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Todd Traina

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Todd Traina
Born
Todd Traina

San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma materConnecticut College
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • Musician
Years active1991–present
Organization(s)Traina Productions, Red Rover Films
Spouse
Katie Traina
​
(m. 2003)​
Children1
Parents
RelativesTrevor Traina (brother), Danielle Steel (former stepmother)

Todd Traina is an American film producer and the founder of Red Rover Films in 2007.[1] In 2007, Traina was named by Daily Variety as one of its "10 Producers to Watch".[2] He is currently serving as the Board President of SFFiLM, a nonprofit that runs the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Traina was named to the board of the San Francisco Film Society in 2009.[1]

Personal life

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He was born in 1969 in San Francisco, California, to shipping executive and art collector John Traina and Dede Wilsey, a San Francisco philanthropist and businesswoman who serves as Chairman of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.[2] Traina wanted to attend an East Coast school, and with its liberal arts curriculum and family connection, he attended Connecticut College and graduated with a degree in Government.[3] He is the younger brother of Trevor Traina, and his former stepmother is novelist Danielle Steel.[2]

Traina married Katie Traina in 2003. The couple has one daughter and resides in San Francisco.[2]

Film career

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Fresh from college, Traina began his career in the film industry in 1991 as a production assistant on television movie-of-the-week adaptations of his stepmother's novels.[2][4] He turned independent producer two years later. His first complete film was Stanley's Gig, which he sold to the [[ Starz Inc.|Starz Network]] and released in 2000.[2]

Traina has compared being a producer to being a wedding planner and "the father of the bride in a wedding that lasts a whole year".[4]

Over his more than 30-year career, Traina has produced over 25 feature films, many of which have played at prominent international film festivals including Cannes, Sundance, Berlin, Toronto, SXSW, and others.

Through his production company, Traina Productions, he produced "One Stupid Thing" directed by Linda Yellen.[5] He also served as Executive Producer on "Edge of Everything", which debuted at the Munich Film Festival,[6] and on "Sasquatch Sunset", starring Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024.[7] Traina was also Executive Producer on "War Pony", directed by Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, which won the New Directors Award at Cannes and premiered in the US in 2023.[8]

Traina co-wrote and produced the feature comedy "I Hate Kids"[9] and served as Producer on Sian Heder's directorial debut "Tallulah", which premiered at Sundance and was later acquired by Netflix.[10]

In addition to his work in feature films, Traina served as Executive Producer on the episodic mockumentary series "Dope State".[11] Apart from his career in the film industry, Traina is also a musician, having played drums in various bands. He has served on the board of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and on the Vision of Hope board, which supports providing private education to underprivileged youth.[12]

Filmography

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Traina has served as producer, co-producer, or executive producer on the following films:

Television film
As actor
  • I Hate Kids (2019)
  • White Power (2001)

Awards

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Todd Traina's work has been recognized at various film festivals and award events. Another Happy Day (2011), directed and written by Sam Levinson, won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.[13] At the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Grace is Gone, received the Audience Award for Best Drama. In 2016, Tallulah, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. War Pony, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, won the Caméra d'Or for Best First Feature.[14] In 2022, Edge of Everything, won the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema.[15] Additionally, TransMexico, Edge of Everything, and Andragogy were among the winners at the 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. My Suicide, a low-budget dark comedy released in 2009 which Traina produced, won a Crystal Bear at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival,[1] among other prizes.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "San Francisco Film Society Elects Jennifer Chaiken and Todd Traina to Board of Directors". Press release. San Francisco Film Society. October 8, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Zinko, Carolyne (February 5, 2008). "Todd Traina's passion is movies, not money". SFGate. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  3. ^ "Connecticut College – CC:online magazine". Connecticut College Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Howard, Mary (Winter 2008–2009). "Making Movie Magic: Close-up with independent film producer Todd Traina ´91". Connecticut College Magazine. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  5. ^ Complex, Valerie (December 12, 2023). "'One Stupid Thing': Filming Begins On Linda Yellen And Traina Productions Suspense Thriller Starring Corey Fogelmanis, Jack Wright, Sky Katz, Shelby Simmons, And Alfredo Narciso". Deadline.
  6. ^ "Visit Films boards 'Edge Of Everything' ahead of Filmest München world premiere (exclusive)". Screen Daily.
  7. ^ Gyarkye, Lovia (January 20, 2024). "'Sasquatch Sunset' Review: Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg Play Bigfoots in a Sometimes Poignant, Sometimes Trying Zellner Brothers Film". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ^ Debruge, Peter (May 21, 2022). "'War Pony' Review: Riley Keough Shows the Everyday Realities of Reservation Life". Variety.
  9. ^ Staff, T. H. R. (January 16, 2019). "'I Hate Kids': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. ^ Hartlaub, By Peter (April 4, 2018). "Traina's screenwriting debut, 'I Hate Kids,' premieres at Castro". SFGATE.
  11. ^ McNary, Dave (October 2, 2018). "'Dope State' Mockumentary Gets Distribution (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  12. ^ "Dede Wilsey and Todd Traina Are Looking For the Next Wave of Charity Board Members". Town & Country. May 19, 2017.
  13. ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (May 13, 2011). "'Another Happy Day' U.S. Rights Sold to Phase 4 Films". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. ^ "'Triangle of Sadness' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Fest". NPR.
  15. ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 17, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Festival Winners Include 'Transmexico', 'Andragogy', More". Deadline.
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