John Milton Branton was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He began his career in Toronto, appearing as an actor in more than 50 plays, television programs and movies before moving into directing. He was the Artistic Director of three Equity theater companies and plays he directed received a total of 17 Sterling Award nominations, winning seven, including Best New Play and Best New Musical. He is an MFA graduate of York University and a graduate of the film program at the Vancouver Film School. His first film, Tears of a Lotus, won numerous Best Film and Best Director awards, was invited to more than 30 international film festivals and aired on TV in Canada, the US, Russia and the EU.
John is married to Ermalin Plarisan Branton and they have two sons, Stone Milton and Olen John. He has a daughter, Emerald Branton-Bond, from a previous marriage to Julie Bond. He divides his time between his home in the Philippines and Los Angeles.
