Director, Writer and Producer at AFIN

Biography

Michael “Mike” Hardy is an award-winning African-American film and video producer and director, with professional credits in feature film, television and documentaries. The List is his first feature as a director. Mike helped produce the critically acclaimed 2014 film, “Fort Bliss”, starring Michelle Monaghan (Messiah, True Detective) and Ron Livingston (Office Space, Sex in the City.) Michelle was on several critics’ short list for nomination as “Best Actress” for that year’s Academy Awards. As Base Camp Production Assistant for the secret Lifetime movie project, 2015’s “Adopting Terror”, Mike coordinated all set preparations (wardrobe, hair, makeup and sound) for Will Ferrell (Anchorman, Elf), Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids) and other talent. In addition to his Hollywood work, Mike has produced several marketing and promotional videos for major associations and a tech start-up. While living in Paraguay (2015 - 2019) Mike wrote the script for “The List”. He met people in the film industry, formed a team and began the production of this movie in Paraguay. Currently, he has two feature length scripts that are being considered for production by Hollywood production companies. “Blood Sisters”, is about Yazidi female commandos who partner reluctantly with US special forces to rescue Yazidi sex slaves kept by ISIS. “My Name is Martin” is the story of a black boy trapped in Nazi Germany at the cusp of World War II, his fight for survival and his desperate escape to his native West Africa. Mike also has several projects in various stages of development, including another feature film and two television shows, one about the opioid crisis and racial justice, and another one about supernatural New Orleans and its criminal underworld. A former Army officer with counter-terrorism expertise and experience supporting special operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mike currently splits time between Texas, Paraguay and Honduras, where his wife Lesley is based with an international organization. Mike and Lesley have three children, from primary school to high school. Mike earned a Master’s in Film Producing from American University in Washington, DC, a bachelor’s degree equivalent Certificate in Film Production from the Art School of Washington, DC and completed the prestigious Columbia College Chicago Summer in Hollywood producing program.