Ryan Ward is a writer, director and actor based in Manitoba, Canada and Los Angeles, California. His newest feature, DAUGHTER OF THE SUN, that he wrote, directed and starred in, screened at Fantasia International Film Festival (Audience Award), the Berlinale (Perspective Canada 2024), and Fantaspoa (Best Actor). Praised as "stellar" (ScreenAnarchy), "captivating" (Toronto Star), and "one of the best films you'll see this year" (Unseen Films), the film will be released by Red Water Entertainment and Buffalo 8 in Fall 2024.
Ryan's debut feature, SON OF THE SUNSHINE, (Slamdance), was nominated by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television for a Canadian Screen Award (CSA) with Indiewire praising it as "a mature, immediately involving story" and the National Post calling it "a gem of filmmaking genius." Distributed by Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Hulu, and MUBI, it screened at over 50 festivals, winning 13 awards.
Ryan's other select credits as a writer/director include, IN THE BEGINNING WAS WATER AND SKY (PBS), AMERIKA (INPUT TV Best Film), and TIME TRAVELING THROUGH TIME (Omeleto, PÖFF Tallinn Black Nights, SIFF, Flickers' First Prize Best Experimental Film).
As an actor, Ryan originated the lead role of Ash in the cult hit, EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL (Broadway, Just for Laughs, Original Cast Album) that the New York Times dubbed "the next Rocky Horror Show" and MTV called "the greatest musical phenomenon on the planet." With over 800 performances, Ryan was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award (Canadian Tony) for Best Actor. Ryan also appeared in the films, WE ATE THE CHILDREN LAST (TIFF) and ABOUT FACE (Tribeca).