Michael Lennox
Director
Film, TV & Theatre
Film, TV & Theatre
Michael is currently in pre production on Lisa McGee's new show HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELAST (Hat Trick/Netflix), which he is lead directing and exec producing. Recently Michael was lead director and executive producer on FX's show SAY NOTHING (Color Force), which is due to be released in Summer 2024. Michael directed all three series of hit Channel 4 comedy DERRY GIRLS for which he took the Best Director Comedy Drama/Sitcom Award at the 2018 RTS Craft and Design Awards. The show went on to win the Best Comedy at the International Emmy Awards 2023, Best Scripted Comedy award at the 2023 BAFTA TV Awards, Best Comedy Programme award at the 2019 Broadcast Awards and the RTS Awards' Best Scripted Comedy Award. DERRY GIRLS is Channel 4’s biggest comedy launch in fifteen years and the biggest series ever in Northern Ireland.
Growing up in Northern Ireland Michael had a passion for cinema. In 2008 he made his first short film RIP AND THE PREACHER, starring Gerard McSorley, which was selected by the British Council to tour festivals worldwide including Aspen and LA Shorts Fest. In 2010 he made his TV debut with a 30 minute drama ECLIPSE for Channel 4’s Coming Up new talent scheme. Michael went on to study for a Masters in Fiction Directing at the National Film and Television School. His work there included the short film THE BACK OF BEYOND, which won the Royal Television Society Student Television Award as well as the Pianifica Award at the Locarno Film Festival, and was nominated for a European Film Award. In 2014 Michael directed the short film BOOGALOO AND GRAHAM, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film won the 2014 BAFTA for Best British Short Film and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film. Michael made his feature debut with A PATCH OF FOG, starring Stephen Graham and Conleth Hill, for Northern Ireland Screen/BFI, which opened in the Discovery Programme at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and had its UK premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival where it was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film.
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELAST | Hat Trick / Netflix | Lead Director and Executive Producer |
ROAD RACERS | Doubleband Films | Feature film |
HARVESTING | Out of Orbit Ltd / BFI | Feature, based on the novel HARVESTING written by Lisa Harding |
Film
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
A PATCH OF FOG 2015 | The Fyzz Facility | Written by John Cairns and Michael McCartney, A PATCH OF FOG premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2015 |
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
SAY NOTHING 2024 | FX / Color Force | Lead Director and Executive Producer |
2022 | Hat Trick/C4 | Written by Lisa McGee |
2019 | Hat Trick / C4 | Written by Lisa McGee. |
2018 | Hat Trick/C4 | Written by Lisa McGee. |
ENDEAVOUR (Series 4) 2017 | Mammoth/ITV | Directed the second film of the series, CANTICLE |
ECLIPSE 2010 | Touchpaper / Channel 4 | Written by Richard T Kelly, ECLIPSE featured as part of the Channel 4 'Coming Up' season |
Short Films
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID 2018 | Pesky Films | Written by Ronan Blaney |
AWAYDAYS 2015 | The Fyzz Facility | Written by Stephen Fingleton and produced by Brian J. Falconer AWAYDAYS screened at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2015 |
BOOGALOO & GRAHAM 2014 | Out of Orbit | Written by Ronan Blaney and starring Charlene McKenna and Martin McCann, BOOGALOO & GRAHAM won Best British Short at the 2015 Bafta Awards and was nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 2015 Oscars |
HIVES 2012 | Omnibus | HIVES was selected for San Sebastian Film Festival |
9 LIVES 2012 | NFTS | Graduation film. Written by Ronan Blaney and starring Tom Jordan, Madison Lygo and Jonathan Harden |
THE BACK OF BEYOND 2011 | Northern Ireland Screen | Written by Ronan Blaney, starring Iwan Rheon and Martin McCann. Locarno short film nominee for the European Film Awards - Premio Pianific |
ABSENCE 2010 | NFTS | ABSENCE screened at the 2011 25th BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival |
EDWARD 2010 | NFTS | Written by Regina Moriarty and starring Richard Durden |
THE DINNER PARTY 2009 | UK Film Council | |
RIP AND THE PREACHER 2008 | UK Film Council | Starring Gerard McSorley. In competition at Aspen Shortsfest, LA Shorts Fest, Cinequest Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival |
Commercials
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Saga Holidays 2012 | Winner Best Commercial: Kodak Commercial Awards 2012. Nominated for the Porsche International Student Commercial Competition |