Mike Mendez

Mike Mendez, hailing from Los Angeles, developed a passion for filmmaking at a young age, starting to craft his own movies in his backyard by the time he was just 10 years old. His debut feature, "Killers," made a significant impact when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997, leading to its acquisition by Alpine Pictures for distribution across the United States and a worldwide theatrical release.

Mendez followed this success with the horror comedy "The Convent," which also gained recognition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2000 and was showcased in over 30 international film festivals. Lionsgate took the reins for its release in the U.S., further solidifying Mendez's reputation in the industry.

In 2002, he expanded his repertoire by producing the documentary "Masters of Horror" for Universal Television and Showtime, which featured insightful interviews with iconic filmmakers of the horror genre. His film "The Gravedancers" premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in 2006 and was subsequently released nationwide by Lionsgate and After Dark Films as part of the "8 Films To Die For" series.

In addition to creating short films for Xbox and contributing to the animated series "Beavis & Butthead," Mendez's latest project, "Big Ass Spider!" premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival. Starring Greg Grunberg, known for his role in "Heroes," the film enjoyed a limited theatrical release worldwide, showcasing Mendez’s ongoing creativity and influence in the genre.