Michael Atkinson

Michael Atkinson is an Adjunct Professor of Film at Long Island University, affiliated with the School of Visual Arts, Communications and Digital Technologies. He holds a B.F.A. from LIU Post and is a prominent voice in film criticism and creative writing, contributing regularly to major publications such as The Village Voice, The New York Times, Sight & Sound, Film Comment, and The Criterion Collection.

His research and teaching focus on film history and appreciation, screenwriting, and poetry. He is deeply engaged in cultural and cinematic discourse, exploring themes such as exile cinema, the dark heart of pop cinema, and the legacy of American filmmaking.

Atkinson is the author of seven books, including Exile Cinema: Filmmakers at Work Beyond Hollywood and Blue Velvet, and has co-written the network pilot Babylon Fields for NBC/20th Century Fox. His poetic works have been widely published and anthologized.

His critical writings span decades and cover a broad spectrum of cinematic expression, reflecting deep engagement with both mainstream and independent film. His recent projects include a novel, The Saint of After Midnight, and a critical study, Lost in Xanadu: The Secrets of Citizen Kane and the Ordeal of the American Dream.

• New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship, 1988-89
• Work selected for The Best American Poetry 1993
• Work selected for The Best American Movie Writing 2001

Atkinson advises and mentors students in film and creative writing, though specific advisees are not listed. He has not received mention of grants, but his sustained publication and creative output indicate ongoing scholarly activity. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle since 2000 and serves as a contributing or consulting editor for Cineaste, Sight & Sound, In These Times, and Fandor.

He is actively involved in professional film criticism and literary communities, contributing to the intellectual life of film and poetry through his writing, teaching, and editorial roles.