Director Michelle Savill Joins Arts & Sciences

Arts & Sciences has welcomed award-winning director Michelle Savill to their US & UK rosters. This is the first US & UK representation for Michelle, who has quickly established herself as an emerging talent in Australia and New Zealand.

Michelle Savill enthrals audiences by meticulously crafting cinematic stories and authentic characters that reveal the human condition. Real-world insights and observations are conveyed through nuanced performances that are infused with subtle, understated humour and a hint of magic. The child of missionary parents, Michelle grew up in various parts of the Philippines before relocating to Aotearoa (New Zealand) as an adult. 

Millie Lies Low, Michelle’s debut feature film, had its international premiere at Berlin International Film Festival in 2022, and a US premiere at SXSW Film Festival 2022.  Her commercial work includes the intimate and emotionally-resonant Donate Your Kit for Cadbury and Sky Olympics’ Gymnastics, made for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, she has worked with renowned brands including Steinlager, Vodafone, Cadbury, and the United Nations, among others. 

Michelle’s work has garnered numerous accolades, which include being nominated in 2019 for the Young Director Award at Cannes Lions. Her short film Ellen is Leaving won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short Film at SXSW Film Festival 2013 and at San Francisco International Film Festival 2013. Michelle’s short films have screened at Aspen, Rotterdam, Sydney, Edinburgh, Clermont-Ferrand, and Melbourne. She has continued to hone her craft, through participation in the MIFF Accelerator Programme, the Berlinale Talent Lab, a script development internship with Killer Films in New York, and a residency at Oscar Winner Emile Sherman’s See Saw Pictures. 

Says Michelle, “Arts & Sciences understands that powerful storytelling is layered with nuance, intimacy, and a dedication to craft, and I’m delighted to join the family.”

Of the signing, Mal Ward, managing director/partner at Arts & Sciences, says, “Michelle is an exciting talent who humanises the characters in her films with a depth of insight that belies her age. She understands that it is our struggles, vulnerabilities, and experiences that make us human, and brings those attributes forward in each of her films. We are very excited to welcome her to Arts & Sciences.”