Michael Kennedy is a Canadian film and television director, writer, actor and cinematographer.[1]
Michael Kennedy | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation(s) | Director, screenwriter, actor, cinematographer, |
| Website | https://www.michaelkennedydirector.com/bio |
Kennedy was born in Kensington, Prince Edward Island.[2][3][4] Kennedy lives in Mississauga with his wife.[4]
Kennedy was a professor of Film and Television at York University, Toronto (1980-83), Jamia Milia Islamia University, New Delhi (1983-84), and Sheridan College, Toronto (2004-2021).[5][6][2]
In 2023,Toronto Metropolitation University inducted Kennedy as a Visionary to their Image Arts Wall of Fame.[7]
Career
editKennedy has directed more than 20 feature-length films/TV movies and over 230 prime-time drama and comedy television episodes including the entire first season of the sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie, that used humour to attack racism against Muslims in the post-911 world.[4][8]
He has directed the first episodes filmed and/or aired of Delmer and Marta, My Life and a Movie, North/South, The Good Germany, Mental Block, Listen Missy, Screech Owls, P.R., Taking the Falls, and Jets. He was also one of the directors of the comedy series The Kids in the Hall, and directed 14 episodes of Made in Canada.[5]
Kennedy has directed feature films in various countries: Jets was filmed in Germany and the US, Broken Lullaby in Budapest, One Man Out in Mexico, Caribe in Belize, Calculated Risk in Germany, and many others in his native Canada.
As well as directing, Kennedy also wrote the screenplays for films he directed, including Caribe, One Man Out, and The Swordsman. He has also occasionally participated in films as an actor .[9]
In 2016 he directed #Roxy, a film adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac[10] released in 2018. In 2023, he directed the romantic comedy feature How to Fall in Love By the Holidays, starring Teri Hactcher.[11][12]
Filmography
editDirector
edit- Jim and Muggins Tour Toronto (1978), documentary short; debut film[5]
- Caribe (1987)
- Erik (One Man Out) (1989)[5]
- The Kids in the Hall (9 episodes, 1991–1992)
- Talons of the Eagle (1992)
- The Swordsman (1992)[5]
- Broken Lullaby (1994) (TV)[5]
- Red Scorpion 2 (1994)
- Hard Evidence (1995)
- The Possession of Michael D. (1995) (TV)
- Taking the Falls (2 episodes, 1995)
- Joe's Wedding (1996)[5]
- Robin of Locksley (1996) (TV)
- Hostile Force (1996) [5]
- Calculate Risk (1997) (TV)[5]
- Little Men (1 episode, 1999)
- The Hoop Life (1999) TV series (unknown episodes)
- So Weird (2 episodes, 1999)
- JETS - Leben am Limit (1999) (TV)
- Wind at My Back (2 episodes, 2000)
- The City (1 episode, 2000)
- P.R. (7 episodes, 2000–2001)
- Murder Among Friends (2001) (TV)
- Screech Owls (2 episodes, 2001)
- Emily of New Moon (6 episodes, 1998–2002)
- Blackfly (7 episodes, 2001–2002)
- Rideau Hall (2 episodes, 2002)
- Made in Canada (13 episodes, 1999–2003)
- Mental Block (9 episodes, 2003–2004)
- Metropia (10 episodes, 2005–2006)
- North/South (5 episodes, 2006)
- G-Spot (6 episodes, 2006)
- The Smart Woman Survival Guide (3 episodes, 2007)
- This Space for Rent (2 episodes, 2007)
- Lost and Found (2009)
- Pure Pwnage (2 episodes, 2010)
- The Good Company (1 episode, 2010)
- Little Mosque on the Prairie (37 episodes, 2007–2011)
- She's the Mayor (2 episodes, 2011)
- What's Up Warthogs! (14 episodes, 2011–2012)
- That's So Weird! (7 episodes, 2011–2012)
- Really Me (2 episodes, 2012)
- Walter! (52 short films, 2011 and 2013)
- Greenpeace Greenwash Campaign (3 web shorts, 2013)
- Odd Squad (2 episodes, 2014)
- Annedroids (5 episodes, 2014)
- Heaven Must Be Boring! (pilot, 2014)
- Delmer and Marta (pilot and entire first season, 2014–15)
- Good Witch (2 episodes, 2017)
- Tale of Two Hearts, Good Witch (2018)
- #Roxy (2018)
- My Favourite Christmas Melody (2021)
- Write Place Write Time (2022)
- Six Degrees of Santa (2022)
- Lease On Love (2022)
- Zarqa, Director Mentor only (2022)
- A Match in Manhattan (2023)[13]
- Christmas on the Alpaca Farm (2023)[14]
- How to Fall in Love By the Holidays (2023), feature film starring Teri Hatcher
Writer
edit- Caribe (1987) (uncredited)
- Degrassi Junior High (1 episode, 1988)
- One Man Out (1989)
- The Swordsman (1992)
- JETS - Leben am Limit (1 episode, 1999)
Actor
edit- These Foolish Things (1977) as Wilson
- Trailer Park Boys – Reggie (2017–2018)
Cinematographer
edit- These Foolish Things (1977)
Awards and nominations
editAwards
edit- 2002 Directors Guild of Canada Award for Made in Canada ‘Creative Bookkeeping’ comedy TV series[15]
- 2003 Directors Guild of Canada Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Television Series – Comedy: Made in Canada ‘Beaver Creek Valentine’[16]
- 2014 “Marty Award” for “greatest achievement in the Mississauga Arts Sector,” in the category Media Arts, Established Artist[17]
- 2018 Toronto Metropolitan University G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Award for “profoundly influential” TMU alumni[18]
Nominations
edit- Nomination at the 1996 Director Guild of America Awards - Children's program for Robin of Locksley[19]
- Nomination for Best director of a TV series at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards[20]
Collective awards
edit- Co-winner of a Gemini Special Award in 2007: Canada Award for promoting diversity in television for Little Mosque on the Prairie[21]
References
edit- ^ "Michael Kennedy". MUBI. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b Spencer, Brittany (14 November 2017). "P.E.I. student caught in limbo of Ontario colleges strike".
- ^ "Michael Kennedy". Directors.ca. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Star, Kathryn Kates Special to the (29 September 2007). "Walked in, knew this was 'it'". Toronto Star. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Conversation With Michael Kennedy". Montage Magazine: 11–17. 2008.
- ^ "Sheridan professor wins a Kidscreen Award for film #Roxy". Sheridan College. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "2023 Visionaries". Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "The Power of Film, Television & Comedy as Agents for Social Change: A Conversation with the Creators of Little Mosque on the Prairie". Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Michael Kennedy". MUBI. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Pinto, Jordan. "Cameras rolling on #ROXY". Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Jacobs, Meredith (12 October 2023). "'How to Fall in Love by the Holidays' Starring Teri Hatcher, Plus More Holiday Treats Coming to Roku". TV Insider. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Michael Kennedy". MUBI. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ A Match in Manhattan (2023) | MUBI, retrieved 18 December 2023
- ^ Christmas on the Alpaca Farm (2023) | MUBI, retrieved 18 December 2023
- ^ Vamos, Peter. "Rare Birds tops at DGC". Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Spider, Degrassi, Trudeau win at DGC". Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "History of The MARTYS – Mississauga Arts Council". Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Michael Kennedy". Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Awards / Winner and Nominee Search". www.dga.org. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Canadian Screen Awards for Crafts in Scripted Programs". Academy.ca. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Little Mosque wins humanitarian award". CBC News.