Christine Swanson

Multiple award-winning filmmaker Christine Swanson earned her MFA in Film from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, one of the nation's top-ranked graduate film programs. Recognized early as a talented filmmaker, Christine was selected by NYU faculty as the Willard T.C. Johnson Fellow, the most prestigious fellowship given to the student who has achieved high standards in his or her work. CNN identified Christine as one of the most promising filmmakers to emerge from NYU's graduate film program since Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Spike Lee (Christine's NYU directing teacher). Christine also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame double majoring in Communications and Japanese and was chosen by its Alumni Association as The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey Award recipient acknowledging her achievements in the arts. Christine has developed, written and/or directed movie projects for various companies including HBO Films, Magnolia Pictures, State Street Pictures, TV One and Faith Filmworks, her own independent film company. Christine has written and/or directed numerous award-winning feature films, commercials and short films in her career. Some of her award-winning titles include, Two Seasons (winner HBO Short Film Competition, Sundance selection), All About You (winner Audience Choice Award Chicago International Film Festival, Grand Jury Prize Hollywood Black Film Festival, Festival Award at the Pan African Film Festival and the Film of the Year Award at The Santa Barbara African Heritage Film Series) starring Renee Elise Goldsberry, Terron Brooks and Debbie Allen; All About Us (invited to the prestigious Heartland Film Festival, The Chicago International Film Festival and the Cannes Festival du Film Panafricain) starring Boris Kodjoe, Ryan Bathe and Ruby Dee; and Woman Thou Art Loosed (Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Blockbuster Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the American Black Film Festival) starring Kimberly Elise and Loretta Devine. In 2015, Christine received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture for For the Love of Ruth. Christine also directed three original cable movie premieres for TV One entitled, To Hell and Back (starring Ernie Hudson and Vanessa Bell Calloway), For the Love of Ruth (starring Denise Boutte, Loretta Devine, Gary Dourdan, and James Pickens, Jr.) and Love Under New Management, The Miki Howard Story (starring Teyonah Parris, Darius McCrary, and Gary Dourdan) which broke network ratings as the most watched original movie in network history. Recently, Christine directed episodes of Chicago PD and FBI for Dick Wolf Films. Her episode of Chicago PD was rated the Best Episode of Season 6. Christine recently directed the award winning (Best TV Movie from the African American Film Critics Association), ratings and records breaking Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel for A&E Networks. Christine has numerous projects in development, including the feature film version of her highly celebrated short film, Two Seasons. She adapted the award-winning book, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, into a screenplay. A dynamic keynote speaker, professor, guest lecturer and symposium leader; Christine is invited to speak at conferences, colleges and universities on numerous topical issues. Christine is also a professor at the MFA Screenwriting Program at the University of Georgia as well an advisor to the Film and Television program at the University of Notre Dame, her alma mater. Christine resides in Los Angeles with her husband, studio executive Michael Swanson, and their four children.