Biography
Bruce Pittman possesses extensive experience in feature film and television production, showcasing his versatility across comedy, drama, action, adventure, sci-fi, and thriller genres. He started his career in the advertising and publicity department at Famous Players Ltd., then transitioned to Paramount Pictures' film market research division, gaining a solid foundation in the art, craft, and business of film marketing. He also founded Toronto’s Revue Cinema as a repertory theater, which remains operational today.
Passionate about filmmaking from the start, Pittman’s first opportunity came as an apprentice to John Frankenheimer, followed by a production assistant role on John Badham’s Reflections of Murder (1974). Back in Toronto, he co-created the long-running series Saturday Night at the Movies (1974-2013), which allowed him to interview many legendary figures from American and British cinema—interviews he regards as a key part of his film education.
His early short films were broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and screened at international film festivals. Three of these shorts earned Best Short Film awards from the Canadian Film and Television Association, including The Painted Door (1984), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject.
Pittman has successfully transitioned from shorts to television series, TV movies, mini-series, and feature films. His work has garnered 97 nominations and awards worldwide. His latest feature, The Last Movie (2012), an independent noir film, won Best Foreign Film at the Long Island International Film Festival and was an official selection at the Moscow International Film Festival.
His mini-series Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion (2003), starring Graham Greene and Pete Postlethwaite, earned two Directors Guild of Canada Awards and five Gemini Awards. Among his TV movies, Captive Heart: The James Mink Story (1996) won Best TV Movie, receiving the Grand Award and Gold World Medal at the New York International Television Programming Awards, as well as the E Pluribus Unum Award. The futuristic black comedy Harrison Bergeron (1995) was named one of the 10 Best TV Movies at Germany’s prestigious Cologne Conference. Where the Spirit Lives (1989), a drama about Indian residential schools, received numerous international honors, including Gemini Awards for Best TV Movie and Best Actress, and Pittman was awarded Best Director at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Pittman’s films have won four Best Drama Awards in Canada, and he has been nominated four times for Best Director at the Gemini Awards. His TV movie Locked in Silence (1999) earned four Daytime Emmy nominations.
Having directed 335 episodes across 33 series for 11 networks, Pittman’s work spans a wide range of genres. His credits include science fiction series such as Earth: Final Conflict (1998-2002), Beyond Reality (1991-1992), and Tekwar (1995-1996); comedies like Maniac Mansion (1990-1993) and Due South (1998); dramas including Street Legal (1990) and E.N.G. (1993-1994); and family-oriented shows such as Avonlea (1990) and Doc (2003). Throughout, he has consistently met producers’ expectations.
Bruce Pittman is a storyteller at heart. Whether working in drama, comedy, action, adventure, or suspense, he delivers cinematic narratives with a keen sense of audience impact and production efficiency. He is a creative collaborator who brings extensive experience and energy to both feature films and television series.
13 wins and 10 nominations
