Michael Lavelle

Michael Lavelle I.S.C. pursued studies in both cinematography and direction from the National Film School of Ireland before earning an MA in screenwriting. As a cinematographer, he worked on the short graduation film ‘Undressing My Mother,’ which was later screened at Cannes Critics Week and won a special mention at Sundance. The next year, in 2005, it also won the European Academy Award in the Best Short Film catagory. Michael co-won the World Cinema Cinematography Award for Documentary at Sundance in 2010, where his first documentary feature film, ‘His & Hers,’ had its world premiere.

The Sundance jury's Asako Fujioka complimented the cinematography “for its Vermeer-like qualities and formal restraint.” Michael's first dramatic feature film, ‘Patrick’s Day,’ had its global premiere at SXSW in 2014 and was nominated for an IFTA in 2015. He also received the Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography at the Woodstock Film Festival. He wrapped up primary photography on his eleventh feature picture after filming three TV series. The world premiere of ‘Float Like a Butterfly’ occurred at TIFF in 2018, where it won the Critics Award. He was also recognized by Variety as a ‘rising star’ in Irish cinematography.

Michael is also involved in writing and directing films. ‘Out of the Blue,’ a multi-award-winning short film was written and directed by him. He also created and directed the film ‘Mummy's Little Helper,’ which received him a nomination for the Berlinale Today Award in 2011. He is also credited with the direction of ‘Cluck,’ a short film that won a Screen Ireland Award in 2012 and was also nominated for an IFTA in 2014. His script for his first major motion picture, ‘6 Hours,’ earned the Irish Playwrights & Screenwriters Guild Award for Screenwriting at the National Film School. He participated in the Amsterdam Binger Director's Film Lab in 2012. He was also chosen for ‘Guiding Lights,’ the most distinguished mentoring program for the UK film business.