Michael Thomas Cain is an award winning and critically acclaimed writer, director, and producer for film and theatre working mostly in and around New York City and just completed the feature film TOP HATE (Director, Editor, Producer, etc.). Recent films written and directed by Michael are "Not Approved For Cancer Treatment" (Austin Revolution Film Festival, Chelsea Film Festival, Indie Gathering International Film Festival, etc.) and "Eliminated" (Chelsea Film Festival, Indie Gathering International Film Festival, etc.). Michael is the founder of Forgotten Artist Productions (a full-service production company), and in the last few years, this production company has produced several film projects that have been screened at prominent international film festivals and collected numerous film awards and nominations at these festivals. In May of 2022, Michael wrote and directed the play version of “Not Approved For Cancer Treatment” in the New York Theater Festival. In 2017, Michael directed and produced FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH ELLEN written by Andrew Selig as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. In recent years, Michael wrote and directed WHERE ART LIVES (performed at UNDER St. Marks Theater) and “Eliminated” (performed at Manhattan Repertory Theatre) for the stage, and he directed two Marlin Thomas plays titled “I Never Heard Such Silence” (performed at Manhattan Repertory Theatre and the 13th Street Repertory Theatre) and “Germaine and Diane” (performed at the Jewel Box Theater as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival). In 2012, Michael wrote, directed, and produced ENOUGH’S ENOUGH! at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club as part of the NY International Fringe Festival, and in March 2023, ENOUGH’S ENOUGH! had a staged performance by the UR Here Theater Company in Fresno, California. Michael has earned an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from Adelphi University and a B.A. in Communications/Theatre from Augusta College. In addition to his creative pursuits, Michael is a college/university educator in and around New York City (including New York Film Academy) and is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America.
Finalist
Top Hate
The Dark Fest
Antioch, California
2026
Official Selection
Top Hate
Manhattan Film Festival
New York, New York
2026
Winner-Audience Choice Favorite Film Award
Top Hate
LA Neo Noir Novel, Film, and Script Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
2026
Best Feature Film Screenplay in North America
Jordey The Christmas Movie
KIDS International Family Film Festival
Chiang Mai
2026
Official Selection
Top Hate
Big Apple Film Festival
New York City
2025
Official Selection
Not Approved For Cancer Treatment
The Chelsea Film Festival 2023
New York, New York
2023
Official Selection
Not Approved For Cancer Treatment
The Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2023
Cleveland, Ohio
2023
Nominations: 1. Best Short Drama 2. Best Editing (Christopher Hart) 3. Best Actor in a Short Film (Chaz McCormack) 4. Margaret Ann Garza Actor of the Year (Chaz McCormack)
Not Approved For Cancer Treatment
Austin Revolution Film Festival 2023
Austin, Texas
2023
3rd Place Winner-Short Comedy
Oatmelio's
Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2022
Cleveland
2022
2nd Place Winner-Short Sci-Fi
Outta This World
Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2022
Cleveland
2022
3rd Place Winner-Short Sci-Fi
Outta This World
The International Horror Hotel Film Festival and Convention 2022
Cleveland
2022
Best Short Screenplay (Drama-Nominee-for 2020)
Killing The Small Family Farmer
Austin Revolution Film Festival
Austin, Texas
2022
Best Short Screenplay (Drama-2nd Place)
Killing The Small Family Farmer
Indie Gathering International Film Festival
Cleveland, Ohio
2021
Best Short Screenplay (Drama-Finalist)
Killing The Small Family Farmer
Las Vegas International Film and Screenwriting Festival
Las Vegas, Nevada
2020
3rd Place Winner-Best Family Film
Jordey The Movie
The 24th Indie Gathering International Film Festival, 2019
Medina, Ohio
2019
Award Winner (3rd Place-Short Comedy)
Thumb Wrestler 2: The Second Thumbing (Sequel)
Indie Gathering International Film Festival, 2019
Medina, Ohio
2019
Official Selection/Best Concept Award Nomination
Thumb Wrestler
The Brightside Tavern Film Festival
Jersey City, New Jersey
2018
Honorable Mention
Thumb Wrestler
International Film Festival Manhattan
New York City
2017
