Biography

One of the UK's most prolific independent film producers, Michael Riley was born in Nottingham, England.

His award-winning work includes WW2 drama CHOSEN starring Harvey Keitel, critically acclaimed sailing biopic CROWHURST, controversial action/horror THE SEASONING HOUSE (Sean Pertwee); migrant thriller OUTLANDERS, cult favorite VAMPIRE DIARY and black comedy LAVA (Tom Bell). His urban drama SUGARHOUSE (Ashley Walters) and romcom LOOP (Susannah York) both starred Andy Serkis. Recent films include thriller THE BALLAD OF BILLY McCRAE (David Hayman); comedy/farce SIDESHOW (Tony Head and Les Dennis); gothic thriller FEAR THE INVISIBLE MAN and WW1 supernatural romance CAN YOU HEAR ME? (James Cosmo and John Standing). Upcoming releases include fantasy adventure comedy LEGEND HAS IT (Rupert Everett, Emilia Fox and Tamsin Greig) and cerebral thriller BLEEDING BLUE BIRD - the last feature to shoot in Ukraine before the war.

He is one of the youngest ever producers of a major BBC drama serial, the family saga IN A LAND OF PLENTY, starring Helen McCrory, Bob Pugh, Shirley Henderson and Indira Varma. Michael is currently making COLD MIND, a hi-tech TV crime drama set in California and Portugal.

His feature film career includes working with Ken Russell on the 2011 satire ZERO, and developing projects with other such legendary directors as Nicolas Roeg, Richard Stanley, Michael Radford and Tony Kaye.

His factual work includes Sundance competitor CHINA'S WILD WEST studying the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Turner Prize installation WAITING for British artist Zarina Bhimji shot in Kenya, and the Sky documentary TIBET REPORT about Tibetan refugees in Northern India where he interviewed the 14th Dalai Lama at his palace in Dharamshala.

His production company Sterling Pictures is a London and Bristol based feature film development and production outfit established in 1995.

Michael has four children: Evelyn, Edward, Elliott and Emily and is a voting member of BAFTA and the European Film Academy.
- IMDb mini biography by: J. Brookhouse

Father to Evelyn, Edward, Elliott and Emily.