{{Short description|British director}} {{Infobox person | name = Misha Manson-Smith | image = Misha Manson-Smith.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|01|10}} | years_active = 2004-present | notable_works = {{ubl|The Feed|Kiss Me First|No Offence|La La Land}} }}
'''Misha Manson-Smith''' (born January 10, 1978) is a British director and screenwriter. He is known for directing high-end television dramas including ''The Feed'', ''Kiss Me First'' and ''No Offence'' and for creating satirical comedy series with Marc Wootton that blur fiction and reality. He has been nominated for three BAFTAs including the Breakthrough Talent Award for Directing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 Television Craft Breakthrough Talent sponsored by HBO Films {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2006/tvcraft/breakthrough-talent-sponsored-by-hbo-films |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== 2004-2012 === Manson-Smith started working professionally as an editor on documentaries for directors such as Greg Barker<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soviet Sports Wars Film Credits |url=https://www.pbs.org/redfiles/about_sports.htm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=PBS}}</ref> and James Miller.<ref name=":4" /> In 2004, Miller was shot and killed by the Israel Defense Forces while filming HBO documentary feature film ''Death In Gaza''. Manson-Smith came on as editor and director to complete it,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Allan |date=2004-03-24 |title=Death In Gaza |url=https://www.screendaily.com/death-in-gaza/4017928.article |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=ScreenDaily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-03-25 |title=Friend's Gaza death film tribute |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3563459.stm |access-date=2024-02-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Edge |first=Dan |date=2004-02-12 |title=A bullet zipped off the porch. When the shooting was over my friend lay dead |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/feb/12/israelandthepalestinians.festivals |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> interweaving Miller’s own story with those of the children caught in the crossfire.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heffernan |first=Virginia |date=2004-08-12 |title=TELEVISION REVIEW; Tale of Children in a War Zone, Cut Short by Its Director's Death |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/12/arts/television-review-tale-children-war-zone-cut-short-its-director-s-death.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It premiered at the Berlin Film Festival<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-02-12 |title=Death in Gaza screened in Berlin |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3482327.stm |access-date=2024-02-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and won many accolades, among them three Emmy Awards, including Exceptional Merit in Non-Fiction Filmmaking.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Death In Gaza |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/death-gaza |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref> It also won a BAFTA Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Television Current Affairs {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2005/television/current-affairs |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref> and Manson-Smith was nominated for the BAFTA Award for editing.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=2005 Television Craft Editing - Factual {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2005/tvcraft/editing-factual |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
Manson-Smith also started writing and directing fiction with short ''Nine and a Half Minutes''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stables |first=Kate |date=2007-02-01 |title=Cyber cinema: Webby Valentine's Day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/feb/01/cybercinema |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Produced by Ollie Madden and starring David Tennant, it premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-06 |title=VIDEO: Watch A David Tennant Romantic Short |url=http://www.david-tennant.co.uk/2014/01/video-watch-david-tennant-romantic-short.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Manson-Smith went on to develop and direct broadcast pilots including BAFTA-nominated<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2008-11-09 |title=British Academy Scotland Awards: Winners in 2008 |url=https://www-staging.bafta.org/scotland/awards/ceremony/nominees-winners/british-academy-scotland-awards-winners-in-2008 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www-staging.bafta.org |language=en}}</ref> ''Delta Forever'' (2008)<ref>{{Cite news |last=McLean |first=Gareth |date=2008-05-18 |title=Watch this |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/may/19/television |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> starring Daniel Kaluuya and Ophelia Lovibond, ''Coming Up: Brussels'' (2009)<ref>{{Citation |title=Coming Up (TV series) |date=2023-12-31 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coming_Up_(TV_series)&oldid=1192894996 |access-date=2024-02-03 |language=en}}</ref> starring Peter Capaldi and ''Stanley Park'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Three - Stanley Park |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sj8f9 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> starring Holliday Grainger and Sharon Horgan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Drama - Introducing Stanley Park |url=https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/drama/New+Drama+Introducing+Stanley+Park-57611.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.femalefirst.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
