David Midell, an independent filmmaker, started his career by drawing inspiration from his work as a therapist for children and adults with disabilities in Chicago. As a filmmaker on the autism spectrum, he uses his work to raise important questions about how society treats its most vulnerable citizens, including those with disabilities and mental health challenges.
David's debut feature, NightLights, follows the journey of a sister and brother with autism as they experience heartbreaks and triumphs. The film was released in theaters in 2014, premiered on the Lifetime Movie Network in 2015, and won numerous awards, including a Prism Award.
After the success of NightLights, David brought The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain to the world. The film tells the true story of the events that led to the death of an elderly African American former marine with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers in his home. The film stars Tony Award nominee Frankie Faison, Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose, and is executive produced by Lori McCreary, Gary Lucchesi, and Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman.
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain received critical acclaim, including appearing on nearly 2 dozen critics' yearly top ten lists. Frankie Faison won a Gotham Award for Outstanding Lead Performance, and the film was nominated for multiple Independent Spirit Awards and an NAACP Image Award.
David's upcoming film, The Ritual, tells the true story of one of the most highly publicized and well-documented exorcisms in American history. The film stars academy award winner Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Patricia Heaton, Patrick Fabian, Ashley Greene, and Abigail Cowen, and is set to be released in summer 2025.
