Michael Albright

Michael Albright is a documentary filmmaker, film and media studies professor and the programming director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Albright received a M.A. from UCLA in cinema and media studies and is finishing his Ph.D in film and media studies at UCSB where he is writing a dissertation on “cinematographic embodiment.” After graduating from college in 2004, he began his career as a documentary filmmaker in New York City as an intern with Albert Maysles, which sparked his interest in hand-held cinematography and direct cinema. In addition to his production company, Moonpix, Albright also founded Project Moonshine, a non-profit organization in his hometown, Reno, Nevada, designed to teach documentary filmmaking to youth by providing opportunities for students to get more involved in their community. Project Moonshine's first documentary, Sonic Youth: Sleeping Nights Awake (2006) was shot entirely by high school students under Albright’s direction. It was very well received and toured the festival circuit in 2008 - 2010, screening in over 30 countries. Albright is also an adjunct professor and teaches film classes at Santa Barbara City College, Otis College of Art and Design, and Chapman University.