Michael Kang is a renowned Korean American filmmaker, currently based in New York, with a rich background that spans his birth and upbringing in Providence, Rhode Island. His journey to becoming a filmmaker began when he attended the prestigious New York University Tisch School of the Arts' Dramatic Writing Program, where he was a Founder's Day Honors Scholar. This marked the starting point of his illustrious career, which has been punctuated by numerous accolades and achievements.
Michael's feature film directorial debut, "The Motel" (2005),premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005, and was produced by the acclaimed filmmaker Miguel Arteta. The film received widespread recognition, including the Humanitas Prize, Best Narrative Feature from the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival 2005, and The Best Dramatic Narrative Feature Award from the San Diego Asian Film Festival 2005. Additionally, "The Motel" was awarded the 2003 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award, solidifying Michael's position as a talented and innovative filmmaker.
Throughout his career, Michael has been recognized for his exceptional writing skills, including receiving the 2002 Geri Ashur Award in screen writing through the New York Foundation for the Arts. He also won the 24th Annual Asian American International Film Festival screenplay competition in 2001, further cementing his reputation as a masterful storyteller.
Michael's short films have also garnered significant attention and acclaim. His film "A Waiter Tomorrow" (1998) received both the FilmCore Post-Production Grant 1998 and the Freaky Film Festival Audience Choice Award 1999. His short film "Japanese Cowboy" (2000) was a co-recipient of the Manhattan Community Arts Fund Grant 1999 and the Special Jury Prize at Film Fest New Haven 2000.
In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Michael has also worked as a second unit director for Wayne Wang on the film "Because of Winn-Dixie" (2005),where he had the unique opportunity to direct a live bear.
