Joel Potrykus

Joel Potrykus is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Film & Video Production at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). He specializes in screenwriting and guerilla-style filmmaking, focusing on themes of anxiety, isolation, and antisocial outsiders. His work has been showcased at major venues like SXSW, Lincoln Center, and the Cinémathèque Française, and streams on the Criterion Channel. His screenplays are archived in prestigious collections, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the George A. Romero Archival Collection.

Education: MFA in Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College; BS in Film & Video Production from GVSU.

Teaching: Courses include Scriptwriting I & II, and Fiction Filmmaking I & II. Films include Ape (2012), Buzzard (2014), Relaxer (2018), and The Alchemist Cookbook (2016).

Awards recognize his contributions to independent cinema, emphasizing narrative innovation and artistic vision.