Multiple award-winning filmmaker Christine Swanson earned her MFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, the nation’s top-ranked graduate film program. Recognized early as a talented and complete 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.
Christine also earned a BA degree from the University of Notre Dame double majoring in Film Theory and Japanese and was chosen by its Alumni Association as The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey Award recipient acknowledging her achievements in the fine arts.
Christine has developed, written and/or directed various movie projects for companies including HBO Films and Faith Filmworks, the independent film company run by Christine and her husband and producer, Michael Swanson. The married couple has been featured in The New York Times, JET Magazine, Christianity Today and CNN as a rising duo to watch in the entertainment industry. CNN also identified Christine as one of the most promising filmmakers to emerge from NYU’s graduate film program since Ang Lee, Spike Lee (Christine's NYU directing teacher), Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone.
Most recently, Christine wrote and directed the 2008 romantic drama feature film, All About Us, starring Boris Kodjoe, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Luke Swanson, LaTanya Richardson, Academy Award nominee Ruby Dee with a special appearance by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. All About Us was invited to the prestigious Heartland Film Festival, The Chicago International Film Festival and the Cannes Festival du Film Panafricain.
A heartfelt storyteller, Christine was requested to revise the motion picture screenplay for Woman Thou Art Loosed before the film headed into production. Woman Thou Art Loosed, starring Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine and T.D. Jakes, went on to win the 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Blockbuster Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2004 American Black Film Festival. The film was released in theaters to great acclaim in October 2004, before becoming a DVD best seller for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Christine also wrote and directed the “indie classic” romantic comedy All About You, and executive produced its popular soundtrack album. Her screenplay attracted a talented cast including Renée Goldsberry, Terron Brooks, LisaRaye, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Debbie Allen. All About You won several film festival awards, including the Blockbuster Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2003 American Black Film Festival, an Audience Choice Award at The Chicago International Film Festival and the Film of the Year Award from the Santa Barbara African Heritage Film Series. All About You was also invited to The Hamptons International and Rhode Island International Film Festivals.
Christine’s most celebrated short film, Two Seasons, was a Student Academy Award semi-finalist and a 1999 Sundance Film Festival official selection. Two Seasons won the Warner Bros. Pictures Production Award, the National Black Programming Consortium Award and the HBO Short Film Competition Grand Prize at the 1998 Acapulco Black Film Festival.
In 2004, Christine directed three national commercials for her alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, featuring Emmy winner Martin Sheen and television personality Regis Philbin. The spots were awarded gold medals for best commercials by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
A dynamic guest lecturer and symposium leader, Christine is regularly invited to colleges and universities to speak on numerous topical issues. Christine is currently preparing to direct her third feature film in 2009. A Detroit native, Christine resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and their four children.
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