Michael Rabiger Short Biography

At 17 in 1956 he followed his make-up artist father into the British

film industry to become an assistant film editor. Worked on 12
feature films at Pinewood, Shepperton Studios and elsewhere, most
notably under directors Raoul Walsh and Tony Richardson (A Taste
of Honey). In 1962, moved to television documentary and edited
about 30 films for BBC, North German Television, Granada
Television, and others. Directed 21 documentaries in 6 countries
1967-72 for BBC Documentary Department; co-founded first TV
oral history series, Yesterdays Witness.
Migrated to USA in 1972 to teach at Columbia College Chicago in a fledgling film department
of 60 students (today over 2,000). BA at DePaul University, 1981. Wrote film criticism for New
Art Examiner; in late 1980s published first editions of Directing the Documentary and Directing:
Film Techniques and Aesthetics (both Focal Press: Boston).
Founded Documentary Center at Columbia College in 1988. In 1994 designed and led first
VISIONS European documentary workshop for the international film schools association
CILECT which met in Berlin, Prague, and Amsterdam. Distinguished Visiting Professor 1994-5
at NYU Dept of Film and Television. In 1996 published Developing Story Ideas (Focal Press:
Boston), and became Chair of Columbias Film/Video Department.
In 2002 he was made Honorary Professor at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; awarded
2003 Preservation and Scholarship Award by International Documentary Association in Los
Angeles; in 2005 given the Genius Career Achievement Award by the Chicago International
Documentary Festival; in 2005 made Professor Emeritus by Columbia College Chicago.
He has given lectures and workshops in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, UK, USA.
His documentary directing book, now in its 5th edition, is published in Spanish, Italian, German,
Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Farsi.