Mitch Yapko

Mitch Yapko is a multi-award-winning writer/director/producer, known for his comedic and unique character work, focusing often on surreal characters in real-life situations. He looks for the heart of the story, and strives to make all of his films relatable. He loves taking ideas from concept through to completion, and loves to pull people out of their day-to-day lives and into his imagined worlds. His films have shown in dozens of film festivals over the years, including the Sundance Film Festival (“Smilf” winner, short film jury prize), Newport Beach Film Festival (“Always Worthy” achievement in filmmaking award), and many more. In 2018, he directed 5 short projects that have gone on to screen in 75+ film festivals around the world. Mitch is currently in post production on Watching Walter, a short film based on the true story of a Holocaust survivor, starring Stephen Tobolowsky; the screenplay adaptation of a sci-fi adventure-romance novel; a horror-comedy feature screenplay; as well as several other exciting narrative projects.

Mitch spent the majority of his formative years drawn to all things entertainment - first playing trumpet (flashy and loud, an appropriate instrument for an 8 year old), then performing in musical theater and choirs, and then moving on to stage plays and film (to see what it was like to act and not dance and sing in tights).

Mitch has spent the better part of the past two decades directing shorts and pilots, sketch comedies and web series. With a background in theater acting, he has the unique ability to connect with his actors to bring out the best performances every time.