Matt Ruskin
Matt Ruskin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Matthew Ruskin |
| Alma mater | New York University Tisch School of the Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, producer, editor |
Matt Ruskin is an American film director, writer, producer and editor best known for the critically acclaimed films Boston Strangler (2023) and Crown Heights (2017), which he wrote and directed, and The Infiltrator (2016), which he co-produced.[1][2][3]
In 2023, Ruskin wrote and directed the film Boston Strangler, based on the true story of 1960s reporters Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, played by Keira Knightly and Carrie Coon.[4] McLaughlin was the first reporter to connect the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler.[5][6] The film was produced by Ridley Scott for 20th Century Studios.[7][8]
Ruskin wrote and directed Crown Heights, which won the Audience Award at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and received a national theatrical release from Amazon and IFC.[9][10] The film was adapted from This American Life and is based on the true story of Colin Warner, a Brooklyn teenager who was wrongfully convicted of murder, and his childhood friend Carl King, who devoted his life to proving Warner's innocence.[11]
In 2016, Ruskin co-produced the film, The Infiltrator, starring Bryan Cranston, based on U.S. Customs agent Robert Mazur’s memoir.[12][13]
Ruskin’s earlier work includes Booster (2012) which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and received a Special Jury Prize.[14][15] Ruskin directed The Hip Hop Project (2007) documentary, which was executive produced by Bruce Willis and Queen Latifah and received a national theatrical release from THINKFilm before airing on the Sundance Channel.[16] Ruskin was a consulting producer on William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009.[17][18]
Ruskin studied film production at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts and graduated as a University Honors Scholar.[19] While at NYU, Ruskin worked for Darren Aronofsky on Requiem for a Dream and produced and directed The Glen of the Downs, a film about the first international environmental protest in Ireland, while studying under documentary filmmaker George Stoney.[19]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Editor | DoP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Glen of the Downs | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2006 | The Hip Hop Project | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2012 | Booster | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2017 | Crown Heights | Yes | Yes | Yes | Uncredited | No |
| 2023 | Boston Strangler | Yes | Yes | No | Uncredited | No |
Co-Producer
- A Call to Return: The Oxycontin Story (2006)
- The Boy (2015)
- 11:55 (2016)
- The Infiltrator (2016)
Production Assistant
- Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Consulting Producer
Editor
- Bob Dylan: Odds and Ends (2021)
Awards and nominations
- Highlighted accolades received for Boston Strangler
- 2023 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards
- Nominated for: Best Streaming Movie[20]
- 2023 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards
- Highlighted accolades received for Crown Heights
- 2018 Black Reel Awards
- Won: Outstanding Independent Feature[21]
- 2018 Humanitas Prize
- Won: Humanitas Prize[22]
- 2017 Sundance Film Festical
- Won: Audience Award[23]
- Nominated: Grand Jury Prize
- 2018 Black Reel Awards
- Highlighted accolades received for Booster
- 2012 Oldenburg Film Festival
- Nominated: German Independence Award - Audience Award[24]
- 2012 SXSW Film Festival
- Won: Special Grand Jury Prize[25]
- Nominated: Best Narrative Feature
- Nominated: SXSW Competition Award
- 2012 Oldenburg Film Festival
- Highlighted accolades received for The Hip Hop Project
- 2007 Warsaw International Film Festival
- Nominated: Competition 1-2 Award
- 2006 Washington DC Independent Film Festival
- Won: Special recognition
- 2006 Heartland International Film Festival
- Won: Crystal Heart Award
- Won: Best Documentary Feature
- 2006 Zurich Film Festival
- Won: Audience Award
- Nominated: Golden Eye Award
- 2007 Warsaw International Film Festival
References
- ^ "'Crown Heights' tells true story of long fight to free a man jailed for a crime he didn't commit". Los Angeles Times. 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (2023-03-16). "'Boston Strangler' Review: Chasing a Killer (and a Byline)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (2016-07-01). "Film Review: 'The Infiltrator'". Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Gomez, Dessi (2023-03-17). "'Boston Strangler' Director Matt Ruskin Had a Personal Connection to Retelling the Infamous Murder Mystery". TheWrap. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (2023-03-18). "'Boston Strangler': Matt Ruskin Says He "Didn't Want To Glorify Violence" In True Crime Film; Opting Instead To Spotlight Heroine Journalists". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Boston Strangler Director Matt Ruskin on Taking a Deep Investigative Dive Into the Chilling Case Through the Eyes of the Brave Women Who Covered It | Above the Line". 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (2021-10-04). "Keira Knightley To Star In 20th Century Studios' 'Boston Strangler'; Scott Free, LuckyChap Producing". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Marc, Christopher (2021-10-05). "Keira Knightley To Lead Matt Ruskin's 'Boston Strangler' Thriller". The Playlist. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Ryan, Patrick. "Sundance winners: 'I Don't Feel at Home,' 'Crown Heights' reign victorious". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Hornaday, Ann (2017-08-31). "'Crown Heights' stars Lakeith Stanfield as an unjustly accused man". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Horowitz-Ghazi, Alexi (2017-09-17). "'Crown Heights' Seeks To Do Justice To A Saga Of Wrongful Conviction". NPR. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (2016-07-14). "'The Infiltrator' Offers A Familiar But Stylish Look Inside A Drug Kingpin's Empire". NPR. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (2016-07-12). "Review: In 'The Infiltrator,' Bryan Cranston Tunnels Into a Menacing Drug Network". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (2012-02-01). "SXSW 2012: Jonah Hill's '21 Jump Street,' Will Ferrell's 'Casa de mi Padre' Added to Film Festival Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "SXSW Film Awards Archive". SXSW. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "thebahamasweekly.com - The Hip Hop Project to Premiere on Sundance - May 4th and 9th". www.thebahamasweekly.com. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ POV. "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe". POV. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Tribeca Film Institute". www.tfiny.org. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ a b "MEDIA ADVISORY: The Hip Hop Project". Center for American Progress. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "2023 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards: 'Yellowjackets,' 'The Boys' Lead All Nominees with 14 Nominations". Awards Daily. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- ^ "Black Reel Awards - Past Winners". Black Reel Awards. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (2018-02-17). "Humanitas Prize Winners Include 'Mudbound', 'The Post' & 'Lady Bird'". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ Staff, Shadow and Act. "2017 Sundance Film Festival Announces Award Winners ('Crown Heights,' 'Winnie,' ' Step' ' Strong Island,' 'Roxanne Roxanne' Take Honors) - Blavity". Blavity News & Entertainment. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ "Oldenburg Film Festival 2012". MUBI. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ "SXSW Film 2012 Award Winners". HM Magazine. 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2025-07-25.