Kurt Spenrath

{{Short description|Canadian filmmaker}}{{Infobox person

| name = Kurt Spenrath

| caption =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

| occupation = Filmmaker

| years_active =

| employer = Open Sky Pictures

| known_for = Documentary films

| notable_works =

| title =

| awards =

| website =

}}

Kurt Spenrath is a Canadian award-winning filmmaker{{cite web |url=http://www.nsi-canada.ca/2017/03/beneath-surface-frederick-kroetsch-kurt-spenrath-1-film-weeks-nsi-online-short-film-festival/ |title=Beneath the Surface by Frederick Kroetsch, Kurt Spenrath + 1 more film in this week’s NSI Online Short Film Festival |author=Staff |work=National Screen Institute |date=2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811084244/http://www.nsi-canada.ca/2017/03/beneath-surface-frederick-kroetsch-kurt-spenrath-1-film-weeks-nsi-online-short-film-festival/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.orangeville.com/whatson-story/1486394-to-play-about-family-ties/ |title=TO play about family ties |author=Staff |work=Orangeville.com|date=February 23, 2011 |accessdate=2018-08-11}} from Edmonton, Alberta.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/edmonton-journal/20070122/282093452263027 |title=Director set to unleash his energy on Edmonton|author=Nicholles, Liz |work=Edmonton Journal |date= January 22, 2007|via=PressReader |accessdate=2018-08-11}} He is best known for his work on documentaries, as both a producer and director.

Career

Spenrath and his frequent collaborator Frederick Kroetsch have together created the company Open Sky Pictures which produces documentaries.{{cite web |url=https://www.yellowpages.ca/bio/Alberta/Edmonton/Open-Sky-Pictures/100827036.html |title=Humble Beginnings |author=Sasano, Mari |work=Yellowpages.ca |date= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811092334/https://www.yellowpages.ca/bio/Alberta/Edmonton/Open-Sky-Pictures/100827036.html |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.avenueedmonton.com/City-Life/Top-40-Under-40/Frederick-Kroetsch/ |title=Frederick Kroetsch, Co-owner and Producer, Open Sky Pictures |author=CHRISTOPHER SCHIEMAN |work=Avenue Edmonton |date=November 2015 |accessdate=2018-08-11}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-wrestling-royalty-subject-of-new-documentary-1.3515283 |title=Alberta wrestling royalty subject of new documentary |author=Staff |publisher=CBC News|date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180108205853/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-wrestling-royalty-subject-of-new-documentary-1.3515283|archive-date=8 January 2018 |accessdate=2018-01-08}} As of the 2018 the film is in post production.{{cite web |url=https://www.openskypictures.com/ |title=Open Sky Pictures |work=Openskypictures.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811084038/https://www.openskypictures.com/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }} 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{{cite web|url=https://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/the-other-side-of-the-ropes-20140301 |title=The other side of the ropes |author=ANNA BOROWIECKI |work= St. Albert Gazette|date=March 1, 2014|accessdate=2018-08-11}} about the Prairie Wrestling Alliance and Hart Still Beating which is about Teddy Hart's cousin Matt.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/podcast/vip-audio-921-real-deal-newsmaker-hotline-pat-mcneill-interviews-hart-family-doc-maker-kurt-spenrath-32-min/ |title="Real Deal" Newsmaker Hotline: Pat McNeill interviews Hart Family doc-maker Kurt Spenrath|author=Staff |work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180108210541/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/podcast/vip-audio-921-real-deal-newsmaker-hotline-pat-mcneill-interviews-hart-family-doc-maker-kurt-spenrath-32-min/ |archive-date=8 January 2018 |accessdate=2018-01-08}}

Spenrath has also produced plays.{{cite web |url=http://www.vueweekly.com/drunken_god_mocks_canadian_identity/ |title=Drunken God mocks Canadian identity |author=David Berry |work=Vue Weekly |date=January 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811104735/http://www.vueweekly.com/drunken_god_mocks_canadian_identity/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=usurped }}

