Education
M.F.A., Film Production, Columbia University (2008)
Post-Grad, Advance Television & Film, Sheridan College (2003)
B.A., Communication Studies, The University of Windsor (2002)
Areas of Interest
Film and Video Production; Directing; Screenwriting; Producing; Acting; Interactive Media.
Biography
Associate Professor, Film Production
Michael Stasko is a talented and award-winning filmmaker who has written, produced and directed over ten feature films that have premiered at prestigious festivals and sold to major distributors. His films range from comedy to sci-fi to Shakespearean, and feature stars like Ray Wise, Tom Cavanagh, Fred Willard, Graham Greene, Colin Mochrie, Kevin McDonald, Judith O’Dea and Lloyd Kaufman.
He has also created and produced original TV series for YTV, CBC and Bell. Michael Stasko is a versatile and visionary storyteller who always delivers engaging and entertaining stories for the screen. Works include "Things To Do" (2006), "Iodine" (2009), "The Birder" (2014), "The Control" (2018), "Boys vs. Girls" (2020), "Depraved Mind" (2023) and “Vampire Zombies…from Space!” (2025). Upcoming “A Dangerous Life” (2027).
He also produces feature length films for the Stratford Festival including “Cymbeline” (2024), “The Winter’s Tale” (2025), “Macbeth” (2026) and the upcoming “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (2027).
IMDb: imdb.me/mikestasko
Notable Filmography
2025 – 2026
Producer for “Macbeth”, 2026, Fiction feature film, filmed and distributed for The Stratford Festival, at Stratfest@Home, (135 min).
2018 – 2026
Producer, Director, Writer for “Reel Shorts: Windsor”, 2018-2026. Non-fiction television series as. Now in its 8th season, commissioned and broadcasted on CBC, (8 episodes x 44 minutes).
2025 – 2026
Producer for “The Winter’s Tale”, 2026, Fiction feature film, filmed and distributed for The Stratford Festival, at Stratfest@Home, (132 min).
2022 – 2025
Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Sound Design for “Vampire Zombies…from Space!”, 2025. Fiction feature film that played at 50+ juried film festivals around the world and winner of over 20 major awards. Distribution with Black Mandala (International), IndieCan (Canada), (98 min).
2024 – 2025
Producer for “Cymbeline”, 2024, Fiction feature film, filmed and distributed for The Stratford Festival, at Stratfest@Home, (170 min).
2024 – 2025
Producer, Director, Writer for “Landmarks & Lunch”, 2025, Non-fiction television series commissioned and broadcasted on Bell, (6 episodes x 15 minutes).
2022 – 2024
Producer for “Depraved Mind”, 2023, Nicholas Shields, Suede Productions, Level Films, Serendipity, April 2023, Capital City Film Festival, Palm Beach International Film Festival, Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival, Pittsburgh
Independent Film Festival, Motorcity Nightmares Film Festival, (103 min).
2021 – 2022
Producer for “Windsor/Essex Showcase”, 2021, Non-fiction television series commissioned and broadcasted on CFTV.
2018 – 2020
Writer, Producer, Director, Editor for “Boys vs. Girls”, 2020, The Dot Film Company, Mongrel Media (Canada), Gravitas Ventures (America & World). Starring Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyways?) & Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall). Winner Best Feature Film & Audience Choice - Chicago Comedy Film Festival 2020, Winner Best Canadian Feature - Canadian International Comedy Film Festival 2020, Winner Best Writer & Best Ensemble Cast - Florida Comedy Film Festival 2020, (80 min).
2019 – 2020
Producer, Director, Writer for “Therapeutic Riding”, 2019. Non-fiction television episode as. Commissioned for “Land & Sea” series by CBC, aired on CBC, (30 min).
2015 – 2018
Writer, Producer, Director, Lead Actor, Editor for “The Control”, 2018, a feature film (Nice International Film Festival, Houston WorldFest, Toronto Independent Film Festival). Distributed by Freestyle Digital Media, (94 min).
2006 – 2015
Writer, Producer for “The Birder” a feature film (Calgary International Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival) with TeleFilm Canada, Union Films Distribution, DVD released 2015. Sold and distributed through Sony Pictures in USA. Starring Tom Cavanagh (Ed, The Flash), Fred Willard (Wall-E, Best In Show) and Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, The Green Mile), (85 min).
2008 – 2010
Writer, Producer, Director, Lead Actor, Editor for “Iodine” a feature film (The Montreal World Film Festival, Remi Award Winner World-Fest Houston International Film Festival, limited theatrical run 2010, DVD released 2010, starring Ray Wise (Twin Peaks, Reaper). (Walmart, HMV, Amazon, iTunes) (Canadian distribution: Anchor Bay, US and World: Whitewater), (96 min).
2004 – 2006
Writer, Editor, Producer, Lead Actor for “Things To Do” a feature film (Official selection at the Slamdance International Film Festival 2006 and Stockholm International Film Festival, theatrical release in US and DVD and TV release all across North America (The Movie Network, Blockbuster, etc…), (Mongrel Media: Canada, Lifesize Entertainment, US and World), (85 min).
Courses Taught
FILM2100 “Film Production III”
VSAR8650 “Studio Production I”
FILM2300 “Screenwriting I”
FILM3700 “Directing”
FILM4200 “Documentary Production III”
FILM4100 “Film Production V”
FILM4300 “Screenwriting III”
FILM3300 “Screenwriting II”
CMAF2200 “Screenwriting Fundamentals”
CMAF3200 “Intermediate Screenwriting”
CMAF4950 “Directed Reading”
CMAF3170 “Directing the Screen Performance”
CMAF2310 “Film Production”
02-40-323 “Production Planning & Development”
02-40-112 “Introduction to Media Design and Production I”
02-40-232 “Documentary”
02-40-499 “Internships”
02-40-209 “Fundamentals of Sound Technology”
02-40-424 “Advance Non-Fiction Media”
02-40-219 “Digital Media Production II”
02-40-260 “Fundamentals of Writing for Media”
02-40-209 “Fundamentals of Sound Technology”
02-40-221 “The Art of Photo-blogging”
Previous (Ryerson, uOttawa, Western, Algonquin)
CMN4170 "Social Uses of New Media"
CMN2150 "History of Journalism"
CIN3199 "World Cinema"
CMN3165 "Media Industries"
CMN2132 "Non-Verbal Communication"
CMN4166 "Audience Research"
CMN2167 "Video I"
CIN3108 "New Images"
CIN3198 "Canadian and Quebec Cinema: Documentary"
CMN3182 "Policy Studies"
CMN2152 "Image & Communication"
CMN2168 "Globalization & Communication"
CIN3197 "Canadian and Quebec Cinema: Fiction"
MIT3373 "Social Media and Organizations"
MIT2305 "Radio & Television as Entertainment Media"
CFPN502 "Directing the Screen Performance"
TVA0002 "Video Editing for Television"
JOU5210 "Developing your Documentary"