About Michael
Michael Giannantonio is an award winning live entertainer and filmmaker. Michael began his career in the entertainment industry in 1987 and has since filled many roles within the business. Michael spent a portion of his career in the spotlight performing as a live entertainer, more specifically, a musician and later as a world reknown stage hypnotist and magician. Michael now works behind the camera in the television and film business as a producer, director, writer, director of photography, editor and technical manager. Michael is the president of Summitstar Studios, a succesful studio in Peoria, AZ which consists of multiple audio recording studios, a full service audio and video post production facility, a state of the art audio and video podcast studio, a full color correction suite, 800 sq ft sound stage, equipment rental house, and multiple production offices. Michael is a seasoned professional who is called upon time and time again to complete challenging production assignments. Michael has the natural ability to create and follow story in a highly cinematic way.
AWARD WINNING FILMMAKER
View Michael's Awards here:
AWARD WINS
2018 American Horror Film Festival – Best Music
2018 Optical Theatre Horror Film Festival – Semi-Finalist
2018 Horror Shorts Film Festival – Jury Finalist
2017 Indie Horror Film Festival – Best Sound
2017 Hollywood Screenings Film Festival – Semi-Finalist
2017 International Horror Hotel – Honorable Mention
2017 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Horror, Suspense, Thriller Film
2017 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Cinematography
2017 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Actor, Lead Role
2017 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Action Sequence
2017 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Hair & Make-Up
2017 Hollywood Screenings Film Festival – Semi-Finalist
2017 Global Independent Film Awards – Finalist
2016 Midwest Horror Shorts Film Festival – Best Director
2016 ICP Entertainment Short Film Series – Best Horror Film
2016 Independent Horror Movie Awards – Best Gore
2016 IndieFest Film Awards – Award of Merit
2016 Best Shorts Competition – Award of Merit
2016 Top Shorts – Audience Choice Award
2016 Spotlight Horror Film Awards – Gold Award Winner
2016 Minikino Film Week – Finalist
2016 Best Short Fest – Semi-Finalist
2016 Hollywood Screenings Film Festival – Semi-Finalist
2016 Directors Circle Festival of Shorts – Best Religious / Spiritual Film
2016 The Film Awards – Best Narrative Short Honorable Mention
2016 Hollywood Screenings Film Festival – Semi-Finalist
2016 Global Independent Film Awards (Annual) – Best Faith-Based Film
2016 Global Independent Film Awards (Annual) – Humanitarian Award
2016 Global Independent Film Awards (Annual) – Best Narrative Short Film
2016 Global Independent Film Awards (Annual) – Best Narrative Screenplay
2016 Global Independent Film Awards (Annual) – Best Lead Actor
2015 Best Shorts Competition – Award of Merit
2015 IndieFest Film Awards – Award of Recognition
2015 Arizona Community Short Film Festival – Best Actor
2015 Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival Blood Moon Midnight Horror Film Challenge – Best Film
2015 Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival Blood Moon Midnight Horror Film Challenge – Best Actor
2015 Arizona Film Wars – Best of Fest Movie Trailer
2015 Arizona Film Wars – People‘s Choice Award
2015 Accolades Global Film Competition – Award of Recognition
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Short Film
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Director
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Humanitarian Award
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Screenplay
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Editing
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Faith-Based Film
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Drama
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Actor
2015 Global Independent Film Awards (monthly) – Best Cinematography
2012 Videographer Award of Distinction – Project: “Follow Your Dreams”
2012 Videographer Award of Distinction – Project: ”You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
2012 Vema Platinum Award – Project: ”Follow Your Dreams”
2012 Hermes Creative Award – Project: ”Follow Your Dreams”
2012 Communicator Award of Excellence – Project: ”NYKO Opening”
2011 MarCom Platinum Award – Project: ”iCare”
2011 MarCom Gold Award – Project: ”I Have a Shortcut”
2011 MarCom Gold Award – Project: ”You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
2011 Videographer Award of Distinction – Project: ”One Tribe”
2011 Videographer Award of Excellence – Project: ”I Know a Shortcut”
2011 Communicator Platinum Award – Project: ”One Tribe”
2011 Davey Platinum Award – Project: ”One Tribe”
2011 AVA Gold Award – Project: ”iCare”
2011 AVA Gold Award – Project: ”You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
2011 AVA Honorable Mention Award – Project: ”Dreams Come True”
2008 Gen Art Film Festival – Best Feature
2008 Tokyo International Film Festival – Tokyo Grand Prix
2008 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival – Jury Award
2008 Asian American International Film Festival – Emerging Director Award
2007 Telly Awards – Silver Telly Award
2007 Telly Awards – Bronze Telly Award
2005 New York Festivals International Film & Video Competition – Finalist Winner
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS / NOMINATIONS
2018 American Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2018 Halloween Horror Picture Show – Official Selection
2018 Horror Shorts Film Festival – Official Selection
2018 American Horror Film Festival – Best Short Film Nominee
