Michael Renov

Michael Renov is a prominent figure in the field of documentary studies and currently serves as the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He holds the Haskell Wexler Endowed Chair in Documentary and is a professor of Critical Studies. His academic focus encompasses various areas including documentary theory, autobiography in film and video, video art and activism, and representations of the Holocaust.1

Renov has made significant contributions to the field through his publications, which include notable works such as Hollywood's Wartime Woman: Representation and Ideology and The Subject of Documentary. He has also edited several influential texts, including Theorizing Documentary and Resolutions: Contemporary Video Practices.1 His editorial work extends to the Visible Evidence book series, which has published numerous volumes on nonfiction media since its inception in 1997.

In addition to his scholarly work, Renov co-founded the Visible Evidence conference series, which focuses on interdisciplinary documentary studies and has been held internationally across five continents. He has played a pivotal role in curating documentary programs globally and has served as a jury member at several prestigious documentary festivals, including Sundance and DocLisboa.1

Renov's teaching experience is extensive; he has conducted graduate seminars at various international institutions, including the University of Stockholm and Tel Aviv University, and has led workshops in regions such as Jordan and Cyprus.1 His academic contributions have significantly shaped the discourse surrounding documentary filmmaking and its critical analysis.