Maria Millan is a Venezuelan Director/ Writer based in London. An alumna of the Hessen Lab, she showcased her screenplay 'The Hollow Women' at the B3 Biennale in Frankfurt, Germany, in October 2022, which is now a semi-finalist of the Stowe Lab Screenwriting Fellowship.
Acknowledged for her talent, Maria was chosen for 'Talent Led: Next Gen' by the Independent Film Trust in London for the 2022/2023 term. Her academic foundation includes a BA Honours in Communications and Media, specialising in Audio-Visual Arts from the Catholic University Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela. Furthering her skills, she studied Video Editing techniques at the renowned International Film School in San Antonio de Los Baños, Cuba (EICTV).
Maria's journey in film and TV commenced in the art department, crafting sets for TV ads in Caracas. Relocating to London in 2011, she transitioned into photography, capturing stills for esteemed publications such as Vogue Italia, Cosmopolitan, Fruk Magazine, and more. Demonstrating her diverse capabilities, she led the Production Design for Christopher Granier-Deferre's film "Chop Chop" (2016) and produced the TV series "Las Aventuras de Sifo Diaz."
Her directorial prowess shone in the film ‘The Refuge’ featuring Lujza Richter Hugo and Demi Hannah Scott. The film earned a place in the official selection of The Women’s Film Festival in Seattle and L’Etrange Film Festival in Paris, with Maria receiving an exclusive screening and Q&A at David Lynch's Private Members Club: Silencio. 'The Refuge’ is now on Amazon.
In October 2022, Maria premiered her documentary ‘Trans_CCS' at the 33rd Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The documentary found recognition in GRRL HAUS, the 8th edition of BANGIFF in Thailand, The Lonely Seal Festival in Boston, the Seattle Latino Film Festival, and the Tokyo International Short Film Festival in 2023.
Recently, Maria completed the feature-length documentary, 'Family Pride, Queer Aside' with a private educational screening at Lakeside School in Seattle and is set to premiere at the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival this June alongside ‘Trans_CCS’.
Both films premiered in Caracas thanks to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Venezuela. Maria Millan serves as an inspiring example of resilience and perseverance using her work to honour the female gaze.
Maria Millan is a member of Film Fatales http://www.filmfatales.org/directors/mariamillan and Prime Network https://primetime.network/@mariamillan/