Mars Roberge is a Canadian-American dual-citizen filmmaker born in Scarborough, a borough of Toronto, and currently residing in Los Angeles. He is a multi-award-winning director, producer, screenwriter, and editor, having graduated from York University's film production program.
Roberge is recognized as a leading figure in the Hellawood film movement, a collective of underground filmmakers in Hollywood who create their art by any means necessary. In 2016, he launched a new film genre, "Rocktopia," which he defines as an individual's struggle against the ideals of a Utopian society where the only freedom of escape is to rock out.
When not making films, Roberge moonlights as a successful underground disc jockey, known as "Die J!", playing major venues in Toronto, NYC, and Los Angeles since the early 1990s. He also runs a vinyl record label, World Domination Records, and has exhibited his work at various galleries, including ARS Gallery in Japan, Chashama Gallery in Harlem, and Sur Le Mur in Los Angeles.
After graduating in 1995, Roberge worked in the music video industry, editing at Black Walk Productions and serving as the original First Assistant Director for Jessy Terrero. He then worked in various fields of the film industry, including commercials, features, and special effects.
In the early 2000s, Roberge moved to NYC and worked as a stylist for Patricia Field, while pursuing a career as a mega dj and performing in various bands. During this time, he made his first feature film, a documentary about NYC's underground drag and art world, which premiered at Frameline in 2013 and won the 2015 Audience Choice Award for Best Film at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles.
Roberge moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and directed two more feature films under his film company, World Domination Pictures. His punk comedy, "Scumbag," premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2017, while his feel-good dramedy, "Mister Sister," premiered as the official closing night film for Dances With Films in 2021 and won the Best NYC Film award at Winter Film Awards International Film Festival.
In 2021, Roberge won the We Make Movies "Make Your Feature" international pitch contest, securing funding for his latest microbudget feature, "Stars," a black and white drama about a group of NYC homeless women. The film will premiere as the official opening night film for Winter Film Awards International Film Festival on February 17th, 2023, and Roberge will also be teaching a masterclass on microbudget filmmaking.
