121: Filmmaker, author and co-founder of SLAMDANCE FILM FEST: Dan Mirvish

Dan  Mirvish is a director, screenwriter, producer and author. He's  currently in post-production on his new feature, 18½, a 70s Watergate  thriller/dark comedy. Prior to that, he directed the award-winning  feature Bernard and Huey, scripted by Oscar/Pulitzer-winner Jules  Feiffer, and starring Oscar-winner Jim Rash and David Koechner which  screened in over 30 film festivals on 5 continents, had a 20-city US  theatrical release, and sold to over 49 countries. Dan is the author of  the bestselling non-fiction book The Cheerful Subversive's Guide to  Independent Filmmaking from Focal Press/Routledge, with a 2nd Edition  shooting up to #1 on Amazon's New Release charts shortly after its  release on July 6, 2021. His film Between Us, an award-winning feature  starring Julia Stiles and Taye Diggs, played in 23 festivals in 7  countries, and got a 50+ city theatrical release in the US, and sold to  144 countries, plus screening on Netflix, Showtime, Starz and all  digital outlets. Dan was mentored by Robert Altman on his first film,  Omaha (the movie), which led him to co-found the upstart Slamdance Film  Festival. His film Open Houseprompted the Academy Awards to  controversially rewrite their rules on the Best Original Musical  category. Mirvish also co-wrote his bestselling, critically-acclaimed  novel I Am Martin Eisenstadt based on the fake McCain advisor who took  credit for Sarah Palin not knowing Africa was a continent. A former  speechwriter for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, Dan has a master's degree from  USC film school, is a member of the Directors Guild of America and has  guest lectured at more than 40 film schools and universities. website: www.DanMirvish.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanMirvish Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dmirvish/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmirvish