Stephen Dunn (born January 18, 1989) is a Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. He made his feature film directorial debut in 2015 with Closet Monster, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Early life Dunn was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador."TIFF spotlight: Stephen Dunn spotlights urban Newfoundland in 'Closet Monster'". CTV News, September 13, 2015. He later studied at the Canadian Film Centre and at Ryerson University.
Career Dunn attended film school at Ryerson University in Toronto and produced several short films as a student, many of which screened at festivals. One of his early short films, titled Life Doesn't Frighten Me, starred Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent and won various awards, including the CBC Short Film Face-Off, with a cash prize of $30,000. The film also won awards at the Toronto Student Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013.
His other short films have included Lionel Lonely Heart, Words! Words! Words! and Swallowed.
Closet Monster Dunn's feature film directorial debut, Closet Monster, won the award for Best Canadian Feature Film at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival."Stephen Dunn's 'Closet Monster' Wins Toronto's Best Canadian Feature Award" . IndieWire, September 20, 2015. He was also named the inaugural winner of the Len Blum Residency, a Toronto International Film Festival program for emerging directors.
Other work Dunn directed and produced the web series Pop-Up Porno, which streams on YouTube and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival."Sundance: ‘Pop-Up Porno’ Pokes Fun at Online Hook-Ups". Variety, January 22, 2015. He also directed "The Son", a 2020 episode of the Apple TV+ series Little America focusing on a gay immigrant from Syria,Daniel Reynolds, "Apple's Little America Spotlights Gay Muslims & Found Family's Power". The Advocate, January 17, 2020. and has been writing a planned reboot of Queer as Folk.Lesley Goldberg, "'Queer as Folk' Reboot, 'One of Us Is Lying' Move to NBCUniversal's Streaming Service". The Hollywood Reporter, August 15, 2019.
Personal life In 2022, Dunn told the public that the new location for Queer as Folk is set in New Orleans because he wanted to give a tribute to his close drag queen superstar friend Chi Chi DeVayne, who is deceased. Dunn is also an openly gay man."Exclusive: Closet Monster Movie Poster". Out, September 8, 2015.
Filmography Film TitleYearCredited asNotesDirectorProducerWriterLionel Lonely Heart2008Short filmCredited as Stephen Patrick DunnThe Hall2009Short filmCredited as Stephen Patrick DunnWords! Words! Words!2009Short filmCinematographerEditorCredited as Stephen Patrick DunnSwallowed2010Short filmLyrics byLife Doesn't Frighten Me2012Short filmCredited as Stephen Patrick DunnNight Light2012Short filmWe Wanted More2013Short filmCredited as Stephen Patrick DunnGood Morning2014Short filmThe Imagined2014Short filmOriginal authorPop-Up Porno2015Documentary short filmCloset Monster2015
Television The numbers in directing and writing credits refer to the number of episodes.
+Key Denotes television series that have not yet aired. TitleYearCredited asNetworkNotesCreatorDirectorWriterExecutiveproducerReel East Coast 2015 (1) (1)CBC TelevisionSegment "Life Doesn't Frighten Me"Heritage Minutes2018 (2) (2)Historica CanadaWeb seriesLittle America2020 (1) (1)Apple TV+ Queer as Folk2022 (3) (3)Peacock
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