In 2011, it was announced that Manson-Smith had been hired to direct the feature film Sex Education.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Sarah |date=2011-02-02 |title=Misha Manson-Smith to direct Sex Education |url=https://www.screendaily.com/production/misha-manson-smith-to-direct-sex-education-/5023123.article |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Screen }}</ref>
=== 2012-present === In 2012, Manson-Smith directed single drama ''Excluded'' for BBC Two,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - BBC TV blog: Excluded: How we made the BBC School Season drama |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2010/09/excluded-how-we-made-the-bbc-s.shtml |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> starring Craig Parkinson, Monica Dolan and Letitia Wright.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Two - Excluded |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00txmkm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> Sam Wollaston wrote in the Guardian “It's all brilliant – immediate, tense, funny, sad, touching, relevant.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wollaston |first=Sam |date=2010-09-22 |title=TV review: Excluded and Lost Land of the Tiger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/sep/22/excluded-lost-land-tiger-review |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In 2014, Manson-Smith created neo-noir action comedy ''In Deep'' (2014) with writers Thomas Eccleshare and Tom Joseph for BBC Three.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Curtis Brown |url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/news/comedy-pilots-premiere-on-bbc-threes-online-comedy-feeds |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.curtisbrown.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Three - Comedy Feeds, Series 3, In Deep |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p022d0rc |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> Manson-Smith directed the pilot, casting Ashley Walters after Daniel Kaluuya dropped out to take a role in ''Sicario''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-20 |title=BBC Three - Comedy Feeds, Series 3, In Deep, Behind the Scenes of In Deep |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0233plm |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2015, Manson-Smith developed ''Hoff The Record'', an improvised comedy about Craig Roberts directing a biopic of David Hasslehoff. Manson-Smith wrote and directed the pilot for BBC Two<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2014-06-26 |title=Dave commissions Curb-esque Hoff The Record |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/dave-commissions-curb-esque-hoff-the-record/5073527.article |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Broadcast }}</ref> and wrote on the first season for Dave with Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hoff the Record, there's a brand new commission for Dave {{!}} News {{!}} UKTV Corporate Site |url=https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/hoff-record-theres-brand-new-commission-dave/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=corporate.uktv.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> It won the International Emmy Award for Comedy Series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hasselhoff show wins Best Comedy at International Emmy Awards |url=https://news.sky.com/story/hasselhoff-show-wins-best-comedy-at-international-emmy-awards-10667293 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2016-2019, Manson-Smith directed episodes of Paul Abbott’s ''No Offence'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Curtis Brown |url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/news/no-offence-channel4 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.curtisbrown.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Benji |date=2015-05-05 |title=No Offence, Channel 4 |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-4/no-offence-channel-4/5087332.article |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Broadcast }}</ref> which was BAFTA nominated for Best Drama Series<ref>{{Cite web |title=Curtis Brown |url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/news/2016-bafta-tv-nominations-announced |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.curtisbrown.co.uk}}</ref> and won the RTS Award for Best Drama Series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-19 |title=RTS Programme Awards 2016 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2016 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Royal Television Society |language=en}}</ref> Manson-Smith returned to direct action sequences on the second season and the final episodes of the third season<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Abbott's No Offence returns for Series 3 {{!}} Channel 4 |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/paul-abbotts-no-offence-returns-series-3 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.channel4.com}}</ref>
In 2017, Manson-Smith was lead director on the second season of Danny Brocklehurst’s ''Ordinary Lies'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Curtis Brown |url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/news/ordinary-lies-season-2-directed-by-misha-manson-smith-launches-on-bbc-one |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.curtisbrown.co.uk}}</ref> starring Con O’Neil, Rebekah Staton, Joel Fry and Kimberley Nixon, who won the Best Actress BAFTA Cymru Award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 Cymru Actress {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2017/cymru/actress |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref>
