Michelle Siu is a former photojournalist-turned-cinematographer and filmmaker now exploring memory and fantasy in cinematic form based in Cambridge, UK.

She creates intimate stories that are grounded in truth and reveal the magic of everyday life. As a daughter of immigrant parents, she is drawn to telling stories on the theme of cultural identity and girlhood that resonate with her lived experience.

As a two-time nominee for Canadian Photojournalist of the Year and World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass, Michelle’s journalistic roots deeply inform her cinematic voice—blending emotional depth with observational nuance.

Her transition into filmmaking was marked by early success: she won the ARRI Filmmaking Challenge as Director of Photography and received multiple top honours as Writer/Director at the NAHEMI Kodak Commercial Awards 2020, where her commercial Gift of Time for Harvey Nichols won Best in Category, Best Overall Winner, and Best Cinematography.

In 2021, Michelle completed her MA in Film and Television Production while navigating new motherhood during the COVID-19 lockdowns. This transformative experience inspired her first autobiographical experimental film and continues to shape her approach to intimate, visually compelling storytelling.

Michelle has worked as a Camera Trainee and 2nd Assistant Camera on feature films and HETV productions, while also working as a Cinematographer on short films. She brings a distinctive eye, a love for beautiful light, and technical precision to every project. Her long-standing connection to analogue photography continues to influence her personal work, deepening her exploration of memory and visual texture.

In addition to her creative practice, Michelle teaches cinematography to first-year university students and is actively developing a slate of short-form narrative and experimental films. Her work remains grounded in authenticity, cultural nuance, and visual poetry.