Stephen Cone is a Chicago-based filmmaker. His 2011 feature film, the award-winning, critically-acclaimed THE WISE KIDS, which the Chicago Tribune’s Michael Phillips called “one of the best coming-of-age pictures in a long time”, has screened at more than 50 festivals worldwide, won 8 awards, including the Outfest Grand Jury Prizes for
Outstanding US Feature and Outstanding Screenwriting, received rave reviews, including a New York Times Critics‘ Pick, as well as raves in Variety and from Roger Ebert, appeared on four Best of 2011 lists (including the Chicago Tribune’s and Chicago Reader’s) and was acquired for DVD/VOD by Wolfe Video.

Stephen has written, produced and directed the short films CHURCH STORY and YOUNG WIVES (2007 LA Shorts Fest), as well as his medium-length feature debut THE CHRISTIANS (Gene Siskel Film Center; Philadelphia Independent Film Festival; NewFilmmakers @ Anthology Film Archives) and the full-length features IN MEMORIAM (Gene Siskel Film Center, Big Muddy Film Festival), the aforementioned THE WISE KIDS, BLACK BOX, which recently won the Programmers Award at Sidewalk Film Festival, has screened at Cucalorus Film Festival, Ft. Lauderdale and Reeling LGBT, and recently acquired distribution through Devolver Digital Films, the experimental THE MYSTERY OF LIFE, and THIS AFTERNOON, which screened at the 2014 Chicago International Film Festival.

Stephen is currently in post-production on the feature film HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY, featuring Pat Healy, Tyler Ross and a large ensemble of incredible Chicago actors.