Biography

Maria-Elena is an award winning film director, working as a freelance director/designer/digital animator.

After graduating with a degree in visual communication from the National College of Art Dublin, Maria-Elena started her career as a motion graphics artist for Irish television. In 2004 she emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand where she began directing short films. During her 10 years living in New Zealand, Maria-Elena's films, 'Rain', 'Meniscus' and 'Inorganic' drew inspiration from the indigenous culture, the New Zealand landscape and the poetry of Maori poet, Hone Tu Whare. 'Rain' won best foreign animation at the Moondance International Film Festival 2007. Rain was selected as the best of the Zebra poetry film festival at the Interfilm International Short film Festival Berlin 2008. 'Meniscus' received an AFTA award (Aotearoa Film & Television Awards, New Zealand). Meniscus was nominated for an Annecy Cristal at the Annecy animation festival France 2011, and was nominated for a Bronze Horse at the Stockholm International film festival 2011. Meniscus also screened at Guanajuato International film festival Mexico 2011 and won best short film at the Eco-film fest Mexico 2013. In 2014 Maria-Elena's first narrative short "Inorganic" had it's debut screening at the Galway Film Fleadh and was nominated for an award at the Badalona International short film festival, Barcelona 2014. In 2016 Maria-Elena directed 'Goodbye,Darling' written by crime novelist Alex Barcley. 'Goodbye,Darling' premiered at ADIFF 2016 as part of the After'16 programme commemorating the 1916 Rising in Ireland.
- IMDb mini biography by: Maria-Elena Doyle