Michaela Kurimsky

Michaela Kurimsky is a Canadian actress and filmmaker who first attracted critical attention with her breakout role in Jasmin Mozaffari’s debut feature Firecrackers (2018). Born on August 3, 1992, in Toronto, Ontario, she grew up immersed in the local arts scene and pursued formal training at Ryerson University, where she earned a BFA in film studies and honed her skills in acting, writing, and production design. After graduating, Kurimsky wrote and directed the short film Alouette in 2014, demonstrating an early commitment to storytelling behind the camera as well as in front of it. She subsequently worked in a variety of production roles, most notably as a production designer, which gave her a comprehensive understanding of the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Kurimsky’s onscreen debut came when she was cast opposite Karena Evans in Firecrackers, a film that premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival and earned her a place among the festival’s “Rising Stars”. Critics praised her performance as “astounding”, with NOW Magazine calling her “magnetic”, and the Stockholm International Film Festival awarded her Best Actress for a role described as “dangerous, sensitive, explosive, strong, intelligent, unpredictable, creative and complex”. Following that success, she continued to expand her repertoire with roles such as Mona Blackmore in A Fire in the Cold Season (2019), which screened at the Atlantic Film Festival and Cinefest Sudbury, and a part in Hannah Cheeseman’s short Succor (2020), an official selection at TIFF. Her filmography now includes additional features like The Boathouse (2021) and the upcoming Sweet Angel Baby (2024), solidifying her status as a versatile talent who navigates both independent and mainstream Canadian cinema with equal poise.