John Maringouin (born September 2, 1973) is an American film director from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Biography
Maringouin's debut feature, Running Stumbled (2006), was a documentary film chronicling his return to his estranged father's home in Louisiana— his first visit in 25 years. Shot on digital video in 2002 he film found his father, Johnny, living in drug fueled chaos with his common-law wife Marie. The film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam before screening at CineVegas.Macaulay, Scott. "25 New Faces of Independent Film 2006." Filmmaker Magazine, Summer 2006. https://filmmakermagazine.com/archives/issues/summer2006/features/25_faces21-25.php Time Out described it as part of "the fascinating, ever-expanding sub-genre of auto-archive documentary," placing it alongside Tarnation and Grizzly Man.Running Stumbled review. Time Out, 2007. https://www.timeout.com/movies/running-stumbled
In 2006, Filmmaker Magazine selected Maringouin as one of their annual "25 New Faces of Independent Film," describing Running Stumbled as "a true epic in the fucked-up family doc genre."
Maringouin's second feature, Big River Man (2009), documented Slovenian endurance swimmer Martin Strel's attempt to swim the entire length of the Amazon River in 2007. The film followed Strel and his son and manager Borut as the expedition descended into physical and psychological extremity, with Strel losing his mind and nearly losing his life.Macaulay, Scott. "John Maringouin, Big River Man." Filmmaker Magazine, November 2009. https://filmmakermagazine.com/1397-john-maringouin-big-river-man/
Maringouin's third feature as director, Ghostbox Cowboy (2018), was his first narrative fiction film. Starring David Zellner as a delusional entrepreneur pitching a ghost-communication device to Chinese investors, the film was shot in Shenzhen, China. The film premiered in the narrative competition at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. IONCINEMA called it "a no-frills Pynchonian mind-blowing masterpiece."Delman, Matt. "Ghostbox Cowboy." IONCINEMA, November 30, 2018. https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/john-maringouin-ghostbox-cowboy-review
Filmography Year Title Role(s) 2006 Running Stumbled Director, writer, editor 2009 Big River Man Director, cinematographer, editor, producer 2011 Septien Actor 2016 We Are X Cinematographer, editor 2018 Ghostbox Cowboy Director, writer, cinematographer, editor, producer
Awards
Year Award Film Result 2006 Independent Spirit Award nomination Running Stumbled Nominated 2006 Filmmaker Magazine 25 New Faces of Independent Film — Selected 2009 Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Award Big River Man Won 2009 Biografilm Festival Grand Prize Big River Man Won 2016 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award for Best Editing We Are X Won
References