Biography

Michael Kahn was born on December 8, 1930 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an editor and producer, known for West Side Story (2021), Minority Report (2002) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).

Almost always edits films directed by Steven Spielberg.

Edits with both an upright Moviola (on most Steven Spielberg films) and digital Avid.

As of 2026, he has contributed with the editing of 12 films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Color Purple (1985), Empire of the Sun (1987), Schindler's List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Munich (2005), Lincoln (2012), War Horse (2011), Bridge of Spies (2015), The Post (2017), West Side Story (2021) and The Fabelmans (2022). Of those, Schindler's List (1993) is a winner in the category.

Scenes play best with 3 reaction shots - no more, no less

Keep fresh by walking away from your edit; you'll come back the next day and see a different scene

Always overlap/duplicate 2-3 frames on match cuts because of eye sensory lag

Don't edit from knowledge - edit from feeling