Biography

Michela Maria is a writer-director whose work keeps her shuttling between LA and New York. But as someone born into an Italian-American family, living between two worlds feels like second nature.

Michela pays the bills as a commercial director. She got her start directing branded content for Funny or Die and Broadway Video, and she’s now the official comedy director on the roster at CRY, a Brooklyn production company. Her commercial work has won her a Webby, and nominations for Primetime Emmy and Producer's Guild awards.

But Michela feeds her soul with narrative work, and she has a passion for projects that have something to say about the American experience. Her script, Bury The Lede was a Black List Script of the Month. She’s been a finalist writer in Sundance’s Episodic Lab, Disney’s DET Writing Program, and The Orchard Project.

Michela recently directed Heirloom, a film about her Italian-American family starring Isabella Rossellini. Heirloom was a recipient of The Russo Brothers’ Film Forum grant and has played in over thirty festivals.

Michela’s debut feature, The Eel, is a whodunit thriller based on a true unsolved murder in her family.
- IMDb mini biography by: IMDB Assist