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Mark Cousins

Film Director / Screenwriter / Cinematographer | * 05/03/1965 (58) | Belfast, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom (UK))
Mark Cousins (born 3 May 1965) is an English-born, Northern Irish director and writer. A prolific documentarian, among his works is the 15-hour 2011 documentary The Story of Film: An Odyssey. ()

Mark Cousins (born 3 May 1965; Belfast) is an Irish documentary filmmaker, film critic and programmer. A prolific producer and director, he is best known for his 15-hour documentary "The Story of Film: An Odyssey" (2011). Throughout his career, Cousins has interviewed directors, producers and actors including Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Tom Hanks, Sean Connery, Brian De Palma, Steve Martin, Lauren Bacall, Jane Russell, Paul Schrader, Bernardo Bertolucci, Kirk Douglas, Jeanne Moreau, Terence Stamp, Jack Lemmon, Janet Leigh and Rod Steiger. Cousins was appointed Honorary Professor of the University of Glasgow in 2013, as well as Honorary Doctor of Letters at both the University of Edinburgh in 2007 and University of Stirling in 2014. He is now a Patron of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Cousins previously acted as both a programmer and director (1996-1997) of the festival.He is a Board Member of Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival and a Member of the 'Audentia Award' jury at the 42nd Göteborg International Film Festival (GIFF) in 2019, as well as Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 53rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2018. In 2021, Cousins joined the jury of the BFI London Film Festival.Cousins interviewed famous filmmakers such as David Lynch, Martin Scorsese and Roman Polanski in the TV series "Scene by Scene" (1997-2001). He presented the BBC cult film series "Moviedrome" (1997-2000). He introduced 66 films for the show, including the little-seen Nicolas Roeg film "Eureka" (1983). His 2011 film "The Story of Film: An Odyssey" was broadcast as 15 one-hour television episodes on More4, and later, featured at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. "A Story of Children and Film" (2013) was critically well-received. Its origins lay in some footage he shot of his niece and nephew at play, and grew into a documentary about the representation of children in cinema. Cousins subsequently wrote and directed "I Am Belfast" (2015), in which the city is personified by a 10,000-year-old woman. Cousins famously axed his own film "Bigger Than The Shining" (2016) following a screening in front of a live audience at the 2017 International Rotterdam Film Festival (IFFR). This was done with the intention being for it to never be shown again, as it was the only copy of the film. His film "The Story of Film: A New Generation" (2021) opened Cannes Film Festival 2021.

Photo of Mark Cousins
Most frequent genres for this person: Documentaries | Drama | History

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Mark Cousins

European Film Award for Innovative Storytelling European Film Award for Best Documentary
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Movies with Mark Cousins as Actor(16)

as Self (voice)2023 My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock
as Self - Narrator (voice)2022 The March on Rome
as himself2021 The Story of Looking
as himself2021 Who Is Bill Rebane?
as Self - Filmmaker / Narrator (voice)2018 The Eyes of Orson Welles
as Himself - Narrator (voice)2013 A Story of Children and Film
as himself2011 Cinema Is Everywhere
as Narrator2005 Cinema Iran
as Self - Interviewer1994 I Know Where I'm Going! Revisited

TV Shows/Series with Mark Cousins as Actor(2)

as Self - Presenter1997 Scene by Scene

Movies with Mark Cousins as Crew(55)

Directing/Director2023 My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock
Writing/Writer2023 My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock
Camera/Director of Photography2022 The March on Rome
Directing/Director2022 The March on Rome
Writing/Writer2022 The March on Rome
Writing/Screenstory2022 The March on Rome
Camera/Director of Photography2021 The Storms of Jeremy Thomas
Directing/Director2021 The Storms of Jeremy Thomas
Writing/Writer2021 The Storms of Jeremy Thomas
Directing/Director2021 The Story of Looking
Writing/Book2021 The Story of Looking
Writing/Screenplay2021 The Story of Looking
Directing/Director2020 Alexander's Film
Camera/Director of Photography2018 The Eyes of Orson Welles
Directing/Director2018 The Eyes of Orson Welles
Writing/Writer2018 The Eyes of Orson Welles
Directing/Director2018 Storm in My Heart
Directing/Director2016 I Am Belfast
Writing/Writer2016 I Am Belfast
Directing/Director2016 Eisenstein on Lawrence
Writing/Writer2016 Eisenstein on Lawrence
Crew/Cinematography2016 Stockholm, My Love
Directing/Director2016 Stockholm, My Love
Writing/Screenplay2016 Stockholm, My Love
Writing/Writer2016 Stockholm, My Love
Production/Executive Producer2016 Antonia Bird: From EastEnders to Hollywood
Directing/Director2015 Your Eyes Flash Solemnly with Hate
Directing/Director2014 But Then Again, Too Few to Mention
Directing/Director2014 The Film That Buys the Cinema
Directing/Director2014 Life May Be
Crew/Cinematography2014 6 Desires
Directing/Director2014 6 Desires
Writing/Writer2014 6 Desires
Directing/Director2014 The Place
Writing/Writer2014 The Place
Writing/Writer2013 Apollo: First War Cinema
Directing/Director2013 A Story of Children and Film
Writing/Writer2013 A Story of Children and Film
Directing/Director2013 Here Be Dragons
Directing/Director2012 What Is This Film Called Love?
Directing/Director2009 The First Movie
Directing/Director2008 First Impressions
Writing/Writer2008 First Impressions
Directing/Director2008 The New Ten Commandments
Production/Executive Producer2005 Faith
Directing/Director2005 Cinema Iran
Directing/Director1994 I Know Where I'm Going! Revisited

TV Shows/Series with Mark Cousins as Crew(6)

Directing/Director1997 Scene by Scene
Writing/Writer1997 Scene by Scene
Creator/Creator1997 Scene by Scene
Directing/Assistant Director1990 Viewpoint '90
Writing/Writer1988 Moviedrome
Creator/Creator1988 Moviedrome

Additional Information

Official websites:
Full Name: Mark Cousins
Citizenship: United Kingdom (UK)
Born: Monday, 05/03 1965 (May) in Belfast, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom (UK)) (current age: 58 years + 330 days)
Zodiac sign: Taurus (Chinese zodiac sign: Snake)
Languages: English (EN)
Educated at: University of Stirling, St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena
Other names for Mark Cousins (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Марк Казинс"
"Mark Cousins (filmmaker)"
Mark Cousins frequently works together with these people:
Timo Langer (9x, Crew)
Ali Murray (6x, Crew)
Mary Bell (5x, Crew)
John Archer (5x, Crew)
Adam Dawtrey (4x, Crew)
Jussi Jaakola (4x, Crew)
Tilda Swinton (3x, Actress)
Irvine Welsh (3x, Crew)
Alex Cox (3x, Crew)
Brett Sanders (3x, Crew)
Susan Kemp (3x, Crew)
David Holmes (3x, Crew)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:640759, Added: 10/24/2018, Last updated: 03/25/2024