In 2018, Manson-Smith was the lead director on cyber-thriller ''Kiss Me First'' for Netflix and Channel 4.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=televisual.com |last2=Dams |first2=Tim |date=2018-03-26 |title=Behind the scenes: C4 and Netflix's Kiss Me First |url=https://www.televisual.com/news/behind-the-scenes-c4-and-netflix-s-kiss-me-first_bid-1014/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Televisual}}</ref> Adapted by Bryan Elsley from Lottie Moggach’s novel, the series combined live action drama with motion capture animation,<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last= |date=2018-03-27 |title=Kiss Me First, Channel 4/Netflix |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/kiss-me-first-channel-4/netflix/5127827.article |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Broadcast |language=en}}</ref> winning an RTS Award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-02 |title=Craft & Design Awards 2018 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/craft-design-awards-2018 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Royal Television Society |language=en}}</ref> Among many unusual aspects of the production,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kiss Me First: Interview with Misha Manson-Smith, director {{!}} Channel 4 |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/kiss-me-first-interview-misha-manson-smith-director |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.channel4.com}}</ref> Manson-Smith used the actual lenses made for ''Apocalypse Now''.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2018-03-22 |title=Channel 4 & Netflix Take Inspiration From 'Apocalypse Now' For Teen Drama 'Kiss Me First' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/c4-netflix-take-inspiration-from-apocalypse-now-for-teen-drama-kiss-me-first-1202351393/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2019, Manson-Smith directed David Thewlis in episodes (and additional action sequences) of sci-fi thriller series ''The Feed'' for Amazon Studios.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last= |date=2019-09-12 |title=The Feed, Virgin Media/Amazon |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/the-feed-virgin-media/amazon/5142870.article |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Broadcast }}</ref> It was selected for the Cannes Series and Tallinn Black Nights Festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopewell |first=John |date=2019-04-11 |title=What This Year's Canneseries Says About Current High-End Series |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/global/what-this-year-canneseries-says-about-current-high-end-series-1203186697/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grater |first=Tom |date=2019-09-26 |title=HBO's 'Chernobyl' & Amazon's 'The Feed' To Be In Spotlight At Tallinn Black Nights TV Forum |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/chernobyl-amazon-feed-tallinn-black-nights-1202744268/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020 it was nominated for Best Drama Series at the National Film Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=N. F. A. |date=2020-01-13 |title=Renee Zellweger, Ricky Gervais, Dev Patel, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Olivia Coleman are among stars nominated at 2020 National Film Awards UK. |url=https://www.nationalfilmawards.org/renee-zellweger-ricky-gervais-rowan-aitkinson-kate-beckinsale-david-tenant-eddie-redmayne-and-liam-neeson-are-among-stars-nominated-at-2020-national-film-awards-uk/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=National Film Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2025, Manson-Smith directed the second season of [https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-jury-murder-trial The Jury: Murder Trial]<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2025-05-12 |title=Baftas: Mr Loverman triumphs while Murder Trial beats The Traitors |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasters/baftas-mr-loverman-triumphs-while-murder-trial-beats-the-traitors/5204793.article |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Broadcast }}</ref> for Channel 4, a hybrid courtroom drama / social experiment that in its first season won the 2025 BAFTA TV Award,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Channel 4’s “The Jury: Murder Trial” tops reality race in 2025 BAFTA Television Awards |url=https://realscreen.com/2025/05/12/channel-4s-the-jury-murder-trial-tops-reality-race-in-2025-bafta-television-awards/ |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> Broadcast Award<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2025-02-05 |title=Best original programme: The Jury: Murder Trial |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/winners/best-original-programme-the-jury-murder-trial/5201515.article |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Broadcast }}</ref> and was nominated for the RTS Award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-25 |title=RTS announces winners of the RTS Programme Awards 2025 |url=https://rts.org.uk/article/rts-announces-winners-rts-programme-awards-2025 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Royal Television Society |language=en}}</ref>
=== Collaborators === Manson-Smith has developed several films with writer George Kay,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-22 |title=TIFF 15 Interview: Four Questions for 'Barbados' Director Misha Manson-Smith - Movie Reviews. TV Coverage. Trailers. Film Festivals. |url=https://moviemovesme.com/2015/09/22/tiff-15-interview-four-questions-for-barbados-director-misha-manson-smith/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=moviemovesme.com |language=en-US}}</ref> with short ''Barbados'' becoming their first produced work. Starring Michael Sheen and produced by Fred Berger and Funny or Die,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Barbados (Starring Michael Sheen, Radha Mitchell, and Ty Simpkins) – Funny Or Die |url=https://funnyordie.com/2017/09/22/41595/barbados-starring-michael-sheen-radha-mitchell-and-ty-simpkins/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |newspaper=Funny or die|date=22 September 2017 }}</ref> it was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barbados / TIFF15 / TIFFR |url=https://2015.tiffr.com/shows/barbados |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=2015.tiffr.com}}</ref>
