Kurt Spenrath is a Canadian award-winning filmmaker[1][2] from Edmonton, Alberta.[3] He is best known for his work on documentaries, as both a producer and director.

Kurt Spenrath
Born
OccupationFilmmaker
EmployerOpen Sky Pictures
Known forDocumentary films

Career

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Spenrath and his frequent collaborator Frederick Kroetsch have together created the company Open Sky Pictures which produces documentaries.[4] Spenrath has pursued several projects about controversial professional wrestler Teddy Hart of the Hart family, he at first filmed a reality television series about Hart named Hart Attack which never ended up airing due to complications regarding Hart.[5] Later he has attempted to film a documentary named Hart of Darkness which also ended up in limbo due to Hart's legal troubles in 2014.[6] As of the 2018 the film is in post production.[7] While the projects have not come to full fruition Spenrath did gain many connects in the professional wrestling industry due to his work on them, which lead him to making the documentaries The Match[8] about the Prairie Wrestling Alliance and Hart Still Beating which is about Teddy Hart's cousin Matt.[9]

Spenrath has also produced plays.[10]

Personal life

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Spenrath is a cat lover.[11]

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2014 Alberta Film and Television Awards Best Documentary Under 30 Minutes Hart Attack (television pilot) Nominated [12]
2014 Edmonton International Film Festival Alberta Short Film Award (Documentary) Through Ice and Time Won [13]
2015 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival Prizes for Best Pitch Hart of Darkness Won[a] [14]
2015 Alberta Film and Television Awards Best Documentary Series Invincible Nominated [15]
2015 Yorkton Film Festival Emerging Filmmaker The Match Won [16]
2015 Alberta Film and Television Awards Best Director (Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes) The Match Nominated [17]
2017 Alberta Film and Television Awards Best Documentary Under 30 Minutes Beneath the Surface Nominated [18]
2018 Alberta Film and Television Awards Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity Last of the Fur Traders Won [19][20]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Staff (2016). "Beneath the Surface by Frederick Kroetsch, Kurt Spenrath + 1 more film in this week's NSI Online Short Film Festival". National Screen Institute. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  2. ^ Staff (February 23, 2011). "TO play about family ties". Orangeville.com. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  3. ^ Nicholles, Liz (January 22, 2007). "Director set to unleash his energy on Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2018-08-11 – via PressReader.
  4. ^ Sasano, Mari. "Humble Beginnings". Yellowpages.ca. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  5. ^ CHRISTOPHER SCHIEMAN (November 2015). "Frederick Kroetsch, Co-owner and Producer, Open Sky Pictures". Avenue Edmonton. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  6. ^ Staff (March 31, 2016). "Alberta wrestling royalty subject of new documentary". CBC News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  7. ^ "Open Sky Pictures". Openskypictures.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  8. ^ ANNA BOROWIECKI (March 1, 2014). "The other side of the ropes". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  9. ^ Staff (September 21, 2016). ""Real Deal" Newsmaker Hotline: Pat McNeill interviews Hart Family doc-maker Kurt Spenrath". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  10. ^ David Berry (January 17, 2007). "Drunken God mocks Canadian identity". Vue Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  11. ^ FISH GRIWKOWSKY (June 4, 2015). "KittenTV: When you have an itch that nothing else will scratch". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  12. ^ "The 2014 Alberta Film and Television Awards Finalists". SportDocBox. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  13. ^ Staff (October 8, 2014). "Through Ice and Time a three time winner". FitzHug Jasper. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  14. ^ CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI (May 1, 2015). "Documentary about B.C.'s Haida Gwaii wins top prize from Hot Docs". The Canadian Press. CKWX. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  15. ^ Staff. "2015 Rosie Nominees". Alberta Media Production Industries Association. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  16. ^ Staff (May 28, 2015). "Top film award goes to Saskatoon producer". Yorkton This Week. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  17. ^ Staff. "2015 Rosie Nominees". Alberta Media Production Industries Association. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  18. ^ "The 2017 Alberta Film and Television Awards Finalists". Doc Player. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  19. ^ ANNA BOROWIECKI (May 19, 2018). "Chatter: a glimpse of awards season". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  20. ^ "The 2018 Alberta Film and Television Awards Winners" (PDF). Alberta Media Production Industries Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
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