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Amy Seimetz

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Amy Seimetz
Seimetz in 2014
Born
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.[1][2]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • director
  • editor
Years active2003–present

Amy Seimetz is an American actress and filmmaker. She has appeared in several productions, including AMC's The Killing, HBO's Family Tree, and films like Upstream Color, Alien: Covenant, Pet Sematary, and No Sudden Move.

In addition to her acting career, she has directed, written and produced several films, including 2012's Sun Don't Shine and 2020's She Dies Tomorrow. In 2015, she co-wrote, co-directed and executive produced the Starz series The Girlfriend Experience, based on the Steven Soderbergh film of the same name,[3] which was released to positive reviews and acclaim.[4]

Early life and education

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Seimetz was born in Florida and mainly grew up in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. She has Ukrainian ancestry, and also spent part of her childhood in Ukraine.[5] She briefly attended film school at Florida State University before moving to Los Angeles. There, she worked as a nanny, a waitress, and a seamstress while learning filmmaking.[6]

Career

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Seimetz began her film career by producing and directing short and independent films, including Barry Jenkins' Medicine for Melancholy, which was nominated for Gotham and Independent Spirit Awards after playing at South By Southwest and the Toronto International Film Festival. She acted in Joe Swanberg's Alexander The Last, which premiered at SXSW. She also worked with Swanberg on Silver Bullets and Autoerotic, continuing with acting roles in Gabi on the Roof in July, Tiny Furniture,[7] Open Five, and The Myth of the American Sleepover.

Seimetz's performance in A Horrible Way to Die won her the Best Actress award at Fantastic Fest. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to good reviews.[8] She appeared in The Off Hours. About her, the Los Angeles Times wrote: "Every year, the Sundance Film Festival has a semi-official 'it girl' who encapsulates the festival's cocktail of discovery and buzz. But what about someone who embodies the independent film world's sense of community and the pitch-in spirit of collaboration, something like a most valuable player? That prize might well go to Amy Seimetz."[9]

The Hollywood Reporter singled Seimetz out as one of the breakouts of Sundance that year: "As a late-night truck-stop waitress and orphaned lost soul, Seimetz invests Off Hours' dead-end world of tiny tragedies with a hidden, hard-won strength."[10] She appeared in Revenge for Jolly!. In 2012, she made her feature directorial debut with the Florida-based thriller Sun Don't Shine, which she also wrote, produced, and co-edited.[11] The film premiered at South By Southwest to rave reviews.[12] Indiewire wrote: "Her terrific directorial debut was a brilliant noir exercise with less mumbling than raw brawls. She pinned me to my Alamo Drafthouse seat and the film kept me there for the next 82 minutes."[13]

Seimetz is the star of Upstream Color and Pit Stop, both of which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. In February, she was added as a series regular to AMC's series The Killing. In season 3, she plays Danette Leeds, a "hard-living, financially strapped single mother whose 14-year-old daughter goes missing".[14]

In June 2014, Starz announced that they had ordered a 13-episode anthology series of the film The Girlfriend Experience, co-written, co-directed, and executive produced by Seimetz and Lodge Kerrigan.[3] This came after the film's creator Steven Soderbergh stated: "I think if I were going to run a studio I'd just be gathering the best filmmakers I could find and sort of let them do their thing within certain economic parameters. So I would call Shane Carruth, or Barry Jenkins or Amy Seimetz and I'd bring them in and go, OK, what do you want to do?"[15] The series was later renewed for a second season, and Seimetz continued to produce, write, and direct episodes.[16]

In 2017, Seimetz appeared in Alien: Covenant, directed by Ridley Scott,[17] and also had roles in Lean on Pete, directed by Andrew Haigh,[18] and My Days of Mercy, opposite Elliot Page.[19] In 2018, Seimetz starred opposite Molly Shannon in Wild Nights with Emily directed by Madeleine Olnek.[20] That same year, Seimetz directed two episodes of Atlanta,[21] and had a recurring role on the second season of Get Shorty.[22]

In 2019, Seimetz starred in Pet Sematary, an adaption of the novel of the same name by Stephen King.[23] She directed She Dies Tomorrow, starring Kate Lyn Sheil and Jane Adams, which was set to have its world premiere at South by Southwest in March 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24][25]

Seimetz co-starred in 2020's The Comey Rule, a miniseries for Showtime,[26] and the thriller film The Secrets We Keep directed by Yuval Alder.[27]

In 2021, Seimetz was announced as the director and an executive producer of The Idol; however, by April 2022 she had left the project amid its creative overhaul, with roughly 80% of the series already filmed. Her material was not used in the final project.[28][29]