Manson-Smith frequently collaborates with actor Marc Wootton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - BBC Comedy Blog: How La La Land came to be |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2010/05/how-la-la-land-came-to-be.shtml |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> ''My New Best Friend'' won the Rose D'Or<ref>{{Citation |title=Rose d'Or |date=2023-12-13 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rose_d%27Or&oldid=1189729266 |access-date=2024-02-04 |language=en}}</ref> and a British Comedy Award,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-01-13 |title=MTV gets 'Friend'-ly |url=https://variety.com/2004/tv/news/mtv-gets-friend-ly-1117898356/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> with Guardian critic Barbara Ellen writing that it “transcends student TV and becomes a sociological document for the cut-throat nature of our times”.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellen |first=Barbara |date=2003-08-31 |title=Friendly fire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/aug/31/features.magazine7 |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> Manson-Smith and Wootton reteamed on controversial BBC psychic satire ''High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman'', earning Manson-Smith a BAFTA nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-04-11 |title=Bafta Craft Awards: nominations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/apr/11/broadcasting |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Manson-Smith and Wootton relocated to Los Angeles to create entertainment industry satire ''La La Land'' for Showtime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |date=2008-05-02 |title=Showtime imports Marc Wootton |url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/markets-festivals/showtime-imports-marc-wootton-1117984970/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dee |first=Johnny |date=2010-05-08 |title=How Marc Wootton escaped La La Land without getting killed |url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/may/08/marc-wootton-lala-land |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rochlin |first=Margy |date=2010-01-23 |title=Guerrilla Comic Invades Los Angeles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/arts/television/24lala.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Notable for its casting of cult figures<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hale |first=Mike |date=2010-01-24 |title=Very British, Somewhat Borat and a Lot of Nerve |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/arts/television/25lala.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - BBC Comedy Blog: Making La La Land |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2010/05/making-la-la-land.shtml |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> including Tommy Wiseau and Daryl Hannah,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-18 |title=Reality and comedy come together in LA |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-and-comedy-come-together-in-la-ng-ya-194818 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}</ref> it was nominated for the Rose D’Or and received positive reviews,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Jonathan |last2=Vine |first2=Richard |last3=Mueller |first3=Andrew |last4=Nicholson |first4=Rebecca |last5=Catterall |first5=Ali |last6=Walker |first6=Previews by Ella |date=2010-05-04 |title=Watch this |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/may/04/theos-adventure-capitalists-luther |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moody |first=Paul |date=2010-05-18 |title=Have you been watching … La La Land? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/may/18/la-la-land |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> with Heather Havrilesky writing in Salon that ''La La Land'' "may be the single funniest thing I've seen on TV in the past year.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Havrilesky |first=Heather |date=2010-01-24 |title="La La Land": Move over, Borat! |url=https://www.salon.com/2010/01/24/la_la_land/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Salon |language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, it was announced that Manson-Smith and Wootton were to team with Sacha Baron Cohen and his production company Four by Two Films on ''Gooseberry "''an audacious collision of comic thriller and immersive theatre".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |date=2019-05-08 |title=Marc Wootton makes hidden camera show in the US : News 2019 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2019/06/14/43326/marc_wootton_makes_hidden_camera_show_in_the_us |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Manson-Smith shot the pilot with Lionsgate for Comedy Central in Los Angeles in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2020-09-09 |title=Sacha Baron Cohen to return in Borat 2 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/news/5929/borat-2-sequel-sacha-baron-cohen/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}</ref> but the series was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2025, Manson-Smith and Wootton collaborated with singer-songwriter John Grant on the release of short film The Art of the Lie, with Shots Magazine writing "What began as a music video for Grant’s track ''It’s A Bitch'' quickly spiralled into something far more ambitious: a metafictional satire... held together by Wootton's unwavering performance... this 30-minute gem is chock-full of laughs"<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Grant's artful fudger |url=https://magazine.shots.net/news/view/john-grants-artful-fudger |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=shots Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
