Michael has consulted on several feature documentary films, and currently works as part-time editing tutor for dok.Incubator in Prague, having advised on films from Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Norway, Greece and the UK. His role starts with selecting films for the scheme, then advising on structure and editing through to picture lock then advising on promotion and trailer editing. Michael has previously tutored in Barcelona, Budapest, Moscow, Slovakia, Czech Republic and has recently been invited to deliver guest workshops for the editing department of FAMU (Czech Film and TV School of Performing Arts).
Many of the films that Michael has consulted on have gone on to screen at festivals worldwide and picked up various accolades including the following:
WINNER
A Happy Man | Št'asny Človek (80mins. HBO Max, Azyl Productions) Dir. Soña G. Lutherová, Editor Peter Harum
A creative writer and a psychiatrist move to Sweden from the Czech Republic to raise their young family, but adjusting to their new lives is made more complex as one begins the process of gender transition.
A Happy Man tells the intimate story of a transgender man and his family. It encourages the viewers to consider different existential connections that concern each and every one of us.
This film was part of the Dok.Incubator workshops 2022 and was an official selection for HotDocs Toronto.
A Happy Man
Literary Fund Award
SHORTLISTED
Michael worked as consulting editor on Another News Story - threading the narrative of the 2015 media frenzy feeding on the human stories of refugees as they traveled across Europe. Shortlisted for a Grierson Award for Best International Documentary and Winner at the Impact Docs Awards, director Orban Wallace turned his cameras to the reporting journalists. Selected in over 30 international film festivals, Another News Story also won the Grand Jury Prize at Wexford Documentary Film Festival and was nominated Best Documentary at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the Zurich Film Festival.
Michael worked as consulting editor on Another News Story - threading the narrative of the 2015 media frenzy feeding on the human stories of refugees as they traveled across Europe. Shortlisted for a Grierson Award for Best International Documentary and Winner at the Impact Docs Awards, director Orban Wallace turned his cameras to the reporting journalists. Selected in over 30 international film festivals, Another News Story also won the Grand Jury Prize at Wexford Documentary Film Festival and was nominated Best Documentary at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the Zurich Film Festival.
Light Falls Vertical | Ara La Llum Cau Vertical (85mins, Gris Medio) Dir. Efthymia Zymvragaki, editor Tin Dirdamal
When filmmaker Efthymia Zymvragaki fled her native island of Crete as a young adult, she hoped to leave her violent childhood behind her.
But in Spain, her memories are reawakened when a man asks her to make a film about him and his violence.
Part of the dok.Incubator scheme, Michael advised on both film and trailer for this project which was selected for IDFA 2023 and also nominated for Best Documentary at Crossing Europe Film Festival.
Light Falls Vertical
Golden Alexander Award
WINNER
Light Falls Vertical | Ara La Llum Cau Vertical (85mins, Gris Medio) Dir. Efthymia Zymvragaki, editor Tin Dirdamal
When filmmaker Efthymia Zymvragaki fled her native island of Crete as a young adult, she hoped to leave her violent childhood behind her.
But in Spain, her memories are reawakened when a man asks her to make a film about him and his violence.
Part of the dok.Incubator scheme, Michael advised on both film and trailer for this project which was selected for IDFA 2023 and also nominated for Best Documentary at Crossing Europe Film Festival.
Light Falls Vertical
Best Editing Award
SPECIAL MENTION
Just Hear Me Out / Posłuchaj, co chcę Ci powiedzieć (88 mins, Poland) dir: Malgorzata Imielska, prod: Adrianna Rędzia
Gosia's schizophrenia has kept her away from home for most of her adolescence. After 7 years in and out of mental hospitals she is returning to her family and friends. All she wants is a chance at ordinary life just like any other young woman. But how do you get by when inner voices are a threat to you and your loved ones? And how do parents cope with the constant fear of losing their child? Part of the International dok.incubator workshops 2023, Michael advised on both film and trailer for this project.
Just Hear Me Out
Best Polish Film
SHORTLISTED
Just Hear Me Out / Posłuchaj, co chcę Ci powiedzieć (88 mins, Poland) dir: Malgorzata Imielska, prod: Adrianna Rędzia
Gosia's schizophrenia has kept her away from home for most of her adolescence. After 7 years in and out of mental hospitals she is returning to her family and friends. All she wants is a chance at ordinary life just like any other young woman. But how do you get by when inner voices are a threat to you and your loved ones? And how do parents cope with the constant fear of losing their child? Part of the International dok.incubator workshops 2023, Michael advised on both film and trailer for this project.
Just Hear Me Out
Best International Dok
WINNER
The World According to My Dad / Jiříkovo vidění (82 mins, CZ) Dir: Marta Kovářová, Ed: Varvara Šatunova
An authentic raw documentary comedy capturing the joint dream of a material physicist and his artist daughter (director Marta Kovářová) for an effective solution to save the planet. Together, and with humour, they venture into many different platforms where no one is expecting or welcoming of them. On their journey, they try to navigate their way not only around the world of climate politics and the powers behind it but also finding a way to each other. Michael tutored this Czech film throughout the dok.incubator workshops 2022.
The World According to My Dad
Best Popular Science Film
