Justin Weinstein is an American film director and producer best known for his work on the critically acclaimed documentaries The Armstrong Lie (2013) and The King of Kong (2007).
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 22, 1974, Justin Weinstein grew up in a film-loving family. His parents were avid moviegoers, which exposed him to a variety of classic and contemporary films at an early age. This early exposure to the art of film would eventually lead to his interest in filmmaking.
After graduating high school in 1992, Weinstein went on to attend Brown University, where he studied film and creative writing. During this time, he also began to freelance as a film editor, working on numerous independent and student films. After graduating in 1996, he continued his freelance work while also producing and directing his own short films.
In 2001, Weinstein made his feature-length directorial debut with the documentary The King of Kong, which chronicled the rivalry between two of the most famous Donkey Kong players in the world. The film was a critical and commercial success, and was named one of the top ten films of the year by several prominent film critics.
In 2013, Weinstein released The Armstrong Lie, a documentary about cyclist Lance Armstrong’s rise to fame and subsequent fall from grace. The film was met with critical acclaim, and earned Weinstein an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
In addition to his work in film, Weinstein also serves as a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He teaches courses on documentary filmmaking, and his students have gone on to win numerous awards, including the Academy Award and Emmy Award.
Throughout his career, Weinstein has earned numerous accolades for his work in film. In addition to his Academy Award nomination, he has also been nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, the Peabody Award, and the Primetime Emmy Award.
Today, Justin Weinstein continues to work as a director and producer. His most recent film, The Last Man on the Moon, is currently in post-production and is slated for release in 2020.
