American filmmaker (born 1986)
Riley Stearns
Born (1986-06-29 ) June 29, 1986 (age 38) Occupation Filmmaker Years active 2008–present Spouse
Riley Stearns (born June 29, 1986) is an American filmmaker who has directed three feature films: Faults (2014), The Art of Self-Defense (2019), and Dual (2022).[ 1]
Early life
Stearns was born on June 29, 1986, in Austin, Texas , and grew up in Pflugerville, Texas .[ 2] He attended University of Texas at Austin , but dropped out after being turned down by the film program.[ 3]
Career
Initially wanting to be a musician , Stearns became involved in filmmaking after visiting various movie sets and after being advised on being a screenwriter by Final Destination 3 director James Wong .[ 4]
Stearns worked as a writer for Cartoon Network 's Tower Prep , and for the television series My Own Worst Enemy and Bionic Woman .[ 5]
His short film The Cub became his first film to be premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival , and also to be featured by Vice Media .[ 6] [ 7]
He released his feature debut Faults in 2014. It was later chosen to be part of the Best Unproduced Scripts Black List of 2013 .[citation needed ] Stearns wrote and directed a second feature, The Art of Self-Defense , which was released in 2019.[ 1] In 2022, he released his third feature film Dual .[ 8]
Personal life
In 2010, he married actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead , whom he met during an ocean cruise in 2002.[ 9] She starred in his first two short films, before starring in his feature film debut, Faults in 2014.[ 10]
The couple separated in 2017, and divorced later that year.[ 11]
Stearns is a black belt[ 12] in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and won a bronze medal at the 2022 ADCC Open in the 70kg Masters Pro division.[ 13]
Filmography
Short film
Year
Title
Director
Writer
Producer
2011
Magnificat
Yes
Yes
No
2012
Casque
Yes
Yes
Yes
2013
The Cub
Yes
Yes
Yes
Feature film
References
^ a b Cordova, Randy (July 18, 2019). " 'The Art of Self-Defense' filmmaker Riley Stearns talks toxic masculinity and tattoos" . The Arizona Republic . Retrieved March 25, 2020 .
^ Rice, Laura (March 15, 2014). "SXSW Filmmaker Spotlight: Exploring Truths, Lies and Cults in 'Faults' " . KUT News . Retrieved September 27, 2024 .
^ "Meet the 2014 AFI Filmmakers #1: 'Faults' Director On How Not to Lose Ten Pounds on Set" . IndieWire . November 7, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2024 .
^ "Filmmaker Interview: RILEY STEARNS, writer/director of FAULTS" . SAG Indie. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2020 .
^ Interview: Riley Stearns . Film Comment . 23 February 2015
^ "The Cub by Riley Stearns: VICE Shorts" . Vice Media . August 20, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2020 .
^ "Director Riley Stearns on his Short Film, 'The Cub' " . Vice Media . August 21, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2020 .
^ "Riley Stearns explains the bizarre performances in his micro sci-fi movie Dual" . Polygon. April 24, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2023 .
^ "Mary Elizabeth Winstead: "Fargo Helped Me Embrace My Sexual Side" " . Glamour . April 27, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2020 .
^ "Filmmaker Interview: RILEY STEARNS, writer/director of FAULTS" . SAG Indie. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2020 .
^ Mary Elizabeth Winstead Splits from Husband Riley Stearns: 'We Are Still Ride or Die' . People . 14 May 2017.
^ "Instagram" .
^ "Floarena" .
External links