Sion Michel | |
|---|---|
| Born | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | M.A. in Cinematography, Australian Film, Television and Radio School (1992) |
| Occupation(s) | Cinematographer, photographer |
| Website | Official website |
American cinematographer Sion Michel, ACS, discovered his passion for visual storytelling while immersed in the golden era of revival cinema. Drawn to the expressive power of light and image, and shaped by the cinematic worlds of Truffaut, Fellini, Kurosawa, Kubrick and the visual legacy of Boris Kaufman, he set his sights early on a life behind the lens.
In 2025, his work takes center stage at the Cannes Film Festival with Sons of the Neon Night, premiering in the prestigious Midnight Screenings section. Directed by Juno Mak and starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Sean Lau, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Louis Koo and Gao Yuanyuan, the film marks a bold new chapter in his international career.
He lensed the Western thriller The Old Way (2023) for Saban Films and Lionsgate, directed by Brett Donowho and starring Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage. His narrative feature work also includes Heartfall Arises (2016), directed by Ken Wu; Beijing, New York (2015), directed by Rain Li; The Unbearable Lightness of Inspector Fan (2015), directed by Clara Law; and the ensemble romance Hot Summer Days (2010), co-directed by Tony Chan and Wing Shya, which became the number one box office hit in China during Chinese New Year.
His cinematography for Like A Dream (2009), directed by Clara Law, earned a Golden Horse Award nomination for Best Cinematography. Red Earth (2010), also directed by Law, competed in the 67th Venice Film Festival. In 2007, Michel received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork and Video for a Miniseries or Special for Tony Bennett: An American Classic, directed by Rob Marshall.
His commercial and music video credits have also earned significant acclaim. He received two Silver Awards from the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) in 2012 for Julia Stone's By the Horns and Angus Stone's Bird on the Buffalo. In 2014, he won the Silver Telly, the top honor at the 35th Annual Telly Awards, for best direction and cinematography on WPPI 2013 in the Live Event category. His portrait Sarah earned recognition as a Single Image Winner in the 'Children' category by Black & White Magazine in 2017.
Recognition came early with a British Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography in 2002 for the BBC documentary series Beyond the Fatal Shore, filmed across Australia.
With a career that spans continents and genres, Michel's body of work includes artful feature films, evocative music videos, high-end commercials and award-winning documentaries. He has collaborated with world-class cinematographers including Dion Beebe ASC ACS, Laszlo Baranyai HSC ACS and Steve Windon ASC ACS while developing a distinct visual signature marked by poetic realism.
Educated at the Australian Film Television and Radio School's Masters Program in Cinematography, Michel is a passionate and agile visual storyteller with a global creative network. He brings a deep respect for the emotional power of light and frame to every project.
He is an accredited member of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) and is based between Los Angeles, Sydney and Asia.
Sion Michel was born in the United States, and has also spent much of his life in Australia. [1] Michel obtained an M.A. in Cinematography from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in 1992. [2] He has been actively working in cinematography and photography since the 1990s. [1]
Sion Michel has been an active cinematographer in the film industry since 1986. [3]
Michel was Cinematographer for many notable films, including The Old Way , Sons of the Neon Night , Heartfall Arises , [4] Shanghai Noir , and Like a Dream. [5] Other production roles include cinematography work for the films Chasing Rabbits, [6] WPPI 2013, [7] and Laura Smiles. [8]
Michel founded the film production company Mettafilm in 2005, where he currently serves as Director of Photography. [1] [9]
Sion Michel is also a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS). [1]
Sion Michel's selected cinematography credits include: [10] [3]
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Australia: Beyond the Fatal Shore | Chris Spencer |
| 2001 | Sydney 2000: Stories of Olympic Glory | Bud Greenspan |
| 2005 | Laura Smiles | Jason Ruscio |
| 2007 | The Box | A.J. Kparr |
| 2009 | Like a Dream | Clara Law |
| 2010 | Hot Summer Days [11] [12] | Tony Chan and Wing Shya |
| 2015 | The Unbearable Lightness of Inspector Fan (Shanghai Noir) | Clara Law |
| 2016 | Heartfall Arises [13] | Wu Pinru |
| 2018 | Sons of the Neon Night | Juno Mak |
| 2023 | The Old Way | Brett Donowho |
Sion Michel's cinematography work for Beyond The Fatal Shore, Tony Bennett: An American Classic, and Like a Dream have been nominated for various awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award and BAFTA Film Awards. [3] [14]