series | Shrines and Homemade Holy Places: "Highways to Heaven" | Nominated | [19] | |
| 2008 | Best History Documentary Program | 100 Films and a Funeral | Nominated | [20] | |
| 2009 | Best Direction in a Documentary Series | Driven by Vision: "Of Castles, Kings and Jesters" | Won | [21] | |
| 2011 | Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program | Acquainted with the Night | Nominated | [22] | |
| Best Direction in a Documentary Program | Won | [23] | |||
| Canadian Screen Awards | 2014 | Rob Stewart Award | The Nature of Things : "Lights Out!" | Nominated | |
| Best Documentary Program | Ice, Sweat and Tears | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Rob Stewart Award | The Nature of Things : "The Cholesterol Question" | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | The Nature of Things : "Pass the Salt" | Nominated | [24] | ||
| Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival | 2014 | Don Haig Award | Won | [25] | |
| Writers Guild of Canada | 2015 | WGC Screenwriting Awards: Documentary | The Nature of Things: "The Cholesterol Question" | Won | [26] |
| 2019 | CBC Docs POV : "Catwalk: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit" | Won | [27] | ||
| 2020 | CBC Docs POV : "Pugly: A Pug's Life" | Nominated | [28] |