Ben Sainsbury

Ben Sainsbury (born December 17, 1972) is a Canadian filmmaker, actor, and freelance journalist.[1][2]

Ben Sainsbury
Born (1972-12-17) December 17, 1972
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Education
Occupationfilmmaker, actor, and freelance journalist

Background

Sainsbury was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and was raised for eight years in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico after a family move.[2] Upon returning to Canada, he lived with his family in Seguin, Ontario and attended high school in Rosseau. After high school, he lived in California and Arizona for 16 years and studied acting, earning earned a bachelor's degree in film making at College of Marin.[2] In 2005, he received a master's degree in professional writing at the University of Southern California film school, while working as an actor in commercials to help pay for his film projects and schooling.[1]

Sainsbury holds dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, and did a three-year enlistment term in the U.S. Army in Psychological Operations. While with his unit, he was trained in the staging of mock battlefield productions and the dealing with of enemies through use of loud music, gathering of intelligence, distribution of surrender propaganda leaflets, and the broadcasting of fake tank noises.[1] His animated film Private Snuffy was inspired by the torture and prisoner abuse committed by military interrogators at Abu Ghraib,[1] and based upon an article he wrote about the incidents for Now Magazine in Toronto.[2] He obtained a grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to complete the project, and sells computer software in Toronto to make a living.[1]

While in Switzerland working on a PhD on media studies, he became a freelance reporter for PeaceReporter (Milan, Italy),[3] for which he wrote articles on his military service.[1] The article he wrote for Now Magazine in Toronto,[4] which inspired his film Private Snuffy, was translated into Italian for PeaceReporter.[2] Private Snuffy premiered on April 12, 2011, at the Tiburon International Film Festival in Tiburon, California,[5] and later won the 'Best Animation Award' at the 2011 Cinefest in Sudbury, Ontario.[6][7]

Filmography
  • Jail Bait (2004) – uncompleted
  • Pharma (2008)
  • Into Darkness (2010)
  • Private Snuffy (2011)

Recognition

References
  1. Ian Ross (May 29, 2009). "Independent spirit". North Ontario Business. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  2. "Ben Sainsbury". Tiburon International Film Festival. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  3. Ben Sainsbury (July 31, 2006). "Houdinì tirami fuori di qui (Italian)". PeaceReporter. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  4. Ben Sainsbury (May 26 – June 2, 2005). "Houdini, get me out of this". Now Magazine, VOL 24 NO 39.
  5. "Private Snuffy". Tiburon International Film Festival. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  6. "Cinefest Sudbury Announces 2011 Award Winners". Cinefest. September 28, 2011. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  7. Staff (October 11, 2011). "Cinéfest announces award winners". Northern Life. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
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