{{short description|Canadian actress and filmmaker (born 1992)}} {{Use mdy dates|date = June 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Michaela Kurimsky | image = Michaela Kurimsky (face) at The 2018 CFC Annual BBQ Fundraiser (29661973467) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Kurimsky in 2018 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|08|03}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | occupation = {{flatlist| *Actress *filmmaker}} | years_active = 2014–present }} '''Michaela Kurimsky''' (born August 3, 1992) is a Canadian actress and filmmaker. She is known for starring in Jasmin Mozaffari's debut feature film, ''Firecrackers'', which premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. For her work on the film, Kurimsky received critical acclaim and won the award for Best Actress at the Stockholm International Film Festival.
== Early life == Kurimsky was born and raised in Canada and studied acting, writing, and film before deciding to pursue a career as an actress. She graduated from Ryerson University with a BFA in film studies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Rising Stars 2018|url=https://www.tiff.net/risingstars-2018|access-date=2020-06-08|website=TIFF|language=en}}</ref>
== Career == In 2014, Kurimsky wrote and directed a short film called ''Alouette''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-09-24|title=Preview: Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival 2014|url=http://hyemusings.ca/preview-toronto-youth-shorts-film-festival-2014/|access-date=2020-06-08|website=Hye's Musings|language=en-US}}</ref> After that, she worked various jobs both in front of and behind the camera. She worked primarily as a production designer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Edwards|first=Samantha|date=2019-03-26|title=Review: Firecrackers beautifully captures the realities of living in rural Canada|url=https://nowtoronto.com/api/content/ac50d954-4ffe-11e9-b292-12f1225286c6/|access-date=2020-06-08|website=NOW Magazine|language=en-us}}</ref>
In 2018, Kurimsky made her feature film acting debut opposite Karena Evans in Jasmin Mozaffari's debut feature film, ''Firecrackers'', which premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-04|title=Interview: The director and star of Firecrackers blaze onto our screens|url=https://seventh-row.com/2019/04/04/firecrackers-interview/|access-date=2020-06-08|website=Seventh Row|language=en-CA}}</ref> That year, Kurimsky was also named one of the festival's annual "Rising Stars".<ref name=":0" /> The film and Kurimsky's performance were critically acclaimed. The ''Los Angeles Times'' called her performance "astounding",<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-11|title=Review: Canadian drama 'Firecrackers' marks the daring arrival of new talent|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-firecrackers-review-20190711-story.html|access-date=2020-06-08|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> while ''NOW Magazine'' dubbed her "magnetic."<ref name=":1" />
For her work in ''Firecrackers'', Kurimsky received several accolades. She won Best Actress at the Stockholm International Film Festival, "for a "dangerous, sensitive, explosive, strong, intelligent, unpredictable, creative and complex" performance."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|date=2018-11-16|title='Firecrackers,' 'Skate Kitchen' Win Top Awards at Female-Centric Stockholm Film Festival|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/global/firecrackers-skate-kitchen-win-top-awards-at-female-centric-stockholm-film-festival-1203030706/|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> She was also nominated for the Best Actress in a Canadian Film award by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-14|title=2019 Nominees Announced|url=https://vancouverfilmcritics.com/2018/12/14/2019-nominees-announced/|access-date=2020-06-08|language=en}}</ref>
She subsequently starred as Mona Blackmore in ''A Fire in the Cold Season'', a drama directed by Justin Oakey. The film screened at the Atlantic Film Festival and the Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival.
Kurimsky starred opposite Deragh Campbell in Hannah Cheeseman's short film, ''Succor'', which was an official selection for the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leiber|first=Sarah Jae|title=Hannah Cheesman and Aiken Heart Film's SUCCOR Bows at TIFF20|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Hannah-Cheesman-and-Aiken-Heart-Films-SUCCOR-Bows-at-TIFF20-20200825|access-date=2020-09-03|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}</ref>
She received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film at the 14th Canadian Screen Awards in 2026, for her performance in ''Sweet Angel Baby''.<ref>Jackson Weaver, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/2026-csa-nominees-9.7140809 "North of North, Heated Rivalry, 40 Acres lead Canadian Screen Award nominees"]. CBC News, March 25, 2026.</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== As an actress ===
==== Short films ====
* ''Set No Path'' (2013) * ''Sequela'' (2015) * ''Blind Arcade'' (2017) *''Succor'' (2020) *''Menace'' (2022)
==== Feature films ====
* ''Firecrackers'' (2018) * ''A Fire in the Cold Season'' (2019) * ''The Boathouse'' (2021) * ''Sweet Angel Baby'' (2024)
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|nm5913863}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurimsky, Michaela}}
Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian film actresses Category:21st-century Canadian actresses Category:Toronto Metropolitan University alumni