=== Commercials === Manson-Smith has written and directed numerous commercials<ref>{{Cite web |title=Misha Manson-Smith: Cutting to the funny bone |url=https://www.shots.net/news/view/misha-manson-smith-cutting-to-the-funny-bone |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=shots |language=en}}</ref> described variously as "beautifully observed" "remarkably authentic" and "perfectly deadpan".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Jason |date=2014-07-17 |title=Ad break: Ikea, Nike's Derek Jeter tribute, Samsung Galaxy S5 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/17/ikea-nike-derek-jeter-tribute-samsung-galaxy-s5 |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Jason |date=2014-10-02 |title=Ad break: George Clooney 'wedding' advert, Jeff Goldblum spoofs Liberace |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/02/ad-break-george-clooney-wedding-ad-jeff-goldblum-liberace |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> His "brilliantly conceived"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google: Online Checkout |url=https://www.shots.net/news/view/72475-google-online-checkout |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=shots |language=en}}</ref> campaign for Google starring Nick Mohammed, Olly Alexander and Jessica Barden was selected for the APA’s top 50.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Night At The Museum with APA 2012 {{!}} LBBOnline |url=https://lbbonline.com/news/one-night-at-the-museum-with-apa-2012 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=lbbonline.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, he directed commercials for Swarovski starring Aimee Lou Wood.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Aimee Lou Wood sparkles for Swarovski |url=https://www.shots.net/news/view/aimee-lou-wood-sparkles-for-swarovski |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=shots |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Manson-Smith and his wife Alex Manson-Smith, a writer, live in London Fields with their two sons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carlyle |first=Rachel |date=2024-02-03 |title=The rise of the 'anti yummy mummy' |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/the-rise-of-the-anti-yummy-mummy-j8v6975gz |access-date=2024-02-03 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Woolcock |first=Jessie Hewitson, Nicola |date=2024-02-04 |title=Councils blow £100m in special needs battle |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/councils-blow-100m-in-special-needs-battle-xbsxtfcrl |access-date=2024-02-04 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Network !Director !Writer !EP !Notes |- |2004 |Nine and a Half Minutes |BFI |Yes |Yes |No |Short film |- |2004 |Death in Gaza |HBO |Yes |No |No |Feature documentary |- |2004 |My New Best Friend |Channel 4 |Yes |Yes |No |6 episodes |- |2008 |Delta Forever |BBC Three |Yes |Yes |No |Pilot |- |2008 |High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman |BBC Three BBC America |Yes |Yes |No |8 episodes |- |2008 |Coming Up: Brussels |Channel 4 |Yes |No |No |Single drama |- |2010 |La La Land |Showtime |Yes |Yes |Yes |6 episodes |- |2011 |Stanley Park |Lionsgate BBC Three |Yes |No |No |Pilot |- |2012 |Excluded |BBC Two |Yes |No |No |Single drama |- |2013 |Dancing on the Edge |BBC Two |Yes |No |No |Uncredited |- |2013 |Lucky Country |BBC Two |Yes |Yes |Yes |Pilot |- |2014 |Pramface |BBC Three |Yes |No |No |6 episodes |- |2014 |In Deep |BBC Three |Yes |No |Yes |Pilot, co-creator |- |2015 |Hoff The Record |BBC Two Dave |Yes |Yes |No |Pilot |- |2016-2019 |No Offence |Channel 4 |Yes |No |No |4 episodes |- |2017 |Barbados |Funny Or Die |Yes |No |No |Short film |- |2017 |Ordinary Lies |BBC One |Yes |No |No |3 episodes |- |2018 |Kiss Me First |Netflix Channel 4 |Yes |No |No |3 episodes |- |2019 |The Feed |Amazon Studios |Yes |No |No |2 episodes |- |2020 |Gooseberry |Lionsgate Comedy Central |Yes |Yes |Yes |Pilot, co-creator |- |2025 |[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKKzXM66Nys The Art of the Lie] |Common People Films |Yes |Yes |No |Short film |- |2025 |[https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-jury-murder-trial The Jury: Murder Trial] |Channel 4 |Yes |No |No |4 episodes |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result |- |2004 |Rose D'Or |Comedy |My New Best Friend |Win |- |2004 |British Comedy Award |Best New Comedy |My New Best Friend |Win |- |2005 |British Academy Television Craft Award |Best Editing: Factual |Death in Gaza |Nomination |- |2008 |British Academy Television Craft Award |Breakthrough Talent: Fiction |High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman |Nomination |- |2009 |British Academy Scotland Award |Comedy |Delta Forever |Nomination |- |2011 |Rose D'Or |Comedy |La La Land |Nomination |- |2013 |Shots Award |Branded Commercial |Google Analytics in Real Life |Win |- |2013 |Cannes Lion |Commercial |Google Analytics in Real Life |Nomination |- |2013 |IVCA |Commercial |Google Analytics in Real Life |Win |- |2016 |New York Festivals |Best Performance |Clic Sargent: One of the Gang |Win |- |2016 |Kinsale Shark Awards |Editing |Clic Sargent: One of the Gang |Win |- |2018 |British Arrows |Craft |Kit Kat: Double Act |Win |}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|1245204}} * {{instagram|mishams|Misha Manson-Smith}} * [https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/misha-manson-smith Misha Manson-Smith] at Curtis Brown * [https://www.mishamansonsmith.com/ Misha Manson-Smith] website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manson-Smith, Misha}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:British directors Category:British screenwriters