Mary-Lyn Chambers

Director and Screenwriter

Los Angeles, California

Member Since:
June 2014

Last online:
> 2 weeks ago

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About Mary-Lyn

Mary-Lyn Chambers
Writer/Director

Currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, Mary-Lyn Chambers was born in Fiji, raised in Nauru and New Zealand and has worked in Los Angeles and London. She is known for tackling stories about inequality in the narrative space in mixed languages. She is a directing Fellow from the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program, Film Independent's Project Involve, and the Alliance of Women Directors Career Advancement Program. In 2020, she was pronounced a top ten female director to watch from Diversity in Cannes.

Chambers is the creator of the historical crime drama series AVENIDA REVOLUCIÓN set in 1920s Mexico that is that is a quarterfinalist in the 2022 WeScreenplay TV Contest. She is currently collaborating with New Zealand choreographer Merenia Gray, on KARANGA, a film inspired by Gray's mother that is funded by Creative New Zealand. Chambers is an associate programmer for the 2022 edition of the Slamdance Film Festival.

In 2019/20, Chambers won a $50,000 grant from US-based Film Independent to create a PSA series for the Children’s Institute about childhood trauma. Her Imagen Award-nominated short film TIJUANA screened at Slamdance, Bentonville, HollyShorts film festivals and was one of eight films selected out of 500 to attend the TV development conference Content London in their Short2Series program.

Chamber’s short pilot THE PLURAL OF BLOOD won ‘Best TV Pilot’ at the 2018 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival. DEBRIS (ESCOMBROS), exploring child refugees in a US Immigration Detention Center, screened at The American Pavilion, Diversity in Cannes, and participated in the United Nations Refugees Voices in Film' Conference at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. DEBRIS travelled the globe winning several awards including ‘Best International Short’ Film at the Manchester Film Festival and ‘Best Female Director’ at HollyShorts.

Chambers is known for hiring women and minorities and is vocal about inclusion and equality. She spent a decade cutting her teeth in the industry by working as the associate producer of the Independent Spirit Awards, producing panels and events for the LA Film Festival, and many years at the Denver Film Festival. Between 2010-2013, she worked supporting filmmaker relations in Qatar for the Doha Tribeca Film Festival.

Chambers is excited to be back in Aotearoa New Zealand where she spent her formative years. She is enjoying the beauty of the land and the inclusive and warm culture of New Zealand people.

Unique traits: Work eligibility for Europe, New Zealand, Australia and the United States

Gender:
Female

Badges

Certifications

Photos

Videos

Loglines

Something Pretty Between Us Adventure ⋄ Comedy ⋄ Drama ⋄ Independent ⋄ Romance Sara, a 42-year-old, British photojournalist on assignment in Doha, Qatar, discovers her boyfriend has been cheating. Alone in a foreign land, she develops an unlikely friendship with her 22-year-old Pakistani driver – their bond and adventures in the Doha underworld makes them laugh and leaves them deeply transformed.

Credits

Debris (2015)
Film (short) by Project Involve (Drama) Writer/Director Caught in the gears of the 2014 US immigration crisis, when over 52,000 unaccompanied minors crossed the border, twelve-year old Ana arrives at an immigration detention center with nothing but the clothes on her back, her mute, younger brother, and a treasured music box. She soon finds that seeking safety will cost more than she bargained for.
Something Pretty Between Us (2014)
Film by Island Girl Films Writer/Director
Independent Spirit Awards (2013)
Television by Film Independent Associate Producer
In Confidence (2013)
Film (short) by Antimatter Entertainment Producer
Independent Spirit Awards (2010)
Television by Film Independent Associate Producer
The Rain Has Forgotten Us (2004)
Film (short) by Curious Joel Productions Writer/Director

View all 6 credits

Awards

"Best International Short Film" from the Manchester International Film Festival
(2016)
Genii Award for "Best Dramatic Short Film" from Alliance of Women in Media
(2016)
Winner for "Best Screenplay" from the Largo Film Awards
(2016)
Third place for "Best Drama" from the United Latino International Film Festival
(2016)
"Best Female Director" from the HollyShorts Film Festival
(2016)
"Honorable Mention" from the Ojai Film Festival
(2016)
Film Independent Project Involve Directing Fellow
(2015)
Best of Westword Short Film Award
(1997)
Women In Film Susie Independent Film Award
(1996)