Michael Lees

Michael Lees is a Dominican filmmaker and photographer whose work focuses on the themes of nature, development, and our relationship to the natural world. Michael graduated from University of North Carolina at ChapelHill, where he transitioned from majoring in business at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, to a degree in communication studies with a focus in media production, minoring in business & PPE (Political science, philosophy,& Economics). In 2020, Michael released his debut documentary,“Uncivilized”, which led him into the forests of Dominica, where he would faceHurricane Maria alone in a palm leaf and bamboo hut. The film premiered at theTrinidad Film Festival in 2019 and went on to screen at festivals acrossAmerica, Europe and the Caribbean. It won the Caribbean Spirit award in 2020 at the Barbados Independent Film Festival, as well as best documentary at the Cinestar Festival in Guadeloupe in 2022. Lees has written, shot, and edited for clients including National Geographic, Lonely Planet, UNICEF & Billboard.He has exhibited his photography work at national exhibitions as well as theOECS exhibition Climate Change: An Eastern Caribbean Journey. Michael is anExecutive member of both the Waitukubuli Artist Association & SHAPE (TheSociety for Historic Architectural Preservation & Enhancement).

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