MICHAEL MCNAMARA - Director/Writer/Producer


Born in Chicago and raised in the US, England and Canada, Michael McNamara presently lives in Toronto, Canada where he works as a filmmaker, screenwriter and television director. In February 2002, he launched a new production company, Markham Street Films, with his partner Judy Holm.

Specializing in projects that are edgy, smart, provocative and funny, McNamara directed, edited, co-produced and co-wrote the documentary on aging fashion models, WRINKLE, for CBC Newsworld's Rough Cuts, and was nominated for a 2001 Gemini for Best Director of a Documentary. Michael McNamara directed, wrote and narrated the first film produced under the MSF banner, RADIO REVOLUTION: The Rise & Fall of The Big 8, and received a 2004 Gemini Award nomination for Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series. In 2005, MSF delivered PENIS DEMENTIA: The Search for the Perfect Penis, STACKED LIKE ME: Walk a Mile in My Double-D's, both for (Life Network, Discovery Health, Canal Vie, SBS Australia), and the 9x30min HD series SHRINES & HOMEMADE HOLY PLACES (Vision TV) for which he received a Gemini nomination for Best Direction. In 2004, McNamara directed FLATLY STACKED (TVO and The Documentary Channel) and MEET THE SUMDEES (Vision TV).  Most recently, he directed and wrote the feature length documentary 100 FILMS & A FUNERAL (The Documentary Channel, Sundance Channel, AVRO). In 2004, he also directed the Fredrick Banting episode of THE GREATEST CANADIAN series for the CBC. In 2002, he co-produced, wrote and directed HEARING VOICES: The Lives and Times of Rich Little, and in 2000 wrote and directed THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ROBERT MUNSCH, achieving top ratings on both shows for CBC’s flagship biography series. He also directed for the popular Life Network ‘docu-soap’ series BIRTH STORIES and the first Gay & Lesbian sketch comedy special, IN THRU THE OUT DOOR (Showtime/CBC) for which McNamara was nominated for a 1999 Best Director Gemini Award and the show was nominated for Best Music or Variety Program category. His concert documentary, MY FOOLISH HEART: The Holly Cole Trio, won the 1993 Best Music Program Gemini, and JANE SIBERRY: I Muse Aloud, which also earned him a Best Editing Gemini. His documentary COLIN JAMES: Rock, Rhythm and Blues was broadcast on the CanWest Global network in June 1998.

McNamara is the director and a co-writer of the popular 166-part children’s series POLKA DOT SHORTS (CBC, TVO and BBC2 in the UK & seen in 32 other countries). Polka Dot Shorts received a 2000 Gemini for Best Pre-School Program. McNamara also co-wrote and directed episodes of the children’s series, ELLIOT MOOSE (Nelvana) and was creative producer, writer and director of PRAIRIE BERRY PIE (SCN/Global).

McNamara’s first feature film, THE COCKROACH THAT ATE CINCINNATI won critical acclaim at many international film festivals in Canada, the US and the UK and earned a Best Actor Genie nomination for it’s star, Alan Williams. The film premiered on Canadian television on Bravo! in February 1998. Currently, production has started on Season 2 of DRIVEN BY VISION for VisionTV, while in development is his next feature, SLEEPYHEAD, written by Noel Baker (Hard Core Logo) and, based on a story by Baker and Michael O’Hara, and the feature length documentary ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT. Michael also co-wrote the treatment for THE RETURN OF THE FABULOUS SEVEN with partner, Judy Holm, and through their company Markham Street Films, will produce the feature VICTORIA DAY for writer/director David Bezmozgis.

CREDITS


Feature Film

THE COCKROACH THAT ATE CINCINNATI - 1997 - Theatrical / Bravo!

