Riley Stearns
Riley Stearns | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 29, 1986 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Spouse | |
Riley Stearns (born June 29, 1986) is an American filmmaker who has directed three feature films: Faults (2014), The Art of Self-Defense (2019), and Dual (2022).[1]
Early life
Stearns was born on June 29, 1986, in Austin, Texas, and grew up in Pflugerville, Texas.[2] He attended University of Texas at Austin, but dropped out after being turned down by the film program.[3]
Career
Initially wanting to be a musician, Stearns became involved in filmmaking after visiting various movie sets and after being advised on being a screenwriter by Final Destination 3 director James Wong.[4]
Stearns worked as a writer for Cartoon Network's Tower Prep, and for the television series My Own Worst Enemy and Bionic Woman.[5] His short film The Cub became his first film to be premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, and also to be featured by Vice Media.[6][7]
He released his feature debut Faults in 2014. It was later chosen to be part of the Best Unproduced Scripts Black List of 2013.[citation needed] Stearns wrote and directed a second feature, The Art of Self-Defense, which was released in 2019.[1] In 2022, he released his third feature film Dual.[8]
In 2025, he directed the music video for the song "Radioactive Dreams", the first single from the Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo collaborative album In The Earth Again.[9]
Personal life
In 2010, he married actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, whom he met during an ocean cruise in 2002.[10] She starred in his first two short films, before starring in his feature film debut, Faults in 2014.[11]
The couple separated in 2017, and divorced later that year.[12]
Stearns is a black belt[13] in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and won a bronze medal at the 2022 ADCC Open in the 70kg Masters Pro division.[14]
Filmography
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Magnificat | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2012 | Casque | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2013 | The Cub | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Faults | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2019 | The Art of Self-Defense | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2022 | Dual | Yes | Yes | Yes |
References
- ^ a b Cordova, Randy (July 18, 2019). "'The Art of Self-Defense' filmmaker Riley Stearns talks toxic masculinity and tattoos". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Rice, Laura (March 15, 2014). "SXSW Filmmaker Spotlight: Exploring Truths, Lies and Cults in 'Faults'". KUT News. Archived from the original on May 21, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ "Meet the 2014 AFI Filmmakers #1: 'Faults' Director On How Not to Lose Ten Pounds on Set". IndieWire. November 7, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ "Filmmaker Interview: RILEY STEARNS, writer/director of FAULTS". SAG Indie. March 4, 2015. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Interview: Riley Stearns Archived August 2, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Film Comment. 23 February 2015
- ^ "The Cub by Riley Stearns: VICE Shorts". Vice Media. August 20, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "Director Riley Stearns on his Short Film, 'The Cub'". Vice Media. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "Riley Stearns explains the bizarre performances in his micro sci-fi movie Dual". Polygon. April 24, 2022. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo - Radioactive Dreams (Official Music Video)". August 27, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
- ^ "Mary Elizabeth Winstead: "Fargo Helped Me Embrace My Sexual Side"". Glamour. April 27, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ "Filmmaker Interview: RILEY STEARNS, writer/director of FAULTS". SAG Indie. March 4, 2015. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ Mary Elizabeth Winstead Splits from Husband Riley Stearns: 'We Are Still Ride or Die' Archived August 2, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. People. 14 May 2017.
- ^ "Instagram".
- ^ "Floarena". Retrieved November 4, 2022.
