Biography

London-born, LA-based, prolific indie producer Stephen Israel may still be known best for the 1995 cult classic "Swimming With Sharks" - one of the most damning commentaries on the "me too" workplace, which (ironically) launched the film career of Kevin Spacey. Sharks was also adapted for the London stage starring Christian Slater and was recently revived as a limited series for Roku, starring Dianne Kruger, Kiernan Shipka and Donald Sutherland.

Stephen's numerous other credits include some of the best-loved, award-winning gay films: "Boy Culture"; (2007); "GBF" (2014); 2016 Outfest audience award-winner - "Miles" starring Molly Shannon; the 2024 documentary "Studio One Forever"; and two-time Independent Spirit Award-nominee "Swan Song" (2021) featuring a career-defining performance by the legendary Udo Kier.

Other recent productions, the political thriller "Affairs of State", starring the breakout star David Corenswet (soon to be Superman), along with Adrian Grenier, Mimi Rogers and Thora Birch, and "Last Moment of Clarity", starring Samara Weaving and Golden Globe-winner Brian Cox - were both distributed by Lionsgate, as was 2021's "The Gateway", starring Shea Whigham, Olivia Munn, Frank Grillo and the legendary Bruce Dern. "Last Night on Earth" (2024) and the upcoming "Day of the Dead" (currently in post) round out his recent slate of genre productions.

As an innovator, Stephen was part of the team that produced "The Spot" - the world's first episodic series on the internet, in 1995. A little ahead of its time, he was the first to identify the concept of a network of episodic shows delivered via the web - which ultimately became 1995 tech startup American Cybercast, at which he served as SVP Development & Acquisitions.

With broad corporate experience at Warner Bros., Turner Broadcasting, and top management consulting firm Booz.Allen & Hamilton, Stephen adds seasoned management & financial expertise to hands-on production in film.

Stephen is also a trained rocket scientist and a Royal Air Force marksman (seriously).

- IMDb mini biography by: School Pictures