Personal life

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In 2016, Seimetz was engaged to filmmaker Shane Carruth,[30] though they had separated by 2019.[31] She later obtained a temporary restraining order against him, alleging years of emotional, mental, and physical abuse, which Carruth denies.[32] In 2020, Seimetz was granted a restraining order against Carruth that will expire in August 2025.[32]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Leaving Baghdad Short film
2004 The 17th Man Bookstore Patron Short film
2004 Measure of Love Short film
2005 The Unseen Kind-Hearted Beast Georgette Short film; director, producer, writer, editor
2005 Black Dragon Canyon Elizabeth Sterling
2006 Wristcutters: A Love Story Nina
2006 Say It Short film
2008 Medicine for Melancholy Associate producer
2008 We Saw Such Things Director, producer, editor
2009 Alexander the Last Hellen
2009 Round Town Girls Girl #1 Short film; also director
2009 Time's Up Deborah Short film
2009 One Night Only Anna Short film
2010 Gabi on the Roof in July Chelsea
2010 Tiny Furniture Ashlynn
2010 Open Five Lynn
2010 The Myth of the American Sleepover Julie Higgins
2010 Bitter Feast Katherine Franks
2010 Incredibly Small Samantha
2010 Ruff Love Amy Short film
2010 Despedida Leah
2010 A Horrible Way to Die Sarah
2011 The Jonestown Defense
2011 The Off Hours Francine
2011 Silver Bullets Charlie Also producer
2011 The Dish and the Spoon Emma's Friend Also producer
2011 No Matter What Laura Also associate producer
2011 Small Pond Katie
2011 Coffee & Pie Short film
2011 Autoerotic
2011 You're Next Aimee
2011 Special Things to Do Sandy Short film
2012 Be Good Mary Kutzman
2012 Revenge for Jolly! Vicki
2012 Ghost of Old Highways The Bridesmaid / The Harlot / The Choirgirl Short film
2012 The Possession Beth
2012 #PostModem Short film
2012 Sun Don't Shine Writer, producer, director and editor
2013 When We Lived in Miami Short film; director & editor
2013 Upstream Color Kris
2013 Adventures of Christopher Bosh in the Multiverse Rollerblading Death Dolphin
2013 9 Full Moons Frankie
2014 The Sacrament Caroline
2014 Lucky Them Sara
2014 I Believe in Unicorns Clara
2014 The Reconstruction of William Zero Jules
2014 Tehachapi Short film
2015 Entertainment Woman in Bar
2015 Ma Misty
2015 We'll Find Something Kendra Short film
2017 Alien: Covenant – Prologue: Last Supper Maggie Faris Short film[33]
2017 Alien: Covenant
2017 Lean on Pete Lynn
2017 My Days of Mercy Martha
2018 Wild Nights with Emily Mabel
2019 Pet Sematary Rachel Creed
2020 Omniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia
2020 She Dies Tomorrow Director, writer and producer
2020 The Secrets We Keep Rachel Steinman
2020 Archenemy Cleo
2021 No Sudden Move Mary Wertz
2022 The Last Manhunt Clara True

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Family Tree Ally Keele 3 episodes
2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Lena Olsen Episode: "Rapist Anonymous"
2013–2014 The Killing Danette Leeds 14 episodes
2016 Junior Ellen 10 episodes
2016–2017 The Girlfriend Experience Annabel Reade 5 episodes; also executive producer, writer, director
2016–2017 Stranger Things Becky Ives 3 episodes
2016 Halt and Catch Fire Michelle Lattimer Episode: "NIM"
2018 Atlanta Director, 2 episodes
2018 Get Shorty Jinny[34] Season 2, recurring role; in production
2020 The Comey Rule Trisha Anderson Miniseries
2021–present Sweet Tooth Birdie Recurring role (seasons 1–3)
2022 Outer Range Director, 2 episodes and executive producer
2024 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Director, 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Year Title Award Result
2010 Tiny Furniture Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance Nominated
The Myth of the American Sleepover SXSW Film Festival Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast WonI
2011 A Horrible Way To Die Fantastic Fest Award for Best Actress Won
2012 Sun Don't Shine SXSW Film Festival Special Jury Award - Emergent Narrative Woman Director Won
Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Film Not Playing At A Theater Near You Nominated
RiverRun International Film Festival Special Jury Prize - Spark Award WonII
Indiewire Best of 2012 Best Undistributed Film Won
2013 Upstream Color Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress Nominated
2013 Sun Don't Shine Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director Nominated[35]

Notes

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^I Shared with Claire Sloma, Marlon Morton, Amanda Bauer, Brett Jacobsen, Nikita Ramsey, and Jade Ramsey
^II Shared with Brady Corbet, and David Oyelowo.

