Maria Millan is a Venezuelan Director, Producer, and Writer. She took part in the Hessen Lab with her screenplay 'The Hollow Women'. The lab was part of an invitation to the B3 Biennale celebrated in Frankfurt, Germany in October 2022.
She has been selected for 'Talent Led: Next Gen' by the Independent Film Trust (London, 2022/2023), a mentorship scheme.
Maria holds a BA Honours in Communications and Media, with a specialisation in Audio-Visual Arts from the Catholic University Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela. She also studied Video Editing techniques at the renowned International Film School in San Antonio de Los Baños in Cuba (EICTV).
Her journey in film & TV began in the art department, where she designed sets for TV ads in Caracas. In 2011, she moved to London and started shooting stills for prestigious publications like Vogue Italia, Cosmopolitan, Fruk Magazine, Fuckin' Young, Jute, Eclectic Magazine, and others.
She led the Production Design for the film "Chop Chop" (2016) by Christopher Granier-Deferre. Additionally, she produced a TV Series called "Las Aventuras de Sifo Diaz".
Maria directed actresses Lujza Richter Hugo (Phantom Thread, Dracula) and Demi Hannah Scott (SHOWstudio) in her film "The Refuge," which became part of the official selection of The Women’s Film Festival in Seattle, US and L’Etrange Film Festival in Paris, France. Millan was honoured with an invitation to have a solo screening and Q&A at David Lynch's Private Members Club: Silencio. "The Refuge" is now available on Amazon and numerous SVOD platforms worldwide.
Last October 2022, her 23-minute documentary 'TransCCS,' premiered at the 33rd edition of the Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in the US. It was also featured at the 8th BANGIFF - BangkokThai International Film Festival in Thailand and, will be screened at the 8th edition of The Lonely Seal Film Festival in the Regent Theatre in Boston, US, the 15th edition of the Seattle Latino International Film Festival in the Beacon Cinema and, in the Tokyo International Short Film Festival in Japan.
Maria has recently completed her first feature film documentary: 'Family Pride, Queer Aside' which will premiere on the 15th edition of the Seattle Latino International Film Festival in the US this October 2023.
Along with her producer, Matthias Ehrenberg, she will be participating in the main strand of the PFM organised by Film London this October with her screenplay ‘The Hollow Women’.
She serves as an inspiring example of resilience and perseverance, using her work to draw attention to the role of women and the LGBTQ+ community within society.
@mariamillanart
www.mariamillan.com