Madeleine Olnek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madeleine Olnek
Olnek in 2014
Born	New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	NYU (BFA) Brown University (MFA) Columbia University (MFA)
Occupation	Film director screenwriter playwright

Madeleine Olnek is an American film director, writer, and producer. She creates independent films and plays. She has written many plays and three feature films. Some of her well-known movies include Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same, The Foxy Merkins, and Wild Nights with Emily. Her films are known for being very funny and a bit unusual. They often tell unique stories about different kinds of people.

About Madeleine Olnek

Madeleine Olnek grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. She studied drama at NYU and graduated in 1987. She also earned advanced degrees in writing from Brown University and in film from Columbia University.

While at NYU, Olnek directed a comedy show called "The Follies." A cast member, Molly Shannon, created her famous Catholic schoolgirl character, Mary Katherine Gallagher, during this show. Shannon has said that Olnek helped her develop this character.

After college, Olnek became a playwright and director in New York City. She worked with the Public Theater and the WOW Café theater. There, she wrote and directed many plays, including Wild Nights with Emily (1999) and Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (1992).

From Plays to Films

Madeleine noticed that filmmaking was becoming more accessible. So, she started focusing on making movies. Her first short film, Hold Up, came out in 2006. Her second short film, Countertransference, came out in 2009. Both of these films were shown at the famous Sundance Film Festival. Countertransference even won an award for "Best Short Film Directed by a Woman at Sundance."

In 2011, Olnek turned one of her plays into her first feature film, Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same. This movie was shown at Sundance, the MoMA, and The Viennale. It was also nominated for an award.

Her second feature film was The Foxy Merkins. It also featured some of the actors from her first film. This movie was shown at Sundance and other film festivals. It was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

Olnek then received special grants to turn another one of her plays into her third feature film, Wild Nights with Emily. This movie was the first film to show a different side of the famous poet Emily Dickinson. It starred Molly Shannon and premiered in 2018. It was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Rotten Tomatoes, a movie review website, even listed it as one of the top ten "Best Comedies of 2019."

Olnek (right) with the cast of The Foxy Merkins at its Sundance Premiere in 2014

Madeleine's Films

Madeleine Olnek lives in New York City. She enjoys telling jokes.

See also

• List of female film and television directors
• List of lesbian filmmakers
• List of LGBT-related films directed by women