Michael Collins

Introduction (2-3 lines)

Michael is an Emmy® Award nominated filmmaker and the founder of Thoughtful Robot, a production company based in NYC committed to crafting compelling social justice films that galvanize change. Michael’s short film GERTHY'S ROOTS, shot on location in Haiti and made possible by the Mandela Day Tribeca All Access Award, won the Belief Matters Award and was selected for the Media that Matters collection.

GIVE UP TOMORROW, his documentary feature film seven years in the making, premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for Best New Director. The film went on to screen in over 60 festivals in 30+ countries, winning 18 major awards including seven Audience Awards, four Human Rights Awards and the Activism Award at Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival.

Currently GIVE UP TOMORROW is nominated for an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism, and was selected for the Puma Impact Award.

Michael is an Emmy® nominated filmmaker and the founder of Thoughtful Robot. In 2005 he directed CAUGHT IN AN INJUSTICE, a one-hour documentary broadcast on Spanish national television that received Special Mention at the 15th International TV3 Actual Awards. In 2010 Michael’s short film, GERTHY'S ROOTS", won the Belief Matters Award and was selected for the Media that Matters collection.

In 2011 he completed GIVE UP TOMORROW, his documentary feature film seven years in the making. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for Best New Director. The film went on to screen in over 75 festivals in 40+ countries, winning 18 major awards including seven Audience Awards, four Human Rights Awards and the Activism Award at Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival. GIVE UP TOMORROW was selected for the Britdoc Impact Award, was broadcast on PBS in 2012, and was nominated for an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism.

Michael's new film ALMOST SUNRISE is currently screening across the country and will have its PBS broadcast on POV in November 2017 for Veterans Day.

New Day Films by Michael Collins

Awards & Accolades

Emmy® Award Nominated for Outstanding Investigative Journalism for GIVE UP TOMORROW
Britdoc Impact Award for GIVE UP TOMORROW
National Association of Social Workers Media Award for Best Film awarded to ALMOST SUNRISE
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