Director, Producer, Screenwriter

(b. April 14, 1966 Toronto, Ontario)

A native of Toronto, Michael McGowan graduated from the University of North Carolina with a B.A. in English and went on to write extensively for such publications as Toronto Life, Saturday Night, Shift, Harrowsmith and The Globe and Mail.

McGowan’s first feature film, My Dog Vincent (1997), which he wrote, directed and produced, played at film festivals around the world before its commercial release in 1998. He then turned his attention to children’s television programmes. He created, produced and directed the stop-motion animated series “Henry's World” and directed an episode of “The Unprofessionals” for The Comedy Network. In addition to adapting several literary projects for television – including Mordecai Richler’s “Jacob Two-Two” series and Tim Wynne-Jones’s “Mischief City” – he is the author of Newton and the Giant, a novel for young adults.

Saint Ralph (2004) had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival®, where it opened the inaugural Canada First! programme. It was also named one of Canada’s Top Ten of 2004 by an independent, national panel of filmmakers, programmers, journalists and industry professionals. McGowan lives outside Toronto with his wife and children.

Film and video work includes

My Dog Vincent, 1997 (director; writer; producer)
The Unprofessionals series, 2001 (director; TV, one episode)
Henry's World series, 2002 (voice director; writer; executive producer; creator; story editor; TV)
Jacob Two-Two series, 2003 (writer; TV)
Mischief City series, 2005 (writer; TV)