Adam Smoluk

Adam Smoluk

Adam Smoluk in 2017
Born Adam Smoluk
(1980-06-17) June 17, 1980
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Alma mater Red River College
National Screen Institute
British American Drama Academy
Occupation screenwriter, film director and actor

Adam Smoluk (born June 17, 1980) is a Canadian screenwriter, director, actor, and community leader. His work in media productions often explores themes of alienation and isolation.[1] He has cited Jim Thompson, James M. Cain and Eugene O'Neill as influences.

Early life

Adam Smoluk was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in the St. Vital area.[2] As a child, he had a fascination with still photography. He was twelve-years-old when he purchased a used Pentax K1000 SLR camera from a neighborhood garage sale. In high school he became interested in playwriting, and after graduation studied theatre on scholarship at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University.[3] Upon returning home to Canada, he began working as an actor in film and television.

Community service

Smoluk has been active in the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) and has served on the ACTRA Manitoba Political Action Committee, and was Chairman of the ACTRA Independent Film Committee. In 2007, he was appointed to serve as ACTRA's representative on the Manitoba Federation of Labour's Human Rights Committee.

He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Film Group and is a current member of the United Way of Winnipeg's GenNext Council. Smoluk was named chair of GenNext in October 2015 [4] and he was a key organizer of the first GenNext Summit ever held in Canada.[5]

In 2012, Smoluk contributed profiles of the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer and Manitoba Film & Music CEO Carole Vivier for The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce's The Heart of Winnipeg, a book that profiles 41 Manitoban-based leaders. The publication profiles leaders who have distinguished themselves by playing leading roles in the growth and development of Manitoba.[6]

In 2013, Smoluk was awarded the Manitoba Federation of Labour's Al Cerilli scholarship award. The MFL's Young Members Committee selects the winner on the basis of their record of commitment to the labour movement.[7]

He was awarded a Royal Bank of Canada scholarship to attend governance training with the Rotman School of Management and the Institute of Corporate Directors.[8]

Career

After producing and directing several stage productions, Smoluk made his debut feature film, Horsethieves. Completed on a shoestring budget, the film was a surprise winner of the Audience Choice Award at the 2005 Winnipeg International Film Festival.[9] Smoluk won the Future Leaders of Manitoba award for the Arts [10] and was awarded an Investors Group scholarship for leadership studies at The Banff Centre.[11]

Smoluk is the youngest filmmaker ever selected to the National Screen Institute’s Features First Program.[9] In 2009, Smoluk went into production of his second feature film, Foodland. The film follows a naïve grocery clerk as his life spirals out of control when he inadvertently helps his inept manager rob the store. Foodland's cast includes James Clayton (Actor), Ross McMillan, Stephen Eric McIntyre and Kim Poirier. The film was released in select cities in January 2011.[12] Super Channel, Canada’s only national English pay television network, premiered Foodland in October 2011.[13] The network profiled the film in the Super Channel Gems selections. Super Channel Gems are the place for viewers to find a different and diverse discoveries “terrific hidden treasures that we’re sure you’re going to love”.[14] Foodland premiered on the IFC in March 2014.[15]

He was the first screenwriter in over two decades to be shortlisted for the prestigious John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer.[16] The award was established by the Manitoba Foundation for the Arts with a bequest from the late John Hirsch, co-founder of the Manitoba Theatre Centre. The endowment from the Hirsch estate provides a cash prize to the most promising Manitoba writer selected by a jury of senior members of the Manitoba writing and publishing community.[17]

Smoluk was awarded selection by an international jury to attend the eQuinoxe Europe screenwriting development program in Lindau, Germany in October 2016.[1]

Filmography

As writer/director/producer

As actor

Film
Television

References

  1. 1 2 Simon Fuller (October 31, 2016). "Screenwriter Loving overseas writing program". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  2. ↑ Arielle Godbout (August 12, 2010). "Childhood memories from city’s south spark feature film". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  3. ↑ "Youth Education Days - Workshop Leaders". Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival. Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  4. ↑ "RRC student named chair of united ways GenNext council". Redblog. Red River College. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  5. ↑ "Summit aims to inspire young Winnipegger". GenNext Summit. Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  6. ↑ "Adam Smoluk Contributes Profiles For Leadership Book". Leadership Winnipeg book. On Screen Manitoba. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  7. ↑ "MFL Al Cerilli scholarship awarded". MFL Scholarship award. Manitoba Federation of Labour. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  8. ↑ "RBC scholarship awarded to ftms program manager Adam Smoluk". RBC Scholarship award. Film Training Manitoba. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  9. 1 2 Kenton Smith (December 30, 2010). "Is the pen mightier than the budget?". Uptown Magazine. pp. Uptown Magazine. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  10. ↑ staff (February 3, 2010). "Adam Smoluk wins Future Leaders of Manitoba Award". National Screen Institute. National Screen Institute. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  11. ↑ staff (August 11, 2011). "ADAM SMOLUK AWARDED INVESTORS GROUP SCHOLARSHIP". On Screen Manitoba. On Screen Manitoba. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  12. ↑ "First stills from Canuck grocery store heist comedy FOODLAND". Quiet Earth. June 2, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  13. ↑ "FOODLAND PREMIERES ON SUPER CHANNEL OCT. 12". On Screen Manitoba. 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  14. ↑ "Canadian indie Gem will have you rolling in the aisles - only on Super Channel". Channel Canada. 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  15. ↑ Laura Friesen (March 28, 2014). "foodland premieres on ifc". National Screen institute of Canada. pp. National Screen Institute of Canada. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  16. ↑ staff (March 23, 2009). "NSI alumnus Adam Smoluk nominated for John Hirsch Award". National Screen Institute. National Screen Institute. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  17. ↑ "The John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer". Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards. Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards. Archived from the original on 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
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