Michael Dowse (born April 19, 1973) is a Canadian director.
Life and career Born in London, Ontario, to Irish parents, he was trained as a film editor. His first full-length movie, FUBAR was shot on a digital camera with a tiny budget, but was selected by the Sundance Film Festival and screened on the prestigious midnight slot, which had launched the revolutionary film The Blair Witch Project. Though it failed to get picked up by any major American theatrical distributors, FUBAR subsequently became a cult hit in Canada. Following the success of FUBAR, Dowse went on to direct the higher-budget British film It's All Gone Pete Tong, the story of a deaf DJ in Ibiza.
Dowse's next production, the 1980s retro comedy Take Me Home Tonight, started shooting in Phoenix, Arizona on the week beginning 19 February 2007, and was released to theaters on March 4, 2011.Faris, Fogler "Kids" again in comedy film Reuters, February 8, 2007.
Dowse directed The F Word, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, and Adam Driver.
He has also directed Stuber, starring Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, and Iko Uwais. A film about an encounter between an Uber driver and an almost-blind cop.
In 2025, he began filming on The Stunt Driver, a historical fact-based film based on stuntman Ken Carter.
He currently resides in Montreal with his wife and children.
Filmography Film Year TitleDirectorWriterProducer Notes 2002 FUBAR Also cinematographer and editor 2004 It's All Gone Pete Tong 2010 Fubar 2 Also known as FUBAR: Balls to the Wall or FUBAR: Gods of Blunder;Also editor2011 Take Me Home Tonight Goon 2013 The F Word Also released as What If? The Grand Seduction 2019 Stuber 2020 Coffee & Kareem 2021 8-Bit Christmas 2025 Trap House 2026 The Stunt Driver
Short films Year Title DirectorWriter 2000 237 2017 Robot Bullies
Television
Year TitleDirectorWriterProducerCreator Notes 2009 The Foundation Produced 1 episode 2016–2017 Man Seeking Woman Directed 6 episodes;Produced 10 episodes2017 Preacher Episode "Puzzle Piece" Fubar Age of Computer Also composed opening theme Future Man Episodes "Prelude to an Apocalypse" and "A Date with Destiny"
Music videos
Year Title Artist 1998 "Chupacabras" Chixdiggit2000 "Slow Descent into Alcoholism"The New Pornographers "Letter from an Occupant"2003 "Your Daddy Don't Know" "The Kid Is Hot Tonight" Chixdiggit "In the Mood" Sloan "FUBAR Is a Super Rocker" Thor "Diamond Head" The New Pornographers
Other credits Year Title Role 1999 Bad Money Editor 2000 waydowntownAssistant editor 2001 Mile Zero 2002 Looking for Leonard Editor 2009 You Might as Well Live Executive producer
Awards and nominations
+ Russell Peters awards and nominations Awards and nominations Award Wins Nominations TotalsCanadian Screen AwardsDirectors Guild of Canada AwardsGen Art Film Festival AwardsGenie AwardsSXSW Film Festival AwardsToronto Film Critics Association AwardsToronto International Film Festival AwardsUS Comedy Arts Festival Awards YearNominated workAwardCategoryResult 2003 FUBAR Genie Awards Best Achievement in Editing 2004It's All Gone Pete Tong Toronto International Film Festival Awards Best Canadian Film 2005Gen Art Film Festival Awards Audience Award - Best Feature Best Feature US Comedy Arts Festival Awards Film Discovery Jury Award - Best Feature 2006Genie Awards Best Achievement in Direction Best Original Screenplay 2010FUBAR 2 Toronto International Film Festival Awards People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness 2011 SXSW Film Festival Awards Audience Award - Spotlight Premiere 2012Goon Directors Guild of Canada Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film 2012 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Rogers Best Canadian Film Award 2012Canadian Screen Awards Best Director 2014 The Grand Seduction Best Adapted Screenplay The F Word Best Director 2014Directors Guild of Canada Awards Best Direction in a Feature Film Best Feature Film Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Rogers Best Canadian Film Award
References
External links
Official Film Website FUBAR - The Movie Official Film Website