Michele Atkins is a writer, director, and producer who grew up between Upstate New York and East Tennessee. She began her career behind the camera in local television in Buffalo before earning a degree in Communications focused on Video Field Production and Documentary Filmmaking. Her documentary studies and background in political science shaped her curiosity about people and the social circumstances that influence their lives.

After moving to Los Angeles, Michele developed a body of work spanning narrative film, documentary, commercials, photography, and branded content. Her screenwriting earned her an Academy Nicholl Fellowship and recognition on the Black List, while her directing work was selected for SHOOT’s New Directors Showcase.

Michele approaches projects with a storyteller’s eye, paying close attention to character, performance, and visual detail. Her production experience helps her carry that creative vision from the page through the shoot and final edit.                                                               
Her work spans commercials, documentary, photography, and branded and social content, alongside her own writing and directing projects. As a producer, writer, and director, she brings experience in shaping stories, working with talent, and guiding projects from the first idea through the final edit.

Michele enjoys both the creative work and the practical details that bring it to life—from casting and building sets to organizing shoots and working through post-production. Her experience also includes live activations, social content planning, and website creation.





AWARDS


PRODUCING

  • Emmy nominated for Hallmark “Brother of the Bride”

  • Super Bowl top 10 commercials - USA Today

DIRECTING

  • 2012 AFI/Levi’s “Show Us the Way” short film winner

  • 2013 Shoot Magazine Director’s Showcase

  • 2015 Shoot Magazine - Top Spot Of The Week “Therapy Dog”

  • 2018 Winner Best International Short Film Overcome Film Festival

WRITING

  • 2016 Academy of Motion Picture Nicholl Fellowship winner for Talking About the Sky.

  • 2018 14th edition of the Blacklist (annual list) for screenplay One Night in Mississippi.