about Michelle.

Michelle Cassis is an award-winning Chilean film and advertising director based in Madrid, whose work combines emotional storytelling, humor and a distinctive visual sensibility.

Driven by a curiosity about people and the complexities of human relationships, Michelle believes in the power of storytelling to connect audiences through emotion, regardless of where they come from. Her approach is rooted in authenticity, finding meaning in the smallest gestures and often in what is left outside the frame.

Her career spans fiction and advertising, having directed campaigns for international brands including IKEA, Disney, Mondeléz, Pepsi and AB InBev. She directed IKEA’s “Proudly Second Best”, which received a Gold Lion in Film at Cannes Lions, recognition at the Clio Awards, The One Show, D&AD and Ciclope, and was named Campaign of the Year by Ad Age. Other projects, including “The Hidden Flag” and “Cornetto’s Commitment Rings”, have also been recognized at Cannes Lions, The One Show, Clio Awards and El Ojo de Iberoamérica, among others.

Alongside her commercial career, Michelle has written and directed several short films. Her debut, “Astro Son”, was selected for TIFF Kids and SANFIC, while “Queens of Flesh & Blood” received the Best International New Talent award at the Buenos Aires International Fashion Film Festival. Her fiction short “One Way” explores the everyday experiences of a trans woman. More recently, she co-wrote and directed “The Walk”, a short film exploring women’s safety in public spaces, created in collaboration with Strut Safe.

Whether working in fiction or advertising, Michelle approaches every story with the same philosophy: “Don’t try to make it perfect, make it personal.”