Mike Mendez, a native of Los Angeles, began making movies in his backyard at the tender age of 10. Fast-forwarding to his early twenties, Mike made his first feature film, "Killers," at the age of 23. This groundbreaking film was accepted into the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 1997, a testament to its innovative storytelling and cinematic prowess.
The film's success was swift and widespread, as it was picked up by Alpine Pictures for distribution in the United States, and subsequently received a worldwide theatrical release. This marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career for Mike, as he continued to push the boundaries of the horror-comedy genre with his subsequent films.
One such film, "The Convent," was also accepted into the Sundance Film Festival in 2000, as well as over 30 other film festivals worldwide. This critically acclaimed film was released by Lionsgate in the United States, cementing Mike's status as a rising star in the industry.
In addition to his work in feature films, Mike has also produced a documentary for Universal Television and Showtime, entitled "Masters of Horror." This thought-provoking film featured interviews with some of the genre's most legendary filmmakers, offering a unique glimpse into the world of horror cinema.
Mike's subsequent films, including "The Gravedancers," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006, and "Big Ass Spider!", which premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival, have continued to showcase his versatility and talent as a filmmaker. "The Gravedancers" was released nationally by Lionsgate & After Dark Films as part of "8 Films To Die For", while "Big Ass Spider!" had a limited theatrical release worldwide.
Throughout his career, Mike has also worked on various short films for X-box and television series, including the iconic "Beavis & Butthead". His most recent project, "Big Ass Spider!", stars "Heroes" alumni Greg Grunberg and is a testament to his ability to adapt to different genres and styles.
