Austin Stark (born May 31, 1979) is an American film director, writer, and producer best known for films that explore social issues, from mental illness in Infinitely Polar Bear to class conflict in Coup!
Austin Stark | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 31, 1979 |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, writer, producer |
| Years active | 2007–present |
Career
editStark began his career in 2007 working with Academy Award winning producer Martin Richards (Chicago).
In 2015, Stark made his writing and directorial debut with The Runner, a political drama that follows a Louisiana congressman in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill.[1] The movie stars Nicolas Cage, Sarah Paulson, Connie Nielsen, and Peter Fonda. It was released in theaters nationwide on August 7, 2015 by Alchemy.[2]
In 2021, Stark wrote and directed The God Committee, a medical thriller about the world of organ transplantation, starring Kelsey Grammer, Colman Domingo and Julia Stiles. The film premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically by Vertical Entertainment and Netflix. Upon release, the film reached the Netflix Top 10 movie list[3] in the United States.[4]
Stark’s latest film Coup!, a darkly comedic thriller set during the 1918 Spanish Flu, follows a rebellious servant who leads a revolt against his wealthy employer.[5] The film stars Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Magnussen and Sarah Gadon. On September 8, 2023, it debuted in the Giornate degli Autori section of the 80th Venice International Film Festival.[6]
In addition to writing and directing, Stark has produced numerous films. His most well-known film Infinitely Polar Bear, starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana, was released theatrically by Sony Pictures Classics and earned Ruffalo a nomination for the 73rd Golden Globe Awards under the category Best Actor - Comedy. Other films Stark has produced include:
- Peter and Vandy (2009), nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.[7][8]
- Werner Herzog's My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? (2009),[9] starring Michael Shannon and Willem Dafoe.
- Happythankyoumoreplease (2010), winner of the Audience Award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival;[10]
- Tony Kaye's Detachment (2011), starring Adrien Brody;[11]
- Hello I Must Be Going (2012), nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival;[12]
Personal life
editStark is a graduate of Georgetown University[13] where he studied literature.
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Type | Credited as | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Producer | Writer | |||
| 2003 | Killing Pedro Rivera | Short Film | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2006 | Love/Death/Cobain | Short Film | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2007 | My Biodegradable Heart | Short Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2009 | Peter and Vandy | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2009 | Homecoming | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2009 | My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2009 | Repo Chick | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2010 | Happythankyoumoreplease | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2011 | Detachment | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2012 | Hello I Must Be Going | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2014 | Infinitely Polar Bear | Feature Film | No | Yes | No |
| 2015 | The Runner | Feature Film | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2021 | The God Committee | Feature Film | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2023 | Coup! | Feature Film | Yes | No | Yes |
References
edit- ^ Travers, Ben (May 16, 2014). "Nicolas Cage Returns to New Orleans in Austin Stark's Directorial Debut 'The Runner'". IndieWire. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ Canfield, David (June 16, 2015). "Watch: Nicolas Cage Fights Big Oil in Star-Studded 'The Runner' Trailer". IndieWire. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/julia-stiles-netflix-god-committee.html
- ^ Grobar, Matt; Hipes, Patrick (May 13, 2021). "'The God Committee' Starring Kelsey Grammer Lands U.S. Deal With Vertical Ahead Of Tribeca Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ Lodge, Guy (September 16, 2023). "'Coup!' Review: Jaunty Class-War Comedy Pits Peter Sarsgaard Against Billy Magnussen". Variety. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ https://www.giornatedegliautori.com/en/program/coup-eng/
- ^ Davis, Erik. "Sundance Review: Peter and Vandy". Moviefone. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Peter and Vandy". IMDb. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?". IMDb. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ Weintraub, Steve "Frosty" (January 31, 2010). "Sundance Announces 2010 Award Winners: ANIMAL KINGDOM, THE RED CHAPEL, RESTREPO, and WINTER'S BONE Earn Grand Jury Prizes". Collider.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (March 15, 2012). "Substitute Teacher, Just Trying to Do Good by His Pupils - 'Detachment,' Starring Adrien Brody, Directed by Tony Kaye". The New York Times.
- ^ "2012 Todd Louiso: "Hello I Must Be Going"". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ "Our Team - Austin Stark". Paper Street Films. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