References

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  1. ^ "Meet the Filmmaker: Amy Seimetz ("Sun Don't Shine")". Rooftop Films. June 2012. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. I was born in Florida and I am an American- so the film is inextricable from the culture I come from.
  2. ^ "Amy Seimetz Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Littleton, Cynthia (June 23, 2014). "Starz Orders 'Girlfriend Experience' Series From Steven Soderbergh, Philip Fleishman". Variety. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "The Girlfriend Experience". Rotten Tomatoes.
  5. ^ Nguyen, Hanh (March 23, 2018). "'Atlanta' Director Amy Seimetz on Creating Those 'Get Out' Vibes in the Creepy Episode 'Helen'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. "I also grew up in Ukraine and had gone to Ukrainian festivals and doing a lot of polka and stuff," Seimetz said. "So I kind of pulled on that, this hodgepodge of Eastern European sort of strangeness," she continued. "Then I imagined this experience of maybe entering my family's very Ukrainian, polka dancing parties."
  6. ^ "Amy Seimetz Breaks Through". Filmmaker Magazine. April 3, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  7. ^ "Amy Seimetz Digitally Premieres Sun Don't Shine Film". Paste Magazine. September 18, 2013. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  8. ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (August 18, 2011). "The Serial-Killer Story Takes a New Twist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  9. ^ "Sundance 2011: Amy Seimetz". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  10. ^ "Who Is the Next Breakout Star of Sundance 2011?". The Hollywood Reporter. January 21, 2011.
  11. ^ Murphy, Mekado (March 13, 2012). "Turning Up the Heat With 'Sun Don't Shine'". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "Time Out Chicago review of Sun Don't Shine". Archived from the original on June 16, 2012.
  13. ^ "Indiewire's 12 Favorite Moments from SXSW 201". IndieWire. March 15, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  14. ^ Willmore, Alison (February 12, 2013). "Amy Seimetz Joins the Cast of AMC's 'The Killing'". IndieWire. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "Steven Soderbergh's State of Cinema Talk". Deadline. April 30, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  16. ^ Birnbaum, Debra (August 1, 2016). "Starz Renews 'The Girlfriend Experience' For Season Two". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  17. ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 25, 2016). "'Alien: Covenant' Crews Up: 'Empire's Jussie Smollett, Amy Seimetz, Carmen Ejogo & More Join Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  18. ^ Grater, Tom (September 10, 2016). "First look: 'Lean On Pete'". Screen Daily. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  19. ^ McNary, Dave (August 18, 2016). "Tali Shalom Ezer Directing Ellen Page and Kate Mara in Romantic Drama 'Mercy'". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  20. ^ Blisten, Jon (March 7, 2019). "Watch Molly Shannon as Emily Dickinson in New 'Wild Nights With Emily' Trailer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. ^ Nyguen, Hahn (March 23, 2018). "'Atlanta' Director Amy Seimetz on Creating Those 'Get Out' Vibes in the Creepy Episode 'Helen'". IndieWire. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. ^ Petski, Denise (March 13, 2018). "'Get Shorty': Amy Seimetz Set To Recur In Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 1, 2018). "Amy Seimetz Female Lead In 'Pet Sematary' Remake". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  24. ^ Ray-Ramos, Dino (January 15, 2020). "SXSW Sets Judd Apatow's 'The King Of Staten Island' As Opening-Night Film, Unveils Features And Episodics Lineups". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "City of Austin Cancels SXSW March Events". South by Southwest. March 6, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  26. ^ "James Comey Mini Sets Amy Seimetz For Key FBI Attorney Trisha Anderson". Deadline Hollywood. November 25, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  27. ^ Wiseman, Andreas; Hipes, Patrick (April 23, 2019). "'The Secrets We Keep': Chris Messina & Amy Seimetz Join Noomi Rapace & Joel Kinnaman In AGC-Di Bonaventura Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  28. ^ Hailu, Selome (April 25, 2022). "Amy Seimetz Out as Director of the Weeknd's HBO Drama Series 'The Idol', Series to Undergo Significant Reshoots". Variety. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  29. ^ Hailu, Selome (April 25, 2022). "The Weeknd's HBO Drama Series 'The Idol' to Undergo Significant Reshoots". Variety. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  30. ^ Erbland, Kate (January 26, 2016). "News Film TV Awards Toolkit More Search Sundance: Amy Seimetz Explains the Most Feminist Decision She Made When Crafting 'The Girlfriend Experience'". IndieWire. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  31. ^ Kohn, Eric (April 13, 2019). "Amy Seimetz Conquers Hollywood By Saying No to Marvel and Yes to 'Pet Sematary'". IndieWire. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  32. ^ a b Maddaus, Gene (July 27, 2020). "'Upstream Color' Director Shane Carruth Accused of Abusing Ex-Girlfriend". Variety. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  33. ^ "Alien: Covenant | Prologue: Last Supper | 20th Century FOX". February 22, 2017 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ Petski, Denise (March 13, 2018). "'Get Shorty': Amy Seimetz Set To Recur In Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  35. ^ "From the Archives: Amy Seimetz". Anthem Magazine. October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
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