Michael is a two-time Emmy Award nominated filmmaker and founder of Thoughtful Robot, a film production company dedicated to sharing stories that inspire, connect, and spark positive change. He is committed to shedding light on powerful narratives that have the potential to galvanize meaningful change in society.
Michael's most recent film, Almost Sunrise, premiered on PBS in November 2017 and received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. This poignant film chronicles the transformative journey of two Iraq war veterans who embarked on a 2,700-mile walk to save themselves from suicide. Through their story, Almost Sunrise reveals the promise of holistic practices in healing and sheds light on the often-overlooked topic of "moral injury" and its connection to the suicide crisis.
Almost Sunrise premiered at the Telluride Mountainfilm festival in 2016 and has since been screened over 500 times across the United States, winning six major awards, including the Cine Golden Eagle Award. The film's impact has been recognized by government organizations and professional associations, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Association of Social Workers.
In 2017, Michael directed Voices of Resilience, a 15-minute standalone short film that serves as a companion piece to Almost Sunrise. This powerful film aired on PBS in November 2017 and follows the struggles of a diverse group of veterans, offering inspirational examples of those who are finding inner peace through ancient practices of yoga and meditation.
Michael's earlier work includes Give Up Tomorrow, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011 and won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for Best New Director. The film went on to screen in over 75 festivals in 40+ countries, winning 18 major awards, including seven Audience Awards, four Human Rights Awards, and the Activism Award at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival.
In 2012, Give Up Tomorrow was selected for the Puma Impact Award and received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Investigative Journalism. Michael's other notable works include Caught in an Injustice, a one-hour documentary broadcast on Spanish National Television, and Gerthy's Roots, a short film that won the Belief Matters Award and was selected for the Media that Matters collection.
In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Michael has also served as a juror and panelist at various film festivals. In September 2018, he served as the President of the Jury at the Flahertiana International Film Festival in Perm, Russia, where he presented a retrospective of his work and gave a workshop on "Impact Distribution." In May 2019, Michael served on the Telluride Mountainfilm jury, where his film Almost Sunrise had previously won the Moving Mountains Award.