2017 Chicago Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2017 International Horror Hotel – Official Selection
2017 Twisted Dreams Film Festival – Official Selection
2017 Indie Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2017 Global Independent Film Awards – Official Selection
2017 Life Fest Film Festival – Official Selection
2017 Indie Horror Film Festival – Best Short Film Nominee
2017 Indie Horror Film Festival – Best Sound Nominee
2017 International Horror Film Festival – Best Short Film Nominee
2016 Puerto Rico Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 LeglessCorpse Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Malta Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Upstate New York Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Scare Us! Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Bloodstained Indie Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 FearNYC Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 International Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 ICP Entertainment Short Film Series – Official Selection
2016 Midwest Horror Shorts Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Terror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Indiana Short Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Fright Night Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Diabolical Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Directors Circle Festival of Shorts – Official Selection
2016 Minikino Film Week – SemiFinalist
2016 Arizona Filmmaker Showcase – Official Selection
2016 Filmconvert Color Grading Competition – Official Selection
2016 Apocalypse Later International Fantastic Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Arizona Community Short Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Phoenix Comicon Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Calgary Horror Con – Official Selection
2016 Jerome Indie Film & Music Festival – Official Selection
2016 FilmConvert Color Up Film Competition – Official Selection
2016 Portland Horror Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Independent Horror Movie Awards – Official Selection
2016 High Country Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Top Shorts Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Best Shorts Competition – Official Selection
2016 IndieFest Film Awards – Official Selection
2016 International Christian Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Directors Circle Festival of Shorts – Official Selection
2016 Fun Family Friendly Film Festival – Official Selection
2016 Ozark Shorts Film Festival
2016 Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival – Best Special Effects Nominee
2016 Bloodstained Indie Film Festival – Best Horror Film Nominee
2016 Terror Film Festival – Best Horror Film Claw Award Nominee
2016 Terror Film Festival – Best Special Effects Claw Award Nominee
2016 ICP Entertainment Short Film Series – Best Horror Nominee
2016 Independent Horror Movie Awards – Best Gore Nominee
2016 Independent Horror Movie Awards – Best Sound Nominee
2016 Independent Horror Movie Awards – Best Original Concept Nominee
2016 Independent Horror Movie Awards – Best Cinematography Nominee
2016 International Christian Film Festival – Best Director Nominee
2016 The Film Awards – Best Narrative Short Nominee
2016 Directors Circle Festival of Shorts – Best Religious / Spiritual Film Nominee
2016 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Faith-Based Film Nominee
2016 Global Independent Film Awards – Humanitarian Award Nominee
2016 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Lead Actor Nominee
2016 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Narrative Short Film Nominee
2016 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Narrative Screenplay Nominee
2015 Roma Cinema DOC – Official Selection
2015 IndieFest Film Awards – Official Selection
2015 Great Lakes International Shorts Festival – Official Selection
2015 International Family Film Festival – Official Selection
2015 ITSA Film Festival – Official Selection
2015 Jerome 89A Indie Film & Music Festival – Official Selection
2015 AMFM Fest – Official Selection
2015 Arizona Community Short Film Festival – Official Selection
2015 Best Shorts Competition – Official Selection
2015 Accolades Global Film Competition – Official Selection
2015 Indie. Short & Documentary Film Festival – Official Selection
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Official Selection
2015 Arizona Film Wars – Official Selection
2015 The Short Film Awards – Best Film Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Faith-Based Film Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Short Film Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Screenplay Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Director Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Cinematography Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Actor Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Drama Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Actor Under 18 Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Ensemble Cast Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Visual Effects Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Sound Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Original Score Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Editing Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Best Production Design Nominee
2015 Global Independent Film Awards – Humanitarian Award Nominee
2008 Sundance Film Festival – Official Selection
2008 Los Angeles Film Festival – Official Selection
2008 SXSW Film Festival – Official Selection
2008 Seattle International Film Festival – Official Selection
2005 New York Festivals International Film & Video Competition – Official Selection