Award Winner - Experimental Short
Eliminated
The Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2017
Hudson, Ohio
2017
Nomination-People's Choice Award
Outta This World
Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival 2022
Brooklyn, New York
Silver Medal-Best Animal Actor
Jordey The Movie
Global Independent Film Awards, 2020
Official Selection
Thumb Wrestler 2: The Second Thumbing (Sequel)
Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Fest, 2018
Jersey City, New Jersey
Official Selection
Thumb Wrestler 2: The Second Thumbing (Sequel)
International Film Festival Manhattan, 2018
New York, New York
Honorable Mention
Not Approved For Cancer Treatment
LA Underground Film Forum 2023
Los Angeles, California
Official Selection
Thumb Wrestler
Battle of The Sketches 2024
Austin, Texas
Honorable Mention
Thumb Wrestler
Australia Film Festival 2022
Honorable Mention
Thumb Wrestler
Night of Comedy Shorts 2021
Milan
Official Selection
Thumb Wrestler
Comedy Shorts Film Festival 2017
Honorable Mention
Not Approved For Cancer Treatment
Experimental Forum 2023
Los Angeles, California
Special Mention Award
Thumb Wrestler
London-Worldwide Comedy Short Film Festival 2018
London, UK
Official Selection
Not Approved For Cancer Treatment
Las Vegas International Film and Screenwriting Film Festival 2023
Las Vegas, Nevada
Award Winner (3rd Place-Short Comedy)
Thumb Wrestler
Indie Gathering International Film Festival, 2018
Best Comedic Short
Thumb Wrestler
Lost Sanity Film Festival, 2019
Official Selection
Eliminated
BLOW-UP International Arthouse Film Festival 2017
Chicago
Honorable Mention
Eliminated
LA Underground Film Forum 2017
Los Angeles
Honorable Mention
Eliminated
Experimental Forum 2017
Los Angeles
Official Selection
Eliminated
Chelsea Film Festival 2017
New York, New York
Semi Finalist
Eliminated
Colorado International Activism Film Festival 2017
Denver
Honorable Mention
Top Hate
LA Underground Film Forum
Los Angeles, California
Honorable Mention
Oatmelio's
Australia Film Festival 2022
Official Selection
Jazz John
Lit Laughs International Comedy Film Festival 2021
Harrogate, Yorkshire, England
Honorable Mention
Jazz John
Australia Film Festival 2022
Honorable Mention
Jazz John
International Film Festival Manhattan 2021
New York, New York
Nomination-Best Editing in a Short Film; Nomination-Best Writing in a Short Film
Jazz John
The Shorts Film Awards 2021
South Orange, New Jersey
2 nd Place Winner-Best Short Comedy
Jazz John
The 26th Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2021
Westlake, Ohio
Runner-Up-Best Concept; Nomination-Best Director Comedy; Nomination-Best Comedy; Nomination-Best Actor Comedy Short
Jazz John
Brightside Tavern Shorts Film Fest, 2021
Jersey City, New Jersey
Best Idea Award
Jazz John
The Night of Comedy Shorts Film Festival 2023
Milano, Italy
Official Selection
Killing The Small Family Farmer
Chicago Script Awards 2022
Chicago, Illinois
Finalist
Killing The Small Family Farmer
Hollywood Just4Shorts Film and Screenplay Competition 2022
Hollywood, California
Official Selection
Killing The Small Family Farmer
New York Script Awards 2022
New York, New York
Official Selection
Outta This World
End of Days Film Festival 2022
Orlando
Official Selection
Outta This World
Shockfest Film Festival 2022
Honorable Mention
Outta This World
Absurd Film Festival 2022
Milan, Italy
Bronze Medal-Best Short Script
Killing The Small Family Farmer
Global Independent Film Awards 2022
Nomination-Best Family Short and Nomination-Best Children’s Film
Jordey The Movie
Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival and Writer’s Celebration, 2019
Las Vegas, Nevada
Nomination-Best Family Short and Nomination-Best Children’s Film
Jordey The Movie
Action on Film International Film Festival and Writer’s Celebration, 2019
Las Vegas, Nevada
Finalist
Jordey The Movie
Peak City International Film Festival, 2019
Apex, North Carolina
Finalist-Best Children/Family Category
Jordey The Movie
Various Artists Independent Film Festival, October 2019
Chicago, Illinois
Finalist
Jordey The Movie
Global Independent Film Awards, 2020
College
Adelphi University
M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing
20072009
College
Augusta College
B.A. in Communications/Theatre
19891995
High School
Westside High School
General
19851989
Birth Date
October 28
Birth City
Cleveland
Current City
New York City
Hometown
Augusta
Height
6'2"
Gender
Male
Ethnicity
White
Eye Color
Green
Zodiac Sign
Scorpio
Married To
Kristy DiPalma
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