Halfdan (halllf' den) Hussey - Director's Bio
At twenty-two, after earning Summa Cum Laude in Lit and studying film, Halfdan wrote his first screenplay while driving a cab in New York City. Halfdan then directed and co-produced a truly independent feature, He's Still There, that opened to rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival, Italy. The film was a hit at the Critic's section of the festival. Soon thereafter he directed Still Waters Burn.
"I really like Still Waters Burn. Its young director shows brilliant promise and talent." - Robert Wise (Four time Academy Award Winner; legendary director of The Day The Earth Stood Still, West Side Story, Sound of Music)
"Strength comes from the people involved and how great their passion and skills are. The leaders of Cinequest have both of those. That's why it's been with us for some time and will still be here long into the future." - Steve Wozniak (Co-Founder, Apple Inc).
Halfdan then co-founded and developed the Cinequest Film Institute (Cinequest Distribution and Cinequest Film Festival) in the Silicon Valley to empower creativity and innovation. Having stayed ahead in digital film making, exhibition and distribution for years, The Ultimate Guide to Film Festivals, named Cinequest in the Top 10 amongst the world's 2,000 festivals and deemed Cinequest the place where you "find the future of film". A pioneer in digital distribution and marketing, Cinequest created a successful distribution division to further its work in delivering award winning films to fans in DVD, Internet and Internet Television.
Halfdan was named one of the top 25 people who dramatically changed the Silicon Valley over the past 25 years by Metro Newspapers 2010.
Recently Halfdan returned to writing and movie making. His debut book, TO THE DOGS, tells the dramatic story of a man who leaves a world of integrity to fall into one of crime, leaving his sons with an inheritance of corrupt power. The sons must decide whether to continue the ways of their father or return to the world of dogs, the land of unconditional love and inner power.
Cinequest has formed a sister company, Cinequest Mavericks Studio LLC, to make and market A-list movies utilizing ground-breaking media and technology platforms.
Halfdan continues to balance his creative work and business with a lifelong passion to empower others to create and live the lives of their dreams. He works with Cinequest Picture the Possibilities to inspire youth around the globe and to connect their visions of a better tomorrow, through film, to leaders. He has developed an empowerment program and accompanying book called THE 7 POWERS, the powers to create anything.
"Ultimately, "He's Still There" is a sincerely great movie full of feeling and aspirations. Halfdan Hussey demonstrates not only an idea but also a remarkable ability to translate an idea to film. Halfdan Hussey is not only a 'goodfella' but a young bravo regazzo. Above all he is a bravo regista (great director)." --Francesco Carrara, Venice Film Festival (Il Piccolo)