Feature Length Documentaries

100 FILMS & A FUNERAL - 2007 - The Documentary Channel, Sundance Channel, AVRO

Documentary Series

DRIVEN BY VISION - 2005 - Vision TV

Documentaries

STACKED LIKE ME: Walk a Mile in My Double-D's - 2005 - Discovery Health, Life, Canal Vie, SBS

PENIS DEMENTIA: The Search for the Perfect Penis  - 2005 - Discovery Health, Life, Canal Vie, SBS

MEET THE SUMDEES - 2004 - Vision TV

FLATLY STACKED - 2004 - TVO, Documentary Channel

HEARING VOICES: The Lives and Times of Rich Little - 2002 - CBC

RADIO REVOLUTION: The Rise & Fall of The Big 8 - 2002 - History

WRINKLE - 2001 - CBC Newsworld

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ROBERT MUNSCH - 2001 - CBC

BIRTH STORIES (docusoap) - 2000/2001 - Life Network

JOHN SCOTT: Art & Justice - 2000 - CBC

Short Films

FOR ROY ORBISON - 2000 - Bravo!

Children's Series

POLKA DOT SHORTS - 1995-2001 - TVO, BBC2

PRAIRIE BERRY PIE - 2000 - Global / SCN

ELLIOT MOOSE - 1998 - CBC

ERIC'S WORLD - 1988/91 - TVO

Sharon Lois and Bram’s ELEPHANT SHOW - 1986/87 - CBC

Variety/Sketch Comedy

JUST FOR LAUGHS - 1999 -2003 - CBC / Rozon

IN THRU THE OUT DOOR - 1999 - CBC / Showtime (US)

CANDLES, SNOW AND MISTLETOE - 1992 - CBC

Lifestyle Series

HARROWSMITH COUNTRY LIFE - 1996-99 - Life Network

CANADIAN GARDENING - 1997-99 - HGTV

Television Series

MONEYSWORTH - 1986-1992 - TVO

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES - 1994-1998 - TVO

FILM INTERNATIONAL - 1992-1998 - TVO

Music Specials

COLIN JAMES: Rock, Rhythm and Blues - 1998 - Global TV

CAROL BAKER'S COUNTRY CLASSICS - 1995 - CTV / Baton

MY FOOLISH HEART: The Holly Cole Trio - 1993 - Global TV

JANE SIBERRY: I Muse Aloud - 1987 - Global TV


AWARDS

SHRINES & HOMEMADE HOLY PLACES a.k.a. Driven By Vision

• 2006 Gemini Nominee – Best Direction in a Documentary Series
• 2006 CHRIS Awards – Honourable Mention (Humanities)


RADIO REVOLUTION: The Rise & Fall of The Big 8

• 2004 Gemini Nominee – Best Writing in a History Series or Program
• 2004 Gemini Award -  Best History Program


WRINKLE

• 2001 Gemini Nominee  - Best Director


THE COCKROACH THAT ATE CINCINNATI

• 1997 Genie Nominee - Best Actor in a Leading Role - Alan Williams
• 1997 Best Comedy - Arizona Film Festival
• Official Selection International Festivals in  Toronto, Vancouver, Cork Ireland, Leeds England, Singapore


FOR ROY ORBISON 

• 2000 San Francisco Cine Poetry Festival Award nominee


JOHN SCOTT: Art & Justice

• 1999 Hot Docs Nominee  for Best Short Film
• Official Selection International Festivals in Toronto, Cork, Florida,  Athens


POLKA DOT SHORTS

• 2000 Gemini Winner  - Best Pre-school Series


IN THRU THE OUT DOOR

• 1999 Gemini Nominee  - Best Director
• 1999 Gemini Nominee  - Best Variety or Music Program


CANDLES, SNOW AND MISTLETOE

• 1995 Gemini Award Nominee - Best Children's Program


MY FOOLISH HEART: The Holly Cole Trio

• 1994 Gemini Award -  Best Music Program
• 1994 Gemini Award Best Performance in a Music Program
• 1994 Gemini Nominee  in 2 other Categories:  Best Director, Best Editor
• Gold Special Jury Prize  -  1993 Houston International Film Festival
• Silver Hugo  -  1993 Chicago International Film Festival


JANE SIBERRY: I Muse Aloud

• 1988 Gemini -  Best Picture Editing in a Comedy or Variety Special or Series
• Gold Hugo  -  1988 Chicago International Film Festival
• Silver Medal  -  International Film & TV Festival of New York 1987