Personal life

Spenrath is a cat lover.{{cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/kittentv-when-you-have-an-itch-that-nothing-else-will-scratch |title=KittenTV: When you have an itch that nothing else will scratch |author=FISH GRIWKOWSKY |work=Edmonton Journal |date=June 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811091946/https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/kittentv-when-you-have-an-itch-that-nothing-else-will-scratch |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year

! Association

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2014

| Alberta Film and Television Awards

| Best Documentary Under 30 Minutes

| Hart Attack (television pilot)

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web |url=https://sportdocbox.com/Cheerleading/81629855-The-2014-alberta-film-and-television-awards-finalists.html |title=The 2014 Alberta Film and Television Awards Finalists |author= |work=SportDocBox |date= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811093940/https://sportdocbox.com/Cheerleading/81629855-The-2014-alberta-film-and-television-awards-finalists.html |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}

2014

| Edmonton International Film Festival

| Alberta Short Film Award (Documentary)

| Through Ice and Time

| {{won}}

| {{cite web |url=http://www.fitzhugh.ca/through-ice-and-time-a-three-time-winner/ |title=Through Ice and Time a three time winner |author=Staff |work=FitzHug Jasper |date=October 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811101549/http://www.fitzhugh.ca/through-ice-and-time-a-three-time-winner/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}

2015

| Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

| Prizes for Best Pitch

| Hart of Darkness

| {{won}}{{Efn|Bronze}}

| {{cite web |url=https://www.news1130.com/2015/05/01/proposed-short-film-about-cree-code-talkers-wins-30000-pitch-prize/ |title=Documentary about B.C.'s Haida Gwaii wins top prize from Hot Docs |author=CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI |work=The Canadian Press |publisher=CKWX |date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811084536/https://www.news1130.com/2015/05/01/proposed-short-film-about-cree-code-talkers-wins-30000-pitch-prize/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}

2015

| Alberta Film and Television Awards

| Best Documentary Series

| Invincible

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://ampia.org/2015-rosie-nominees/ |title=2015 Rosie Nominees |author=Staff |work=Alberta Media Production Industries Association |date= |accessdate=2018-08-11}}

2015

| Yorkton Film Festival

| Emerging Filmmaker

| The Match

| {{won}}

| {{cite web |url=https://www.yorktonthisweek.com/entertainment/local-a-e/top-film-award-goes-to-saskatoon-producer-1.1949969 |title=Top film award goes to Saskatoon producer |author=Staff |work=Yorkton This Week |date=May 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811085817/https://www.yorktonthisweek.com/entertainment/local-a-e/top-film-award-goes-to-saskatoon-producer-1.1949969 |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}

2015

| Alberta Film and Television Awards

| Best Director (Non-Fiction Under 30 Minutes)

| The Match

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://ampia.org/2015-rosie-nominees/ |title=2015 Rosie Nominees |author=Staff |work=Alberta Media Production Industries Association |date= |accessdate=2018-08-11}}

2017

| Alberta Film and Television Awards

| Best Documentary Under 30 Minutes

| Beneath the Surface

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web |url=http://docplayer.net/48557635-The-2017-alberta-film-and-television-awards-finalists.html |title=The 2017 Alberta Film and Television Awards Finalists |author= |work=Doc Player |date= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811093859/http://docplayer.net/48557635-The-2017-alberta-film-and-television-awards-finalists.html |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}

2018

| Alberta Film and Television Awards

| Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity

| Last of the Fur Traders

| {{won}}

| {{cite web|url=https://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/chatter-a-glimpse-of-awards-season-20180519 |title=Chatter: a glimpse of awards season |author= ANNA BOROWIECKI|work=St. Albert Gazette |date= May 19, 2018|accessdate=2018-08-11}}{{cite web |url=https://ampia.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018-Rosie-Winners-List.pdf |title=The 2018 Alberta Film and Television Awards Winners |author= |work=Alberta Media Production Industries Association |date= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180811084222/https://ampia.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018-Rosie-Winners-List.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2018 |accessdate=2018-08-11 |url-status=live }}

Notes

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References

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